310 Scien t ijic Intell'ujai ce, 8fc. 



covered on the outside with tincture of jalap. — liuchner's Repert. 

 xlviii. 118. 



II. — African Guaiac. 

 The negroes employ in syphilis, instead of guaiac, the hard and veiny 

 wood of a shruh belonging to the tribe of Leguminosae, which was 

 described by Linneus under the name of Guaiacum AJ'nim, Sp. 

 547. The plant was, however, little known. It was afterwards 

 described by the title of Theodora speciosa. More lately it was 

 placed under Cassia, and by Jacquin it was termed Scotra speciosa 

 from the appearance of its flowers, [Icon rar, i. 75.) and also by 

 Andrew, {Hot. Report, 345.) It is little used in Europe, although 

 it is much milder in its action than the common guaiac wood. — 

 Brandes' Pharm. Zeitung, No. xxiv., 1835. 



III. — Progress of Geographical Discovery . 

 Captain Maconochib gave an interesting summary of the pro- 

 gress of Geographical Discovery on the 3d of February, at the Lon- 

 don University, and similar to that of which we inserted a report 

 last year. — {Records, vol. i. p. 155.) He began with 



1. North America. — The object for which Captain Back's expedi- 

 tion was designed, it is well known, was one chiefly of humanity ; it 

 was for the purpose of gaining tidings of the party of Captain Ross. 

 Without requiring, however, to direct his energies on this object in 

 consequence (of timely information of the safety of Captain Ross, 

 Captain Back has accomplished much in reference to completing the 

 geography of North America. He first proceeded to Great Slave Lake, 

 which he found to be one of the longest lakes in America. From 

 thence, he ascended by a river which discharges its waters into the 

 lake; and having transferred his stores over a portage, he arrived at 

 a large river, which he descended to the sea, first north-east, then 

 east, and lastly, in a north-east direction. His journey terminated 

 in N. L. 67 0, 7, W. L. 94 J , very nearly south south-west of Ross's 

 Isthmus of Boothia, and about 90 miles to the south of it. From 

 this, he attempted to get to the westward, but was prevented by the 

 quantity of ice which was thrown up. 



From his observations, it would appear, that Boothia is an island 

 with a clear sea to the south of it. Captain James Ross found the 

 ice changed to the south of Boothia in the course of one season, 

 which would indicate the existence of a current and a free passage. 

 The opposite shores of the land of Boothia, and that where Back's 

 river terminates, are different in regard to geological structure, the 

 former, being lime-stone (primitive lime-stone?) and the latter, gra- 

 nite. There are still, therefore, two questions for solution ; Does the 

 river of Back fall into the Northern Ocean, or into the bottom of 

 Prince Regent's inlet ? and, Where is the north-east point of North 

 America ? Most of those who have been connected with the arctic 

 expedition, conceive that there is a passage by Melville island to the 

 westward, and recommend determining the question at this point. 

 In order to complete the geography of the coast, from Point Turn- 



