CHAPTER I 



THE STUDY OF NATURE 



1. Physiography means literally the description of 

 Nature. In order to describe anything we must know 

 something about it, and in order to know something about 

 anything we must study it. Knowledge obtained by the 

 best method of study is science, 'and it differs from know- 

 ledge otherwise obtained in being so clear and definite that 

 every step leading to the final result may be recalled and 

 tested, if any doubt should arise as to its trustworthiness. 

 Hence description based on science is clear and full, and 

 this is the kind of description required in Physiography. 



2. Nature means all creation ; not only all created 

 things but also all the changes they undergo. The scope 

 of Physiography is thus immense but not unlimited. It 

 includes everything of which we can gain knowledge in the 

 Earth and beyond it, and every change now happening or 

 of which a record has been left, together with the causes of 

 all these changes. It is, however, customary to exclude the 

 First Cause of all from consideration in connection with the 

 account of facts and immediate causes. Theology the 

 study of the Creator is in itself an immense field of science, 

 and although it accounts for the origin of Nature, it may 

 be readily separated from the study of natural facts and 

 phenomena. The chief reason for separating Theology from 

 Physiography is that authorities are greatly divided as to 

 the right means of studying the former science, while every 

 one is agreed as to the right method of studying Nature. 



B 



