THE CONQUEST OF THE ZONES 



places that really lie directly in the north and south 

 line cannot be so represented except just at the middle 

 of the map, and it is very difficult for the ordinary user 

 of the map to gain a clear notion as to the actual points 

 of the compass. A satisfactory compromise may be 

 effected, however, by using Mercator's projection for 

 maps showing wide areas, while the other method is 

 employed for local maps. 



THE LURE OF THE UNKNOWN 



While the average man, even with well developed 

 traveling instincts, would perhaps prefer always to feel 

 that he is sailing in well charted waters and along care- 

 fully surveyed coasts, there have been in every genera- 

 tion men who delighted in taking risks, and for whom 

 half the charm of a voyage must always lie in its dan- 

 gers. Such men have been the pioneers in exploring 

 the new regions of the globe. That there was no dearth 

 of such restless spirits in classical times and even in 

 the dark ages, records that have come down to us suf- 

 ficiently attest. For the most part, however, their 

 names have not been preserved to us. But since the 

 ushering in of the period which we to-day think of as 

 the beginning of modem times, records have been kept 

 of all important voyages of discovery, and at least the 

 main outlines of the story of the conquest of the zones 

 are familiar to everyone. 



Some of the earliest explorers, most notable among 

 whom was the Italian Marco Polo, traveled eastward 

 from the Mediterranean and hence journeyed largely 



[4Sl 



