228 



KNOWLEDGE, 



[OcTOBEE 1, 1896. 



exceeds two miles in height, whilst two of its peaks would 

 much overtop Mont Blanc. Two ring plains, themselves 

 ipf great extent, occupy the south-western and north-western 

 portions of the wall, and a chain of important but smaller 

 pint,' plains follow a well-marked curve across the centre of 

 |;he great plain. An infinity of minor details will reveal 

 themselves to the student either at the telescope or upon 

 examination of the photograph, and repay his scrutiny ; < 

 whilst, as a mere spectacle, from its vast extent and the 

 loftiness of its rampart (Uavius ia an object of extreme 

 heauty when seen on either terminator. 



The next in importance to Clavius is Maginua, the 

 border of which is an object of the most complicated 

 structure. As seen in the photograph, the western ram- 

 part appears as complete as that of any of the neighbouring 

 plains, whilst it is much loftier. The eastern wall is 

 honeycombed with craters and small ring plains of great 

 depth. The region to the north-west of tUavius and 

 south-east of Mnginus is a mountain labyrinth of the 

 greatest intricacy. 



Third of the walled plains 

 before us is Longomontanus, 

 with an area about that of 

 Yorkshire. This, from its higher 

 illumination, appears a much 

 shallower formation than the two 

 already mentioned, and indeed 

 its rampart is not quite so high ; 

 still, its principal peak, which is 

 quite clearly seen on the photo- 

 graph, rises to a height above the 

 interior equal to that of Mont 

 Rosa. 



Of the smaller walled plains, 

 Klaproth may be readily distin- 

 guished on the photograph by 

 its smooth floor ; Casatus, its 

 companion, by a deep central 

 ring plain and by a rampart of 

 unusual height, its highest peak, 

 which the photograph distinctly 

 shows at the western angle, at- 

 taining a height of over four 

 miles. Moving westward from 

 Casatus we come to Newton, per- 

 haps the deepest walled plain on 



the moon. On the western side of this, a bright pro- 

 jection is seen in the plate, marking the place of the 

 chief peak of Newton, one of the very loftiest that the 

 entire lunar surface presents. Moretus is distinguished 

 by its superb central mountain, according to Beer 

 and Miidler the highest central mountain on the whole 

 moon. 



Of the other formations, the most considerable are 

 Scheiner and Blancanus, to the south of Clavius, and 

 Curtius on the terminator. The northern wall still retains 

 in its principal peaks the sunlight which has passed from 

 the interior of the plain, for it towers some sixteen thousand 

 feet high, and in its loftiest peak it rivals even the pinnacle 

 of Casatus. Kircher, near the eastern edge of the plate, 

 reveals its character very plainly as a very deep ring plain 

 with a smooth floor. The south pole lies in the shadow 

 where the limb appears broken at the top of the picture 

 near the terminator. Lastly, if we follow the terminator 

 to an inch and a half from the foot of the plate, we find 

 the sunlight withdrawing itself from the ring plain of 

 Lilius, an object which just came into the fttld of our last 

 lunar reproduction, namely, that which appeared in 

 KKowLF.iHiB for Apiil, 1806, 



THE RECEPTION OF DR. HANSEN AT 

 CHRISTIANIA. 



WIII'IN the news of Dr. Nansen's return with 

 jjieutenant .Johanson iirst reached Christiania 

 it was scarcely believed. When the report 

 was confirmed, however, and we read the 

 account of his marvellous journey, the uni- 

 versal excitement and enthusiasm throughout the country 

 were quite unprecedented. The news of the arrival of the 

 Fiiim, with all on board well, a week or so later, of course 

 added to the fire already kindled, and all Norway seemed 

 to go mad. Preparations were soon begun for a national 

 reception at Christiania. This took place, as the readers 

 of Knowledue will remember, on September 9th, and a 

 few details of the lete by an eye-witness may not be out of 

 place here, since they concern one who has undoubtedly 

 immensely benefited science by his wonderful journey. 



It was a glorious sight that met our eyes as wc steamed 

 into the harbour in our little launch. Ship after ship, 



The Harbour before tlie arrival of the Fnrn 



decked from bow to stern with flags, was taking up her 

 place in the double hne which was to steam up the fjord 

 to meet the Fram, The ice brrakers with their broad 

 beams led the way, and these were followed in long lines, 

 almost as far as the eye could see, by steamers of every 

 sort and shape, each one having an assigned position 

 according to her size. Glancing toward the shore one 

 could see hundreds and hundreds of sailing boats and 

 rowing boats — a mass of flags and bunting. 



At last we caught sight of some gunboats, and then the 

 Fram, conspicuous by her tall mast and white crow's-nest, 

 appeared from behind a distant point. Salute after salute 

 was fired from fort and gunboat, as she passed up between 

 the lines, while every steamer dipped her flag, and every 

 man cheered until he was hoarse. 



Then the boats turned and followed the Fram into 

 harbour. Arrived there, Nansen ar d his brave companions 

 were rowed ashore by a crew from tlie training ship. The 

 reception on shore was quite as grand in its way as the 

 reception on the sea. Speeches were made on the quay, 

 and again at the University, as these thirteen men drove 

 through the densely packed streets to the castle. The 

 whole town was decorated in the most gorgeous fashion, 



