256 WOMAN IN SCIENCE 



During the years intervening between 1842 and 1858, the 

 date of her death, she traveled nearly two hundred thou- 

 sand miles and, in so doing, visited nearly every quarter of 

 the globe. When one recalls the difficulties and discom- 

 forts of transportation in the early part of the last century, 

 as compared with our present facilities and conveniences, 

 and bears in mind the fact that her traveling expenses for 

 an entire year were less than those of a Lamartine or a 

 Chateaubriand for a single week, we must admit that her 

 achievements were, indeed, extraordinary. 



Besides being the author of numerous books which had 

 for many years a great vogue books which, by reason of 

 the keen observations and the absolutely truthful narra- 

 tives of their author, are still of special value to the student 

 of geography and ethnology she made collections illus- 

 trative of botany, mineralogy and entomology which were 

 subsequently secured for the British Museum and other 

 similar institutions in Europe. 



No one more highly appreciated Frau Pfeiffer's efforts 

 in behalf of science than did the illustrious Alexander von 

 Humboldt, whose friendship was one of the greatest joys of 

 this remarkable woman's life. Through his recommenda- 

 tion and that of the noted geographer, Karl Ritter, she was 

 made an honorary member of the Geographical Society of 

 Berlin. Besides this, the King of Prussia conferred on her 

 the gold medal for arts and sciences. 



Three other women, all representatives of Great Britain, 

 likewise deserve notice for their extensive travels and the 

 interesting and instructive accounts which they published 

 of them. These are Constance Gordon Gumming, Isabella 

 Bird Bishop and Amelia B. Edwards. 



More notable in many respects than these three dis- 

 tinguished women were Miss Mary H. Kingsley and 

 Madame Octavie Coudreau. For their contributions to 

 science and for their daring adventures in savage lands, 



