Chapter 11. 



arranged to leave Italy in the spring iu order to reach tin- 

 mountains by the beginning of June. 



The expedition was accordingly eipiipped in the early nidnths 

 of 190(). Care was taken to enable it to reap the utmost iirntit 

 from the exceptional opportunities for scientitic investigation 

 offered bv a journev among mountains still almnst \niknM\\n. and 



THE UG.VXDA r>AILWAY. 



situated in peculiar conditions in the centre of a continent where 

 much still remains to be discovered. 



The main object of the expedition was of couise geogra])hical 

 in tlie strict sense of the word ; that is, to clear up the 

 topography of the chain and ascertain the heights of the 

 moimtains. This work was to be com])leted l)y observations 

 on ])hysical geography, meteorology and magnetism. 



In connection with these aims it was important to illustrate 



28 



