GENERAL NOTES 139 



up by the explorer and hunter, but, as with every branch 

 of science nowadays, it requires to be accurate and 

 reliable. 



Even when country is rapidly passed through or only 

 a short time spent in it a route survey with a prismatic 

 compass is of value, especially if the locality is not 

 mapped or is imperfectly known — if it is carried out 

 with all due care. 



There are many works published on this geo- 

 graphical part of surveying, notably "The Text Book of 

 Topographical and Geographical Surveying," by Major 

 Close, and the "Hints" by the Royal Geographical 

 Society, botja of which give the subject in its clearest 

 light. These works, combined with lessons, should soon 

 give the veriest novice some idea of how to carry out 

 a route survey at least. 



In almost every country it will be found that several 

 points, such as towns, big rivers, boundaries, etc., have 

 been fixed, and on to one or more of these the hunter's 

 rough map can be adjusted so that the part he has 

 traversed can be located. To the man who may come 

 after, the distance between water, native villages or 

 kraals, the number and size of rivers and lagoons, 

 the swampiness or otherwise of the veldt, and the 

 nature of the country — whether forested, plains, arid 

 or grassy, or mountainous, native tracks and roads — and 

 the extent and range of the game, will be of principal 

 interest and should be first noted. 



If the scientific side of the expedition has been 



