SOURCES OF INFORMATION 5 



the detailed evidence was wanting to him ; and it has 

 still in large measure to be gathered before the ideal 

 of the historian can be reached. Now, I am desirous 

 of insisting upon the fact that this detailed evidence 

 does not lie shut up from the reach of all but the 

 practised man of science and the mature historian. 

 Much of it, whether in the literary or scientific domain, 

 may be gleaned by any young undergraduate who will 

 bring to the task quickness of observation and accuracy 

 of judgment. As the harvest is abundant but the 

 labourers few, I would fain enlist the sympathy and 

 co-operation of any who may be able and willing to 

 help. 



There are four obvious sources of information re- 

 garding former conditions of the land. First comes the 

 testimony of historical documents, then that of place- 

 names, next that of tradition, and lastly, that of geo- 

 logical evidence. 



(i) One might suppose that for what has taken place 

 during the historical period, the documentary records 

 would be all sufficient. But as it is only recently that 

 the subject has been determined to be worthy of the 

 historian's serious attention, we cannot look for much 

 light to be thrown upon it in the pages of the ordinary 

 histories. Still less need we expect to meet with any 

 full measure of information regarding it in the original 

 documents from which such histories have been mostly 

 compiled. In truth, the facts of which we are in search 

 must be gleaned from brief allusions and implications 

 rather than from actual descriptions. It was no part of 

 the duty of an old chronicler purposely to record any 

 natural fact, short of some terrific earthquake or storm 



