September 26, 1901] 



NA TURE 



539 



national question may suddenly arise in a pin of the wjrld ab- 

 solutely unsuspected by most people, even ammgit thos; who 

 interest themselves in general politics and in colonial affiirs. It 

 would co;t a compirative trifle to survey the region in ques- 

 tion, and to lay down that bxmduy line befjri the gildfielis 

 are touched, so that no internitional trouble cou'd ever arise. 

 What it may cost to postpone the matter until claims have been 

 pegged out on debatable land, theBtittsh Guiani and Venezuela 

 arbitration, the Alaska diffieulty, and South Africa are there to 

 tell us. It would be interesting to calculate, now that the cost 

 of a week of fighting is known, the savmg in pennies on the 

 income tax that would hjve accrued from a survey of South 

 Africa if that had been carried out as an imperial duty when 

 Cape Colony was settled. I do not for a moment suggest that 

 a survey would have prevented the war ; but it is not unreason- 

 able to believe that it would have shortened it by some months. 

 In this connection it is satisfactory to know that a valuable 

 report has been drawn up by a Committee of the British Asso- 

 ciation, presided over by Sir Thomas Holdich, embodying a 

 scheme for the systematic survey of British protectorates. 



The second example conies nearer home. The utilisation of 

 wind- and water-power must increase in importance as mineral 

 fuel diminishes in amount or increases in price. Wind- and 

 water-power will never fail as long as the sun shines and the 

 land remains higher than the sea ; but what may fail unless 

 timely precautions are taken is the power of utilising them for 

 the benefit of the community at large. Are the existing laws as 

 to water-rights, and the absence of laws as to the utilisation of 

 wind desirable and satisfactory ? The usual answer to such 

 questions is, "Why trouble about that just now? These 

 matters are not urgent, other things are." That argument is 

 answerable for many disasters. The inevitable is in many if 

 not in most cases simply another name for the unforeseen. It 

 is inevitable that the country will be impoverished if the 

 utilisation of wind- and water-power and the transport of that 

 power by electricity are not wisely sifeguarded and provided 

 for ; but when a survey of our resources, the circulation of the 

 air over our islands, and the effects produced by the inter- 

 position of the mountains, plateaus, and valleys upon it, plainly 

 points to the possibility of such a trouble, it only becomes 

 inevitable as a result of culpable negligence. 



These two examples, which will not strike anyone whose 

 mind is wholly occupied in paying the penalties of old neglect, 

 illustrate my contention that a complete geographical description 

 based on full investigation is of the highest and most urgent 

 importance, not for this country only, but for the Empire, and 

 for every country in the world. 



Xor is it the land alone which claims attention. It is of the 

 utmost importance to investigate and evaluate the resources of 

 the surrounding seas. The recent International Conference for 

 the exploration of the sea held at Christiania formulated a 

 scheme of research which has been taken up enthusiastically by 

 Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Russia, Sweden and 

 Norway. Its object is to place the fisheries of Northern 

 Europe on a scientific basis, and to make for that purpose a 

 comprehensive survey of the sea, which will prove of high 

 value to meteorology, and through it to agriculture as well. 

 The recent work by Mr. H. N. Dickson on the circulation 

 of the surface waters of the North Atlantic in conjunction 

 with similar work by Prof. Pettersson in Siveden shows how 

 hopeful such researches are from the purely scientific stand- 

 point, and their practical importance is no less. It remains 

 with our Government to show that this country is not indif- 

 ferent to an opportunity, such as has never presented itself 

 before, of placing one of our great national industries on a 

 basis of scientific knowledge. This is in my belief one of 

 the cases in which the expenditure of thousands now will 

 mean the saving of millions a few years hence. 



It is magnificent to send out polar expeditions, and they speak 

 volumes for the greatness of the human mind that can give itself 

 to the advancement of knowledge for the sake of knowledge, 

 knowing that it will bring no material gain ; and I trust that 

 such a spirit will continue to manifest itself until no spot of 

 Earth, no land however cold or hot, no depth of sea, no farthe.st 

 limit of the atmosphere remains unsearched and its lesson 

 unlearnt. But I insist that the full study of our own country is 

 on a totally dift'erent footing. Magnificent it may be, too, but 

 sternly practical, since it is absolutely essential for our future 

 well-being, and even for the continuance of the nation as a 

 Power amongst the States of the world. Still, there is every 



probability that such work will be neglected until the events 

 which it should avert are upon us, and then it will be too late 

 to make provisions which now could be done cheaply, easily, 

 and effectively. 



A Proposed Remedy. 



The few attempts which have been made in this country to 

 promote the study of geography or to diminish the discourage- 

 ments to geographical research have had but slight success. 

 Much has been done to improve geographical teaching by the 

 Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Scottish Geographical 

 Society, the Geographical Association, this Section of the 

 British Association, and other bodies ; but that is not my theme. 

 I refer to the little that has been done towards the elaboration 

 of a geographical theory and the elucidation of geographical 

 processes. Amongst the not inconsiderable number of 

 teachers of geography in the Universities and Colleges of 

 Great Britain there is not one man who receives a 

 salary on which he can live in decent comfort so as^ to 

 devote all his time, or a substantial part of it, to geographical 

 research ; and the same is true of every official of all the 

 geographical societies. Not one is paid an_income suffieientto 

 enable him to devote the time not occupied loy mechanical routine 

 to any other purpose than supplementing his income by out- 

 side work — writing text-books, correcting examination papers, 

 perhaps even practising journalism. If by an eftort and the 

 sacrifice of some of the comforts considered necessary by most 

 people of the professional classes he devotes a few odd hoijrs 

 now and then to some original research, he finds very few^ to 

 consider it seriously ; some friendly expressions of opinion 

 possibly, but scarcely a reader ; and it counts for nothing, save, 

 perhaps, in enhancing the reputation of his country in other 

 lands where scientific work, no matter in what department, is 

 valued in a due degree. All this must be changed before much 

 progress can be made. No doubt a giant of genius would ignore 

 all obstacles and pursue his work regardless of recognition ; but 

 such giants are not to be looked for many times in a century. 

 It should be made possible for a man of fair abilities to receive 

 as much opportunity, encouragement, recognition and reward for 

 good work in geography as for good work, let us say, in 

 chemistry or electricity. That is all that can reasonably be 

 asked, and that is what is freely accorded in other countries 

 where the status of the man of science is higher than it is with 

 us. It is here that help may be hoped for from the Scottish 

 Universities in the strength of their nesv endowments. If a 

 Chair of Geography were instituted with the purpose of pro- 

 moting research first and teaching afterwards, properly equipped 

 with books, maps, and apparatus, and held on the understanding 

 that no outside work was to be undertaken, something might yet 

 be done to restore our country to the position it held a century 

 and a half ago, when a text-book of geography was published 

 without a thought of sarcasm, containing a frontispiece repre- 

 senting " Britannia instructing Europe, Asia, Africa, and 

 America in the Science of Geography." 



SECTION H. 

 Anthropology. 

 Opening Address by Prof. D. J. Cunningh.\m, M.D., 

 D.Sc, LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., President of the 

 Section. 



Twenty-five years have passed since the British Association 

 met in Glasgow. This is a long time to look back upon, and 

 yet the period appears short when measured by the great advance 

 which has taken place in almost all branches of knowledgje. 

 Anthropology has shared in the general progress. The dis- 

 coveries made within its confines may not have been so 

 startling, nor yet have had such a direct influence upon the 

 material welfare of the people, as in the case of other fields of 

 scientific study, but its development has been steady and con- 

 tinuous, and it has grown much in public estimation. 



At the Glasgow meeting of the Association in 1S76 Anthro- 

 pology held a subsidiary position. It only ranked as a Depart- 

 ment, although it gained a special prominence through having 

 Alfred Russel Wallace as its Chairman. It waSTiot until several 

 years later that it became one of the recognised Sections of the 

 .Association, and attained the high dignity of having a letter of 

 the alphabet allotted to it. But quite independently of its official 

 status it has always been a branch of study which has been 

 accorded a large amount of popular favour. The anthropological 



NO. 1665, VOL. 64] 



