446 



NA TURE 



[August 31, 1905 



founded on times occupied on journeys, other knowledge 

 was enlisted in the cause. 



Astronomy was soon recognised as the only means by 

 which to ascertain the distances of places far apart and 

 separated by seas, but for many centuries this could only 

 be applied to latitude. Still the scientific geographer had 

 to study and use the astronomical and geodetic methods 

 known. 



As knowledge increased, the subjects became too wide 

 to be strictly considered as one study, and many have 

 become the objects of special research under different titles. 



Geodesy deals with the precise form of the earth and its 

 dimensions. 



Geology studies the nature of the materials forming the 

 earth's crust, and the changes in it in past ages. 



Ethnology and Anthropology treat of the different races 

 of mankind. 



The study of Economics takes note of the conditions of 

 communities and nations, their laws and systems of 

 government. 



Botany and Zoology now concern themselves with the 

 details of vegetable and animal life. 



Archcrology investigates the remains of past civilisations 

 which cover the earth. 



Meteorology strives to unravel and reduce to law the 

 complicated conditions of the atmosphere, its continual 

 movements, and the results which have such varying effect 

 on our daily life. 



Oceanography, the study of the phenomena of the sea 

 as distinct from the dry land, is still regarded as an 

 integral part of Geography, but is rapidly becoming a 

 subject by itself. 



Of all these subjects Geography may be considered to be 

 the parent ; and though the family be large and has gone 

 off on many separate lines, it is necessary when taking a 

 large and comprehensive view of the united results of 

 knowledge thus gained, especially from the point of view 

 of Distribution, to return to that parent and consider them 

 on a general or geographical basis. 



f cannot pretend to define Geographical Science in a 

 clearer or shorter form than that in which it has been 

 already put by General Sir Richard Strachey, and I will 

 quote his words : — 



" To investigate and delineate the various features of 

 the earth, to study the distribution of land and sea, and 

 their effects upon climate, the configuration and relief of 

 the surface, positions on the globe, and so forth, facts 

 which determine the existent conditions of various parts 

 of the earth, or which indicate former conditions, and to 

 ascertain the relations that exist between those features 

 and all that is observed on the earth." 



Strabo, in the opening- words of his introduction to his 

 great Geography, puts it thus : — 



" If the scientific investigation of any subject be the 

 proper avocation of the philosopher, Geography, the science 

 of which we propose to treat, is certainly entitled to a 

 high place. In addition to its vast importance in regard 

 to social life and the art of government. Geography unfolds 

 to us the celestial phenomena, acquaints us with the occu- 

 pants of the land and ocean, and the vegetation, fruits, 

 and peculiarities of the various quarters of the earth." 



This was written when Geography included all natural 

 science, and before it gave birth to so many separate 

 subjects ; but it sets forth so admirably the aims which 

 the geographer still pursues that it is worthy of remem- 

 brance. 



It is not advocated, nor is it in any way necessary, that 

 all should study Geography in the extended sense thus 

 indicated ; but it cannot be too strongly pointed out that 

 an educated man — and education is now essential to the 

 successful conduct of affairs — must have a considerable 

 knowledge of the elementary facts of Geography. 



These elementary facts are, it is true, of the nature of a 

 lesson, and must be learnt, so to speak, by heart by the 

 aid of maps and books ; but this is nothing more than 

 making use of the labours of others without which no 

 advance is possible in any subject, and is common to all 

 studies. 



We must, in fact, distinguish between the science of 

 Geography, which consists in ascertaining and coordinating 

 new facts, and putting them into a shape for the use of 



NO. 1870, VOL. 72] 



others, which is the work of comparatively few ; and the 

 practical Geography which consists of making use of that 

 work, and, as in many other branches of science, is within 

 the reach of all who choose to devote time to it. 



It is the object and business of the British Association 

 to try to interest their fellow-countrymen in all branches 

 of knowledge, to gain if possible more workers in science, 

 but at any rate to induce all educated persons to take 

 advantage of the solid work done by others towards the 

 elucidation of the details of the glorious Nature which 

 surrounds us on all sides, and in so niany forms, and 

 without which ignorance and superstition, those primary 

 bars to the advancement of mankind, can never be 

 banished. 



It is impossible to have a clear comprehension of history, 

 whether past or current, without calling in the aid of 

 Geography ; but unfortunately much history has been 

 written and taught without such aid. 



To read the daily paper requires either geographical 

 knowledge or constant reference to maps ; and if readers 

 would only make a practice of such reference on every 

 occasion when they are at fault, they would soon find 

 themselves acquiring knowledge of the greatest use to them 

 in the easiest and most interesting manner, and with the 

 smallest expenditure of time. 



The mistakes made even by those responsible for the 

 conduct of public affairs, by reason of the want of this 

 essential but elementary knowledge, are innumerable, and 

 to this day there are many who consider themselves highly 

 educated and capable men who cannot even rightly under- 

 stand a map. 



As I have before indicated, good maps are the founda- 

 tion of all sound geographical knowledge, and these maps 

 must be founded on good surveys. 



Now a good survey is a comparatively modern opera- 

 tion, and the parts of the world that have been subjected 

 to it are small indeed. 



It is true that we now have general maps of the larger 

 parts of the world, which more or less convey a fair re- 

 presentation of the configuration of land and sea when 

 large areas are considered, but details are sadly lacking 

 almost everywhere. 



It is not astonishing, for to make the necessary surveys 

 requires an enormous expenditure of both time and money, 

 and the latter is hard to get until the necessity for its 

 expenditure is patent to the smallest intelligence. Thus 

 many countries long settled and in a high state of civilisa- 

 tion are still without any organised system of survey or 

 maps, and even in the United Kingdom it is only from the 

 year 1784 that a proper survey was established of the 

 British Isles, though no maps were published from it until 

 1801 : and it has proceeded so slowly that it has only 

 recently been in one sense completed, while its revision, 

 badly wanted on account of changes, is still in active 

 prosecution, and must be continued ad infinitum. 



Such indifference is, however, giving way to experience 

 of the results of absence of proper maps, and all who wish 

 well to the progress of South Africa must be pleased at 

 finding that their provision has been taken in hand on such 

 an admirably scientific basis as is provided by the Trigono- 

 metrical Survey, now far advanced, and the successful 

 progress of which is, I believe, greatly due to the in- 

 exhaustible energy of my friend Sir David Gill, who seems 

 to find time to promote and aid all branches of know- 

 ledge, and that steps are now being taken to prosecute 

 the detailed topographical survey and provide good maps. 



To many people one map is as good as another. They 

 do not pause to consider on what it is based, or what 

 degree of accuracy it probably possesses, but so long as 

 there is a map they are satisfied. 



A vast number of existing maps are compiled from the 

 roughest materials : in partly occupied countries, from 

 drawings of small areas placed together as can best be done, 

 by means of places here and there the relative positions 

 of which are fairly known by distances along roads, with 

 perhaps in some cases angles and astronomical positions : 

 in less civilised parts by routes of travellers laid down by 

 estimation of the distance traversed and direction of march, 

 checked perhaps by a few astronomical observations of 

 more or less value as the traveller possesses or does not 

 possess the necessary skill. 



