October 5, 1905] 



NA TURE 



561 



A large number of papers were read on the morn- 

 ings of the two following days. As a special feature 

 of the papers and presidential addresses was their 

 bearing on South African questions, exceptional 

 interest was taken in the sectional proceedings. 



The following excursions were made on August 

 17: — (i) botanical excursion to the Kloof Nek; 

 (2) visit to Groote Schuur for lady members of the 

 British Association by invitation of the Loyal 

 Women's Guild of South .Africa; (3) visit to the 

 Central Electric Station of the Cape Town Corpor- 

 ation. In the evening a lecture was given in the 

 City Hall before a crpwded audience on " VV. J. 

 Burchell's Discoveries in South Africa," bv Prof. 

 E. B. Poulton, F.R.S. 



The afternoon of August 18 was devoted to 

 excursions ; and a reception was held by Sir David 

 and Lady Gill at the Royal Observatory. In the 

 evening a lecture was given in the City Hall on 

 ■' Some Surface Actions of Fluids " bv Mr. C. V. 

 Boys, F.R.S. 



Saturday, .August ig, was devoted entirely to the 

 following excursions: — (i) geological excursion; 

 (2) Wellington; (3) De Beers Explosive Works; 

 (4) Houts Bav ; (5) Groot Constantia and Tokai ; 

 (6) Robben Is'land; (7) Stellenbosch ; (8) .Admiralty 

 Works at Simons Town and Marine Station at .St. 

 James; (9) Table Mountain via Saddle Face; (10) 

 Table Mountain vid. Wynberg ; (11) Table Mountain 

 viA Kasteel Poort. 



Dr. W. Flint (librarian to the Houses of Parlia- 

 ment), who accompanied the association throughout 

 its entire journey, has undertaken to send N.WURE 

 some account of the Xatal, Johannesburg, and 

 Rhodesian proceedings. The following notes are 

 from a letter just received, with the promise of a 

 further instalment by the next mail. 



On the termination of the meeting in Cape Town 

 the main body of the members of the association pro- 

 ceeded to Durban in the L^nion Castle steamers Saxon 

 and Dtirham Castle. The former steamer left the 

 docks on Friday evening, .August 18, and its 

 passengers were debarred from taking part in the 

 numerous Cape Town excursions which had been 

 arranged for the Saturday. The Saxon passengers 

 had, however, the advantage of brief visits to Port 

 Elizabeth and East London, at each of which ports 

 of call a few hours were spent, and hospitality was 

 tendered by the mayor and citizens. The Durham 

 Castle proceeded direct to Durban, and, making a 

 record passage, arrived a little in advance of the mail 

 steamer. A party of some thirty persons elected to 

 proceed to Durban overland in one of the trains pro- 

 vided by the Cape Government, which was pro- 

 ceeding to Durban to meet the steamers. A special 

 geological excursion through the Hex River Pass on 

 to the Karroo captured a few enthusiasts, who, under 

 the guidance of Mr. A. W. Rogers, of the Cape Geo- 

 logical Survey, spent a few days which proved to be 

 of great interest. These members necessarilv had to 

 deprive themselves of the pleasure of the Natal section 

 of the tour. The trip overland to Durban, which 

 occupied four nights and three days, was unanimouslv 

 voted a great success, and as several of the passengers 

 are proceeding to England by Beira and the east 

 coast, the opportunity of seeing the Karroo was much 

 appreciated. 



The two days spent in Durban and the neighbour- 

 hood were very fully occupied, the hospitable ideas 

 of the mayor and his numerous helpers having pro- 

 vided a verv attractive programme. Tuesdav morn- 

 ing, .August 22, was occupied in settling down and 

 taking the bearings of the town, and early in the 

 afternoon a public welcome was tendered bv the 

 mayor, Mr. Henwood, to which Prof. Darwin re- 



NO, 1875, VOL. 72] 



sponded. .A garden party generously given by Sir 

 Benjamin Greenacre, for which very elaborate prepar- 

 ations had been made, was partly spoiled by a heavy 

 thunderstorm, but large numbers braved the down- 

 pour and were rewarded by seeing a few of the glories 

 of the Berea. 



Two lectures were given in Durban to very large 

 audiences. -Mr. Douglas W. Freshfield discoursed on 

 " Mountains— the Highest Himalaya," and Prof. 

 W. -A. Herdman on " Marine Biology." 



The second day in Durban was occupied chiefly with 

 excursions. Perhaps the first place was taken by the 

 entertainment provided bv the Hon. Marshall Camp- 

 bell at the Mount Edgecombe Sugar Estate. The 

 contrast afforded bv a Zulu war dance and a demon- 

 stration by Christia'n native girls was an object lesson 

 which many were glad to have seen. 



The excursion to Umkomaas was scarcely less 

 enjoved, the romantic subtropical scenery being a 

 revelation to many of those who were privileged tcf be 

 present. The botanists especially seemed to revel m 

 the opportunity, the wealth of Strelitzias in their 

 native habitat being particularly attractive. 



On Thursday morning, .August 24, the whole party 

 left in four trains, to be known henceforth as A, _B, 

 C, and D trains, and arrived about mid-day in Maritz- 

 biirg. The journev is one of the most attractive in 

 Sou'th .Africa, passing in its earlier stages through 

 suo-ar banana, and pine-apple plantations, and ascend- 

 ing rapidly to the Botha Hill heights, from which 

 views of ■ singular extensiveness and beauty are 

 obtained. On reaching Maritzburg admirably com- 

 plete arrangements were found to have been made, 

 and members found themselves welcomed with great 

 cordiality bv Mr. A. W. Kershaw, the Mayor, and a 

 host of "wiUing citizens who had thrown themselves 

 with great zeal into their task. 



His Excellencv Colonel Sir H. E. McCallum held 

 a garden party 'at Government House which was a 

 very successful' function, and in the evening the Town 

 Ha'll was thronged when His Excellency and the 

 Mavor gave addresses of welcome. Colonel Bruce 

 followed" with a lecture on " Sleeping Sickness " 

 which created great interest. 



On the following dav there were visits to the 

 Government experimental farm and the Government 

 laboratory, but it is to be feared that these were some- 

 what overshadowed bv the Kafir dance and wedding 

 which took place at Henley. The wedding was that 

 of a young hereditarv chief, and was preceded by the 

 various dances and ceremonies customary on such an 

 occasion. Never, probably, were so many photo- 

 graphs taken on a single day in Natal. The cameras 

 were legion, and some of the photographers were not 

 content with less than two or three dozen of pictures. 



In the evening the young Natalian member of the 

 ofl^cial party, jSIr. H.'D. Ferrar, by special request, 

 gave a lecture on "Antarctic Regions," he having 

 been a member of the Discoverv Antarctic Expedition. 



Both in Durban and Maritzburg all members of 

 the association had free use of the municipal trams, 

 and nothing was left undone to ensure the comfort 

 and enjovm"ent of the visitors, who in their turn were 

 loud in their praises of the reception accorded. 



TWO REPORTS OF THE FRENCH 

 GLACIER COMMISSION. 



A RECORD of observations on snowfall and 

 avalanches undertaken by the Forestry Depart- 

 ment of Savov during 1904 on the south-west flank of 

 Mont Blanc is contained in a paper entitled " Observ- 

 ations sur I'Enneigement et sur les Chutes 

 d '.Avalanches," issued by the Commission frangaise 

 des Glaciers (Paris : Club .Alpin frangais). The 



