806 report— 1884. 



4. Mount Boraima in Guiana. By Everard F. im Thurn, M.A. 



The author described a project which he has formed with a view to explore and 

 if possible ascend Mount Rorainia, an extraordinary table-mountain, the most 

 remarkable of a very remarkable group, all of somewhat similar character, which 

 stand in the sandstone region of Guiana in latitude 5° 9' 40" N. and longitude 

 60° 48' W. The various attempts that have been made to acquire definite 

 information concerning Roraima by a few enterprising- travellers were enumerated, 

 together with the obstacles they encountered. Although the district contains 

 many streams, it is traversed by no large rivers such as would afford an easy 

 waterway for the boats of travellers who seek to penetrate it ; while its many and 

 abrupt mountains, and the scantiness of its population, render it no easy matter to 

 traverse the district on foot. To sum up, it appears that the mountain has been 

 examined at its southern and south-eastern points, and also at its eastern side ; its 

 northern end has been viewed from a distance ; and along its western side a 

 glimpse has been obtained from a point far to the south-west. The general, but 

 not universal, opinion of those who have seen Roraima is that it is inaccessible, 

 unless perhaps in a balloon. The author, however, doubts whether any traveller 

 has yet had sufficient experience of the mountain to pronounce an authoritative 

 decision, and the chief object of the projected journey is to acquire the necessary 

 data from which to judge whether it is accessible or not. He proposes to examine 

 the mountain as closely as possible on every side, and to make the ascent should 

 circumstances permit. He will further examine and collect the flora and fauna, 

 and investigate the condition of the little-known Arecoona Indians, in whose 

 district Roraima lies. Such are the objects for the attainment of which the author 

 has received the support of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society, 

 and for which he now seeks the support of the British Association. The route by 

 which he will endeavour to reach Roraima is to follow the course of the Potaro, a 

 new and as yet untried river, which rises at a point not very far distant from the 

 mountain, and forms the famous Kaieteur Fall. Judging by the experience gained 

 during two visits to the Fall, the author concludes that the requisite baggage must 

 be carried by boat as far as the Kaieteur, and up to the higher level from which 

 the river there falls. Thence he proposes to reach Chinebowie, a mission-station at 

 a distance of one and a half day's journey, and proceed in boats to a point some two 

 days further on, where, the Indians say, the Potaro forms another fall, as yet 

 unseen by white men, but which he hopes to pass in the same manner as Kaieteur, 

 and proceed to the head of the Potaro. From that point, he is assured, a path 

 leads to the head waters of the Cotinga river, where there are Indian settlements 

 close under the shadow of Roraima. 



5. Object Lessons in Geography. By E. G. Ravenstein, F.B.G.S. 



The author stated that the times when teachers of geography confined them- 

 selves to making their pupils acquainted with barren lists of places were happily 

 behind us, as far as concerned the leading schools. Nevertheless much remained 

 to be done until the teaching of that subject could be said to be carried on in a 

 manner thoroughly satisfactory. 



He conceived it to be the object of our elementary schools to make the pupils 

 thoroughly acquainted with the locality in which they lived, and advocated the 

 extensive use of object lessons in order to attain that object. 



SATURDAY, AUGUST 30. 



The Section did not meet. 



