TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 721 



the country between Assam and the Upper Irrawadi ; tlie Anglo-Russian survey of 

 the northern frontier of Afghanistan and Indian topographical survey in Biirmah, 

 the Kangra Hills and Panjab Native Hill States, the Andaman Islands and 

 Baluchistan ; and Colonel Tanner's exploration of the Tibetan frontier region. All 

 these are in Asia. In Africa the Portuguese and German expeditions — the latter 

 proving the Lualaba to be the true head-stream of the Congo ; the travels of the 

 Baptist missionaries : and Lieutenant Weissman's exploration of the Kasai were 

 honourably referred to ; and I may here mention that a highly interesting paper by 

 Sir Francis De Wiuton has been since added to the reports of the officers of the 

 Belgian International Association. The President further referred to work done 

 in the east of Africa by Mr. Last, and Bishop Smythies of the Universities' Mission, 

 as also by Major Sei-pa Pinto and his representative Lieutenant Cordozo in carry- 

 ing out the Portuguese expedition organised from the Mozambique ; to the pro- 

 ceedings of agents of German commercial societies ; to the sad fate which befell 

 Bishop Harrington at the hands of the King of Uganda ; and to Dr. Fischer's 

 adventurous but unsuccessful journey, with intent to ;-each tlie Russian traveller, 

 Dr. Junker, by moving along the eastern shores of Victoria Nyanza — an attempt 

 supported by Dr. Lenz (then at Stanley Falls) from the south-west. He also 

 touched on Mr. Thomson's negotiations in the Central Sudan ; Mr. Montagu 

 Kerr's hazardous journey from the south across the Zambesi ; Mr. Farini's passage 

 through the Kalahari desert, and Sir Charles Warren's surveys in Bechuanaland. 

 Besides Asia and Africa, public attention was drawn to Mr. Forbes' and other 

 expeditions for the exploration of New Guinea ; to the report of Mr. Simons on the 

 Goajira Peninsula, and that of Mr. Wyse on the Columbian Isthmus and Panama 

 Canal. South America, moreover, came in for a share of honour with respect to 

 the ascent of Mount Roraima. 



Among less known expeditions — of which something, however, has been heard 

 in this country through the scientific periodicals — may be mentioned one undertaken 

 by Dr. Bunge and Baron Toll for the Russian Imperial Geographical Society. 

 These explorers have been occupied during the past year in examining the northern 

 shores of the frozen sea and islands of New Siberia. The Upper Yana and its sea- 

 mouth were the points to which the chief attention of one or other of the travellers 

 was mainly directed, and the Baron explored three other rivers in the same locality. 

 A highly favourable report of the results obtained has been received, and this last 

 spring has probably witnessed a renewal of work. From the ' Proceedings of the 

 French Geographical Society ' we learn that in Eastern Siberia also the explorations 

 of M. Martin last autumn between the Lena and Amoor were so carefully 

 conducted that his itinerary has been accepted for adoption and pubhcation 

 by the Russian staff. Much might be said, too, about a recent scientific mission of 

 M. Aubry to Shoa and the coimtry of the Gallas ; a journey by one of the missionary 

 fathers to the plateau of Amboella east of the Portuguese territory of Mossamedes,. 

 and the active movement of the Government of the Argentine Republic and 

 individual explorers on the Bolivian frontier and the Vennejo and Pilumayo Rivers: 

 but time would fail me to repeat the nominal record only. "With one exception I 

 omit all reference to •' projected ' expeditions, of which the number is unusually 

 great. 



The exception will be disposed of in very few words. It relates, perhaps, rather 

 to a mooted subject than to a new project, the research of the Antarctic Polar 

 Seas, on which a paper was read last year at the Aberdeen Meeting by Admiral Sir 

 Erasmus Ommanney. Men's minds are so fully occupied at the present hour with 

 the thousand and one practical interests which arise like sparks out of the fast- 

 rolling wheel of Progi-ess, that the theory of an unknown polar region may not 

 possess the fascination which it exercised in days when steam power had been less 

 developed, and electricity had not exhibited a tenth part of its now familiar uses 

 and effects. Nevertheless, there is something to stir the imagination, even of this 

 unimaginative age, in the theory of a South Polar Sea ; and there is something 

 practical in the proposition besides, for it tends to give substance and meaning to 

 the unknown. If the object of exploring that comparatively neglected corner of 

 the globe commend itself, as I know it does, to many ; assuredly the project opens 

 1886, 3 A 



