184 REPORT — 1861. 



the mountain was a yawning crater — a great oval opening with jagged lips, estimated 

 at about 1100 yards in length, with a mean width of 600, and about 350 in depth. 

 Looking from the mountain, the country below was hid by a canopy of cloud. The 

 estimated height of the edge of the crater above the level of the sea was 13,977 feet, 

 and the highest peak 14,177 feet. The Japanese who performed the pilgrimage 

 were generally dressed in white vestments, which on the summit were stamped 

 with various seals and images by the priests located there during the season. As 

 far as the T\Titer coidd learn, a verj' holy man, the founder of the Sintoo religion, 

 took up his residence on the mountain, and his spirit was still held to have influence 

 to bestow health and other blessings on those who made the pilgrimage. The 

 volcano had long been extinct. The latest eruption recorded was in 1707 ; and 

 the tradition was that the moimtain itself rose in a single night from the bowels of 

 the earth, a lake of equal dimensions appearing the same hour at Miaco. The time 

 occu^pied by the ascent of the mountain was eight hours, and the descent was ac- 

 complished in little more than three hours. The party slept two nights on the 

 mountain, and had greatly to congratulate themselves on the weather. 



On Australia, mcluding ilie Recent Explorations of Mr. Macdonald Stuart. 

 By the Hon. J. Baker, F.B.G.S. 



Mr. Baker gave a rapid sketch of the rise of the colonies of Australia and the 

 habits of the aboriginal inhabitants. Dming the last year or two, the amount of 

 gold discovered had rather diminished than increased ; and a considerable number 

 of hands were now employed in cidtivating the soil who were previously engaged 

 in the diggings. AU other exports were gradually increasing, and only population 

 was required to enlarge them to an almost imlimited extent. There were numerous 

 rich mineral deposits, and many places in which cotton might be grown with ad- 

 vantage. There was not a more loyal people imder the sun than the Australian 

 colonists. Mr. Baker then gave a few extracts from Mr. Stuart's journal of his last 

 expedition into the interior. After noticing the starting of the expedition, on the 

 2nd March, 1860, and the successive visits to Mount Hamilton, and Beresford, 

 "Williams, Milne's, Keck%vick, and other springs, the character of the countiy at the 

 West Neale, Frero, the Stevenson, Mount Humphries, the High Gum Creek, &c., 

 the arrival of the traveller at a small gum-creek under Mount Stuart on the 22nd 

 of April was refen-ed to — that being found, from observation of the sun, to be the 

 centre of Australia. A tree was there marked, and the British flag planted. It was 

 a mistake to suppose that the flowers in that country had no smell, a rose being 

 found vrith a sweet, strong perfume. Subsequent interesting adventures were 

 sketched, and the third unsuccessfid attempt of the traveller to make the Victoria 

 Kiver was alluded to, the journal concluding with the arrival of the party at Cham- 

 bers Creek. 



On tJie Mountains forminr/ the Eastern Side of the Basin of the Nile, and the 



Origin of the Designation ' Mountains of the Moon,' as applied to them*. 



By CnAELES T. Beke, Ph.D., F.8.A., F.R.G.S. ^x. 



This paper was in continuation of the author's commimications to the British 

 Association in the years 184('), 1848 and 18olt. 



It commenced ty stating that the gi'eat additions made to our geogTaphical 

 knowledge since the date of the author's previous couununications have all tended 

 to establish the substantial truth of the opinions therein expressed. 



In 1846 Dr. Beke described the Abessinian table-land as having its summit-line 

 towards the sea-coast, and thence falling gTodually towards the Nile ; which river 

 skirts the western flank of the high land, and is the sink into which all the rivers 

 flowing over the table-land are received. The fall of the Nile is so small, that Dr. 

 Beke then estimated its absolute elevation, in the fifth parallel of north latitude, 



* Printed in c.vtcnso in the ' Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal ' for October, 1861, 

 new series, vol. xiv. pp. 240-254. 



t See ' Keport of the British Association ' for 1846, Transactions of the Sections, pp. 70- 

 72 ; Eeport for 1848, Transactions of the Sections, pp. 63, 64; Eeport for 1851, Trans- 

 actions of the Sections, p. 84. 



