132 REPORT— 18G4. 



certain points, far exceeds the heights of the loftiest mountains above it. Another 

 and still more startling- result of modern research is the ftxct that, in dredging the 

 bottom of the North Atlantic Sea, living starfish were brought up from a depth 

 of a mile and a half, and were alive, even preserving their colour, when examined 

 on the spot by Dr. Wallich. 



If we turn for a moment from the advances iu geographical research made by 

 our own countrymen, we must admit that, of all foreign countries, Russia has of 

 late years been most eminent in this respect. The Geographical Society of St. 

 Petersburg wields not only the power and influence of the Imperial Government 

 of Russia, but receives also large grants of public money, which have enabled it 

 to carry on simultaneous researches in the steppes near the Caspian and in the 

 Caucasus, and also to describe the grand natural features of Central Asia, the 

 boundaries of the Chinese Empire, and the whole river-sjstem of the mighty 

 Amur with its numerous ailkieuts. In this way serious geographical errors have 

 been corrected and new features laid down (by positive observations) on maps; 

 whilst the natural history of the animals and plants, as well as of the human 

 inhabitants of large regions, of which little was previously known, has been fully 

 developed. These data are accompanied by ethnological and statistical descrip- 

 tions of the inhabitants of Eastern Siberia, of the great island of Saldialin, of Mon- 

 golia, and the new territory of the Russians on the right bank of tlie Ussmi River, 

 with its coast-lino extending southwards almost to Japan. Of the latter region, 

 indeed, we had, until ■\'ery recently, only the most imperfect knowledge. 



Returning to the labours of our o^vn coimtrymen, I might expatiate for a long 

 time on their discoveries in other distant lands. E-\en in the vast ancient empire 

 of China, so civilized in many respects, it is but of late years that its gi-andest 

 river, the Yangtsze-lviang, was opened out to British commerce, through the 

 energy of the Earl of Elgin and Captain Sherard Osborne ; whilst the upper part 

 of this mighty stream has since been followed to 1800 miles above its mouth, and 

 admirably laid down on a detailed map by Blakiston. 



Then, agaui, we hope to welcome here that indefatigable explorer of various 

 distant lands, our Medallist, Sir Robert Schomburgk, on his arrival from Siam, 

 where he has been British Consul-General for several years, and of which peculiar 

 kingdom he is thoroughly well qualified to give you a most interesting account. 



Omitting almost entirely to notice Avhat foreign geographers and ethnologists 

 have accomplished, I have touched thus briefly upon some of the researches of our 

 countrymen, because I address a Section of the British Association ; but I must 

 not occupy too much of your time by retrospective views when we ought to be 

 gathering fresh fruits. 



There is, however, one subject for your consideration, on which I must say a few 

 words. Whether judging from the great advances which have been mentioned, 

 or from what you may have heard or read elsewhere, j^ou must not for a moment 

 imagine that so great have been the discoveries, that our vocation as explorers of 

 new lands is likely to come to an end. On this point men of high intellectual 

 attainments, who do not carefully considt maps, are apt to be deceived ; and I wUl 

 therefore indicate a few of the grand geographical problems which remain to be 

 solved. 



At the last anniversary festival of the Roy.al Geographical Socioty, the Right 

 Honourable W. Gladstone, after congratulating geographers on their successful 

 progress, thus addressed them : — " There is nothing to do now but to congTatulate 

 you on your proud position, and to express a confident hope that you will go on as you 

 have done. The only apprehension which I think the most sensitive of your friends 

 can entertain, is one connected with the approaching exhaustion of that scene to 

 which, at present at least, yom- laboiu's are confined — I mean the limited surface of 

 the globe itself. Alexander, in his day, thought he might reach a point in his 

 career when he would desire to have new worlds to conquer. You, too, gentlemen, 

 seem likely, at some time or other, to reach that point." 



Now, whatever meaning my eloquent friend may have attached to the words 

 " some time or other," let me assm-e you. Ladies and Gentlemen, that that time is 

 indeed very remote, as you wiU admit when I simply lay before you a few facts re- 

 specting certain distant regions, You will then see how very long a time must 



