TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E, 47 
gave birth to so many separate subjects ; but it sets forth so admirably the aims 
which the geographer still pursues that it is worthy of remembrance. 
It is not advocated, nor is it in any way necessary, that all should study 
Geography in the extended sense thus indicated; but it cannot be too strongly 
ointed out that an educated man—and education is now essential to the success- 
ul conduct of affairs—must have a considerable knowledge of the elementary facts 
of Geography. 
These elementary facts are, it is true, of the nature of a lesson, and must be 
learnt, so to speak, by heart by the aid of maps and books; but this is nothing 
more than making use of the labours of others without which no advance is pos- 
sible in any subject, and is common to all studies. 
We must, in fact, distinguish between the science of Geography, which con- 
sists in ascertaining and co-ordinating new facts, and putting them into a shape 
for the use of others, which is the work of comparatively few; and the practical 
Geography which consists of making use of that work, and which, as in many other 
branches of science, is within the reach of all who choose to devote time to it. 
It is the object and business of the British Association to try to interest their 
fellow-countrymen in all branches of knowledge, to gain if possible more workers 
in science, but at any rate to induce all educated persons to take advantage of the 
solid work done by others towards the elucidation of the details of the glorious 
Nature which surrounds us on all sides, and in so many forms, and without which 
ignorance and superstition, those primary bars to the advancement of mankind, can 
never be banished. 
It is impossible to have a clear comprehension of history, whether past or 
current, without calling in the aid of Geography ; but unfortunately much history 
has been written and taught without such aid. 
To read the daily paper requires either geographical knowledge or constant 
reference to maps; and if readers would only make a practice of such reference 
on every occasion when they are at fault, they would soon find themselves acquir- 
ing knowledge of the greatest use to them in the easiest and most interesting 
manner, and with the smallest expenditure of time. 
The mistakes made even by those responsible for the conduct of public affairs 
by reason of the want of this essential but elementary knowledge, are innumerable, 
and to this day there are many who consider themselves highly educated and 
capable men who cannot even rightly understand a map. 
As I have before indicated, good maps are the foundation of all sound geo- 
graphical knowledge, and these maps must be founded on good surveys. 
Now a good survey is a comparatively modern operation, and the parts of the 
world that have been subjected to it are small indeed. 
It is true that we now have general maps of the larger parts of the world, 
which more or less convey a fair representation of the configuration of land 
and sea when large areas are considered, but details are sadly lacking almost 
everywhere. 
It is not astonishing, for to make the necessary surveys requires an enormous 
expenditure of both time and money, and the latter is hard to get until the 
necessity for its expenditure is patent to the smallest intelligence. Thus many 
countries long settled and in a high state of civilisation are still without any 
organised system of survey or maps, and even in the United Kingdom it is only 
from the year 1784 that a proper survey was established of the British Isles, 
though no maps were published from it until 1801; and it has proceeded so slowly 
that it has only recently been in one sense completed, while its revision, badly 
wanted on account of changes, is still in active prosecution, and must be continued 
ad infinitum, 
Such indifference is, however, giving way to experience of the results of 
absence of proper maps, and all who wish well to the progress of South Africa 
must be pleased at finding that their provision has been taken in hand on such 
an admirably scientific basis as is provided by the Trigonometrical Survey, now far 
advanced, and the successful progress of which is, I believe, greatly due to the 
inexhaustible energy of my friend Sir David Gill, who seems to find time to 
