TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 715 



grapliy were given by a number of specialists. On the basis of the report and its 

 recommendations, the Council of the Royal Geographical Society took action in 

 order to improve the position of geography in the British Islands. The result 

 during- the past six years has, on the whole, been satisfoctory. 



Lecturers (ranking with professors) of geography have been appointed at the 

 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, where before the subject was not recog- 

 nised. The Oxford lecturer, Mr. H. J. Mackinder, has been most successful, and 

 at that university the subject is taking an important place, both on its own 

 account and in its relations to the historical and scientific studies of the university. 

 It is hoped that in Cambridge equally satisfactory progress will be made. 



The great public schools are influenced by the universities ; but as yet the 

 general subject is not recognised in these schools as it ought to be, though physical 

 geography is generally taught. Even in these schools, however, there are signs 

 of improvement. Among the mass of middle-class schools, the subject is spread- 

 ing, and a higher conception begins to prevail. 



In the elementary schools, which are now under Government jurisdiction, the 

 programme prescribed is highly satisfactory, though unfortunately the subject is 

 not compulsory. In the training colleges or normal schools the position of geo- 

 graphy is, on the whole, satisfactory ; the Royal Geographical Society awards 

 prizes each year on the results of the examinations in geogi-aphy in the normal 

 schools. 



In the lectures which are given all over the country to thousands of students 

 by members of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, geography holds an 

 important place. What is known as commercial geography is also attracting 

 great attention. 



As a result of the action of the Society the general conception of geography has 

 greatly improved in England ; the leaders of the movement of reform, following 

 Ritter and Peschel and their disciples, regard geography mainly as dealing with 

 the earth's surface as the topographical environment of humanity. 



3. Trees and Prairies. By Miller Christy. 



4. The Homolocjy of Continenis. By Dr. Hugh R. Mill, F.E.S.E. 



5. On the Comparative Value of African Lands. By Arthur Silva White, 

 F.B.S.E., Secretary to the Moyal Scottish Geographical Society. 



This paper explained the principles on which a novel map of Africa has been 

 designed by the author to illustrate (1) areas of highest resistance against the 

 European domination, (2) areas of highest relative value to the European PowerS; 

 and (3) the intermediate or transitional regions. A free reading of the map shows 

 the lines of least resistance against the European domination in Africa. 



FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. 

 The following Papers were read : — 



1. On Acclimatisation.^ By Robert W. Felkin, M.D. 



The subject of acclimatisation increases in importance every year, and during 

 the past few years many papers have been read in reference to it. It is therefore 

 \ery difdcult to find anything new to say about it. There are two schools of 



' Printed in full in the Scottish OeojrapMcal Magazine, p. 647, December 1891. 



