E.— GEOGRAPHY. 127 



our responsibilities in our African Empire are very great. We can only 

 solve our problems by applying to them the energies of our best brains, 

 working in a sjairit of objective detachment, studying failures and successes 

 with a view to building up gradually a body of knowledge and experience 

 which will render mistakes few and successes great. In this task we shall 

 have to rely not only upon the continued efforts of those officials and 

 unofficials who are actually working in Africa, but also on the men of 

 science over a whole range of human experience such as are meeting under 

 the auspices of the British Association. 



There is no finer field for scientific investigation and endeavour than our 

 tropical dependencies, and I should regard myself as fortunate if I were 

 able on this occasion to arouse your interest in matters of great importance 

 not only to the Empire but to the advancement of human welfare. 



