332 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—E. 
storms and other natural phenomena, which were being recorded and noted 
by chroniclers and travellers. 
Prominent among the thinkers of the time were William of Conches, 
Robert Grosseteste and Gervase of Tilbury. They, and others with them, 
dealt not only withthe elements of meteorology (wind, temperature and preci- 
pitation), but also with the climatic differences (both zonal and topographical) 
that were reported to exist upon the surface of the globe. Nor did some 
writers neglect the influence of climate upon man. In estimating their 
achievements in this branch of science two facts have to be remembered : 
(a) that the men of the Middle Ages were essentially country folk, and 
(b) that they may have reasoned within limited premises, but it cannot be 
denied that they reasoned well. 
Discussion on previous communications (4.15). 
Saturday, September 8. 
Excursion to Tarvis, Inverurie, Alford, Kildrummy, Loch Kinord, 
Aboyne, Coull, Slack and Loch Skene. 
Sunday, September 9. 
Excursion to Inverurie, Kildrummy, Dinnet, Burn o’ Vat, Banchory. 
Monday, September 10. 
Prof. W. W. Jervis——Social geography of Greenland (10.0). 
Greenland provides an excellent field for the study of social geography. 
It is unique in that the contacts between the Eskimos and white peoples 
have in the main been carefully controlled and the development of certain 
changes can, therefore, be studied systematically. ‘The results of the 
introduction of new materials and new weapons are obvious. Light calico 
and canvas tents, easily packed and light to carry, are being introduced at 
the expense of the native skin tents, despite their greater inability to keep 
out rain and to keep in heat. The importation of wood is reflected in the 
building of wooden houses on Danish models to replace native huts. Rifles 
and shot-guns are being increasingly used, sometimes with disastrous 
results. The former are found more in North Greenland than in South 
Greenland, where the harpoon remains the partner of the kayak and where 
the shot-gun is adapted for bird shooting. This, however, is fortunately 
not the whole story in Greenland. Since the later part of the eighteenth 
century, relief has always been granted to natives in economic distress. 
Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the Danish Government has 
adopted the policy of paying the Eskimo a fixed price for his products. 
From the money obtained from the sale of Greenland products in European 
markets, a sum equivalent to one-fifth of what the native has already been 
paid for his products is set aside and applied to ‘ the development of native 
culture and the uplifting of their condition.’ Some of this is distributed 
to the Kommuneraad and to the Sysselraad, and grants can be made for 
educational and medical services. Further, relief can be granted. Thus 
if a hunter is forced in an emergency to eat his dogs, he can be compensated. 
Again, a bonus can be declared, and the administration of this bonus has 
certain geographical implications which are discussed in the paper. 
