274 _ REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF TROPICAL AFRICA. 
Report of Committee appointed to inquire into the present state of Know- 
ledge of the Human Geography of Tropical Africa and to make 
recommendations for furtherance and development (Prof. P. M. Roxsy, 
Chairman; Prof. A. G. OciLviE, O.B.E., Secretary; Prof. C. B. 
Fawcett, Prof. H. J. FLeure, Mr. E. B. Happon, Mr. R. H. 
Kinvic, Mr. J. McFarvane, Col. M. N. MacLeop, D.S.O., M.C., 
Prof. J. L. Myres, F.B.A., Mr. R. U. Sayce, Rev. E. W. Smiru, 
Brig. H. S. L. WInTERBoTHAM, C.M.G., D.S.O.). 
Past ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE. 
THE Committee, which was first appointed after the Oxford Meeting of 
the Association in 1926, was occupied during the first period of its work 
in bringing its proposed activities to the notice of a wide circle of people 
in Africa who are in a position to supply data. This was most effectively 
done by the issue of a pamphlet of 46 pages, first printed in 1930 and re- 
printed in 1931, containing: (1) An introduction setting forth the nature 
of the gap in our knowledge of the material life of African natives, in so far 
as it relates to the use of land and is directly affected by local environment ; 
(2) a list of subjects upon which information is specially required ; and 
(3) reprints of two essays of the kind which the Committee desired to receive 
from residents throughout Africa, these reprints to be regarded as models. 
This pamphlet was sent: (1) in bulk to the Governments of the various 
British Colonies and Mandates in Tropical Africa, and was distributed by 
them to their local officers, and (2) to a number of selected missionaries 
and other residents. The response from members of the latter group has 
been slight, but there is every indication that the interest of Government 
Officers in various parts of Africa has been aroused. The Committee has 
already been able to procure publication of an essay by Mr. L.H.L. Foster on 
the Mlanje District of Nyasaland (Geography, 1932), and is now seeking pub- 
lication for two reports from Tanganyika Territory, by Mr. G. D. Popplewell 
and by Messrs. E. A. Leakey and N. V. Rounce respectively. Other docu- 
ments have been received which, though not suitable for separate publication, 
yet furnish much useful information. Among these are a paper by Mr. R. C. 
Northcote on the Rungwe District of Tanganyika Territory, and reports 
on specific points by officers of the Agricultural Department of Sierra 
Leone. To all of these gentlemen the Committee gratefully acknowledges 
its debt. 
The Committee has further obtained co-operation in several of the 
University Geography Departments in this country, especially with the 
view of constructing population maps of the African Colonies. 
NORTHERN RHODESIA. 
While the Governments of all the Colonies have helped the Committee 
by distributing the pamphlet, the Government of Northern Rhodesia 
1 Arrangements have now been made by which copies of the pamphlet may be 
obtained, price 7d., post free. from the Clerk, Geographical Association, Municipal 
High School of Commerce, Princess Street, Manchester. 
