SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—E. 401 
of the fact that Menorca is only twenty-five miles distant from Mallorca, the 
character of its climate is very different. ‘The smaller size of Menorca gives 
it a more maritime climate than its larger neighbour, and the absence of any 
protecting range of mountains leaves it more exposed to the winds. The 
cold dry north wind called Tramontana, which blows with great frequency 
in the winter half-year, limits the agricultural activities of the inhabitants. 
Life is much harder in Menorca than in Mallorca, and the density of popula- 
tion is considerably lower. 
Menorca was occupied by the British for three distinct periods in the 
eighteenth century. During the seventy years of the occupation roads 
were built and many other reforms were introduced, especially by Sir 
Richard Kane, who was Governor between 1712 and 1736. The seat of 
the capital was moved by the British in 1722 from Ciudadela to Mahon, 
which became an important naval base. Mahén soon surpassed Ciudadela 
in size and now contains about twice as many inhabitants as the old capital. 
The long period of foreign rule left behind some permanent marks. English 
sash windows and over a hundred English words, some in corrupt forms, 
are still in use. 
Prof. E. P. Steppinc.—The encroaching Sahara: increasing aridity in 
West Africa (3.30). 
During a tour made last year through parts of several British and French 
Colonies in West Africa it became possible to carry out some investigations 
into the increasing aridity of parts of the country and to study the influence 
which the southward encroachment of the Sahara exerted upon this 
problem. It is possible to attribute the present position to several well- 
known factors : 
(a) The method of agriculture practised throughout the Colonies by the 
population is ‘ shifting cultivation.’ A piece of forest is felled, the material 
burnt, when dry enough, and the seed of one or more crops sown on the 
area. The site is occupied for two to three years ; the cultivator then moves 
to another piece of forest. Forest thus utilised gradually becomes degraded : 
this accounts for the large areas of ‘ bush ’ or so-called savannah throughout 
the country. 
(6) To this agricultural practice must be added the habit of annually 
firing the forests so common in all the Colonies, and 
(c) The growing pressure of the large herds of cattle, sheep and goats 
which are pastured on the lands in the more northern areas. With the 
increase of the population and the herds under the settled administration 
now in force these practices are resulting in a growing desiccation of the 
soil and decreasing water supplies in parts of the country. 
(d) The question of the encroaching Sahara is discussed and it is shown 
that the great desert sands have advanced southwards 300 kilometres during 
the last three centuries. 
Saturday, September 7. 
Excursion to Norfolk Broads. Conducted by members of Norfolk 
Geographical Association (9.25). 
Sunday, September 8. 
Excursion to Scolt Head Island. Conducted by Mr. J. A. Steers (9.20). 
