134 Notes on Central Asia. [No. 3, 



Asia, which differ completely from those entertained by Humboldt ; 

 whose faith in the existence of volcanoes in the Celestial mountains 

 was as firm as that of Columbus in the existence of the New World, it 

 does not necessarily follow that I cast a shade (in itself impossible) on 

 the spirit of the great scientific genius of the age. Science is the 

 eternal aspiration of the whole human race towards truth, and truth 

 can only be grasped at out of a multitude of errors and misconceptions. 

 No one moreover is more liable to fall into such errors than the 

 pioneers of thought, who marshal their fellow creatures to the great 

 goal of truth, and call into existence words of new thoughts and 

 conceptions. 



These giant minds are followed by a train of disciples, for whom 

 the path of investigation, and the final solution of great scientific 

 problems, is rendered comparatively easy. Thus there are the men of 

 genius in science, or the master minds, who conceive great thoughts, 

 and the workmen who follow up such of these thoughts as are sus- 

 ceptible of elaboration. Each has his separate functions, but on the 

 most humble labourer in the field of science devolves the sacred duty 

 of pointing out and rectifying any error into which the eminent master 

 may have fallen. And in such a case, the obscure advocate of truth 

 should not be crushed by all the height and authority of genius, science 

 being a problem open to solution to all humanity, and recognising 

 no individuality or oligarchical superiority. The science of geography 

 has lately been deprived of two of its most brilliant leaders— Humboldt 

 and Ritter. To follow in their footsteps, to extend the circle of their 

 researches, to strive after that eternal truth which they eagerly sought 

 during their mortal careers, to correct the few errors which are inter- 

 spersed through the wide field of their enquiries, these are the duties 

 of every votary of science, even of the most humble grade, and will 

 serve as the best testimony of admiration and respect to our great 

 masters. May the present effort be taken as such an expression, and 

 as one of the many proofs, that dying, Humboldt and Ritter have 

 bequeathed to humanity a living record of their great genius. 



