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. ach 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. 

