SHORT NOTES. 207 



Hints on Reconnaissance for Explorers in 

 Unsurveyed countries. 



The foUoii'ing Memorandum has been prepared and distributed 

 by the InteUigence Division of the War Office. It cannot but 

 prove useful to travellers and others in the Malay 

 Peninsula, and for this purpose it has been 



reprinted in the Journal. 



During- the last few years so much has been done in the 

 way of exploration, both in Africa and in Asia, that it may be 

 safely said that there is now no large portion of either continent 

 regarding the config'uration of which we have not some 

 information. 



Travellers in Africa, and still more in Asia, can no longer 

 hope to explore thousands of miles of country never before 

 visited by the white man, nor to discover hug"e mountain ranges 

 or g-igantic lake systems hitherto unknown. There still remains, 

 however, plenty of room for geographical, or. perhaps, to speak 

 niore correctly, for topographical enterprise. 



xilthough we now possess a knowledge of the main features 

 of the unsurveyed portions of the globe, sufficient work remains, 

 in the way of filling in detail, to occupy the energ-ies of our 

 explorers for many years to come. 



Owing partly to ignorance of the compiler's wants, and 

 partly to a want of appreciation of the manner in which our 

 improved knowledge of geography has affected the class of 

 mapping required, the sketches brought back by explorers are 

 often disappointing. It has been found that, in very many cases, 

 work over which the very greatest possible pains have evidently 

 been taken, is robbed of half or mora than half of its value, 

 owing to the traveller having neglected some precaution which 

 would have added little, if at all, to his labour. It is thought, 

 therefore, that a few hints, most of them suggested by actual 

 cases, may prove of use to intending explorers, and tend to 

 ensure their work attaining its full value. 



Scale to be adopted. 



(I). — Intending travellers are often at a loss what scale to 

 adopt, so a few remarks on the subject may not be out of place. 



