208 SHORT iSOTES. 



The size of the scale is, of course, affected by the object in 

 view, but there are some considerations that apply generally to 

 all cases. 



The rapidity with which a traveller moves, and the amount 

 of time that he can afford to devote to topography, place a limit 

 to the amount of detail that he can hope to map. The proper 

 scale for him to use, then, is the smallest that will permit of his 

 showing- that amount of detail. 



The advantage of using the smallest possible scale is that 

 the explorer is thereby enabled to sketch more widely on each 

 side of his route, and the larger the area that he has on one 

 sheet of paper, the easier it will be for him to grasp the 

 configuration of the country. 



On the other hand, there are cases, for instance, when the 

 traveller moves along the winding bed of a river enclosed between 

 steep hills, or through thick bush in whirh it is difficult to plot on 

 a small scale the necessarily very short bearings. In such cases 

 it is advisable to plot the route on a conveniently large scale, and 

 transfer it by reduction to the general. 



As a general rule, for sketches not of a purely military 

 character, it may be said that one fourth or one fifth inch to a mile 

 is the largest that the traveller is likely to be able to work up to 

 (except in the cases mentioned above), while one eighth or one 

 tenth inch to a mile will be more suitable for any one who is not 

 devoting his time exclusively to topography. 



On the latter scales a large extent of country can be 

 embraced in one sheet, while the smallness of the area of paper 

 covered by the traveller's route and what he can see from it, has 

 a wholesome effect in urging him to make excursions on either 

 side. 



It may be said, therefore, that the ortside limits between 

 which travellers should select the scale of their general map, are 

 one half to one tenth inch to a mile. 



Starting and closing points. 



(II). — On receipt of any new work, the compiler begins by 

 locating it. 



The work should, therefore, commence from some well 

 known and, if possible, well fixed place shown on some published 

 map. The actual starting point should be described in the report 



