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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



that their fanciful picture has its drawbacks as may be seen 

 by a very slight consideration of the discomforts, disadvan- 

 tages and dangers to which the geologist is exposed. There 

 are many facts and circumstances to be taken into account 

 during the long and uninterrupted period of a season's field- 

 work besides those vicissitudes in the life of a geologist which 

 may be thought to impart a pleasant piquancy to an 

 absorbing pursuit. His severance, though temporary, from 

 civilization, means separation from wife, family, and friends ; 

 he cannot enjoy the luxury of a library although he may 

 constantly need to refer to his books with reference to his 

 current work. After morning rounds of from fifteen to 

 twenty-five miles, partly performed on foot under exposure 

 to the sun for from six to eight hours at a stretch, he has to 

 spend his afternoons in camp in writing and mapping work y 

 and such " spare " time as he can find must be employed in 

 keeping himself au courant with the progress of the science 

 he professes by reading up. the latest contributions to its- 

 extensive literature. 



So much for actual hard work and discomfort. "With 

 regard to dangers both to health and life, it should not be 

 forgotten that the geologist has frequently to pass through 

 districts where good water is hard to be found and to remain, 

 at times, for weeks together in malarious tracts of country \ 

 that he is occasionally exposed to risks from violent storms 

 and from wild beasts in jungly regions, and that he may at 

 any time, as often happens, be attacked by serious illness 

 when scores of miles away from medical aid. Nor whilst 

 thus arduously engaged and subjected to discomfort, loss of 

 health, and danger, is the actual brain-work required to 

 unravel the geology of a difficult or obscure country very 

 much less severe than that demanded from the occupant of 

 an editorial arm-chair in the composition of a critique on the 

 recorded results of a season's work. 



