A WEST INDIA ISLAND. 
460 
In the opinion of all experts who are familiar with the require- 
ments of an Antarctic Expedition, it is essential for its efficient conduct 
and for its success that it should be commanded and officered by naval 
men, and be under naval discipline. It therefore becomes necessary 
to apply to Iter Majesty’s Government to undertake the organization 
and despatch of an Antarctic Expedition ; and thus the question of 
expense arises. 
There is reason to expect, from the letter addressed by the 
Secretary of the Treasury to the Under Secretary of State for the 
Colonies on the 3rd of January, 1888, a copy of which is enclosed, 
that, when the time comes for requesting Her Majesty’s Government 
to undertake the despatch of an Antarctic Expedition, the co-operation 
of the Australasian colonies, by contributing towards its cost, will go 
a long way towards securing favourable consideration for the repre- 
sentations of scientific and other bodies interested in such an 
enterprise. 
Although an Antarctic Expedition on a suitable scale is an enter- 
prise that ought to be undertaken by Her Majesty’s Government, 
the Australasian colonies are interested in its despatch and in its 
success, and might probably contribute towards its cost. A small 
grant from each colony would, it is believed, with reference to the 
Treasury letter of January, 1888, almost oblige Her Majesty’s 
Government to enter upon the good and useful work of Antarctic 
research, while such a step must commend itself as a wise political 
measure. Nothing would tend more to strengthen the cordial feeling 
between the mother country and the colonies than co-operation in a 
work which cannot fail to be useful to all. When the labours of the 
explorers are completed, the mother country and the colonies will 
alike find themselves enriched by a large and valuable accumulation 
of knowledge, much of which will be of practical use to navigators 
who frequent the Australasian shores. 
I trust that these considerations will commend themselves to the 
members of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of 
Science, that they will see the great advantage of this co-operation, 
and will use their influence to prevail upon the Australian Govern- 
ments to give favourable consideration to the letters which have been 
addressed to their Agents- General by the Royal Geographical Society. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, 
President, Royal Geographical Society. 
The Secretary of the Australian Association for the Advancement of 
Science. 
2.— A WEST INDIA ISLAND. 
By His Excellency General Sir H. W. NORMAN, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., C.I.E. 
The title of the paper I am about to read is “ A West India 
Island,” and I may at once say that the island about which I propose 
to treat is Jamaica. My reasons for selecting this subject are that it 
seems to me on these occasions the topic should be one of which the 
