142 
COMPARING GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCES. 
from New York to Charleston and the length of Lower California are 
each one unit. 
In South America I may mention first of all that the extent of 
Brazil is roughly about twice that of European Russia, and the re¬ 
maining countries with the exception of the Argentine Republic, which 
is of considerable extent, generally contain one measurement of 750 
miles, but not necessarily the maximum measurement. You will thus 
from their shape observe that they are larger than the European 
countries, in which 750 miles generally represents the maximum 
measurement. Colombia, Ecuador, north of Peru, Bolivia, from Buenos 
Ayres to Valparaiso, all measure 750 miles. The three Guianas 
measure rather less than 750 miles and Venezuela rather more. Hence 
from the distances I have given this evening I think one can form 
some idea of what the rectification of the frontier ought to be for the 
purposes of this lecture (laughter). 
AUSTRALIA. 
The mean breadth of Queensland east to west is one unit, of New 
South Wales one unit. The coast line of New South Wales one unit, 
not quite as the crow flies. The mean breadth of South Australia 
one unit, Western Australia is slightly more. 
In conclusion I may add that the printed slips showing the distances— 
which have been distributed this evening—are designed to enable one 
to grasp the general proportions of the countries under consideration, 
and, just as a military reconnaissance sketch can be developed from a 
field-book, to enable one mentally to reconstruct these countries. I 
have fouud it of assistance to lay out the distances given with strips 
of wood of equal length, for example lucifer-matches, each of which 
may be regarded as the unit of 750 miles. I will give you an instance 
on the blackboard, by drawing India, of how this may be done. I mark 
out from Karachi to Goa; from Goa to Point de Galle; from Point de 
Galle to Masulipatam ; from Masulipatam to the mouth of the Ganges 
(drawing the same on the blackboard). This represents the western 
frontier of India—Rawul Pindi and roughly Allahabad—Manipur— 
The general run of the coast line will be this : Ceylon—east 
coast—From Bombay across India is 750 miles. There would be 
Calcutta, from Surat to the Himalayas there; Bombay to Allah¬ 
abad or rather to Lucknow; then the general run of the Hima¬ 
layas would be so (drawing the sameJ. Here of course would be 
Karachi; here would be Allahabad, and there north of Manipur; south 
of Burmah would be somewhere here; that if you can see it 
shows how a certain general idea of the Indian frontier may be 
grasped. 
As it has been necessary for me throughout to keep my eyes fixed on the 
map, my dissertations have necessarily been of an extempore character, 
I must "therefore apologise for tautology and want of symmetry which 
