210 
THE SCIENCE OF FRONTIER DELIMITATION. 
natural features, such as a straight line joining two fixed points, a 
parallel of latitude or a meridian of longitude, makes a very unsatisfactory 
frontier and one very difficult to mark off. And yet, when nothing is 
known of a country, such lines are unavoidable. When two fixed 
points are joined by a straight line, it is known how much territory is 
included on either side of them ; and when the exact position of one 
or more places in the territory adjoining that where the boundary which 
is being negotiated lies, are known, by adopting a parallel of latitude or 
a meridian of longitude as a boundary, it is easy to calculate how much 
territory is included within the frontier. If, on the other hand, the 
country being little explored, natural features, whose existence may be 
known, are used as boundaries, when these come to be examined, it 
may be found that their direction is very different in fact from what it 
had been imagined, and that the effect of the division agreed to is not 
at all what had been intended. In such cases, where the country is 
almost unexplored, geographical co-ordinates being fixed lines, and 
having a known distance from fixed points, divide a territory better 
than physical features whose course is unknown. This is the most 
that can be said for conventional lines, and that it should be necessary 
to adopt them at all is a reflection on the topographical qualifications 
of those who first obtain treaties which lead to such boundaries. 
Before concluding this branch of the subject, I think special attention 
should be drawn to the importance of the delimiting commissioner, 
being thoroughly conversant with the negotiations preceding the 
signing of the boundary agreement. During delimitation, incidents 
may arise, discussion on points in the agreement, the exact meaning 
of the wording, the reconciling or compromising of conditions, which, 
the survey of the ground makes it clear, cannot be carried out, and 
various other matters. If in these cases the commissioner has not 
mastered all the steps which the negotiations have passed through 
previous to the signing of the treaty, and the reasons for adopting the 
boundary as agreed upon, he is sure to find himself in difficulties, and 
may be led to commit serious mistakes. 
I have so far dealt with matters which precede the appointment of 
a delimitation commission ; I now go on to consider the work to be 
done when the commissioner has been selected. The first duty of this 
officer is to collect his instruments, stores, supplies, to arrange for a 
survey section from the Ordnance Survey, if a section is to accompany 
the commission, to draw their arms, equipment, camping necessaries, 
ammunition and food supplies, and to place himself in communication 
with the Foreign or Colonial Office, according as he is employed under 
the one or the other, and with the Intelligence Division of the War Office, 
so that he may be coached in all matters connected with the country 
he is going to. 
As regards instruments, I think in most cases the followiug list 
includes all that is necessary :■— 
1 6" alt. azimuth theodolite reading to 10". 1 
1 A second 6" azimuth theodolite for triangulating purposes, though not essential, would be 
very useful, and it would save the first theodolite from the knocking about "which the instrument 
used for triangulating must suffer. 
