The morning call., 1893-12-05
WORK FOR EXPLORERS.

u SCIeUtluC 6ADtulliOu TO Tic SOUTH
polar seas is suggested by DIR. John MUIR
ray for the purpose of sseertaining what
that comparatively unknown region does
contain of interest 10 mankind. The OBJ
Ject is not so much to reach the Antarctic
pole. although that achievement will moi
be neglected if it is possible, as to explore
the vast area of 100000 square miles,
abounding. at least, in aquatic life, and
perhaps rich in products of which man
can make use. The scientific mind will
also keep In view what the fossils of the
recovered land cliffs may tell him Of the
ages gone by in the long procession Of life
on the earth, and here and there it may
find link TO join broken chain. As
suggested, the expedition would not be
attended with much risk. The winters
and their horrors of exposure are to be
avoided by the ships returning TO clear
water when the ice begins TO form. This
renewed interest in the Antarctic may be
said to have been famed by this years
experience of several Dundee sealing YES
sells. The seals of the Arctic got scarce,
and the Dundee ships went south to try
fortune in region now little visited.
They succeeded far beyond expectations,
least alarmed at the presence o. man,
and getting full cargoes with very little
trouble.
Clements R. Markham. president of the
Royal Geographical Society, recently
pointed out that there are many spots on
this little globe which the explorer has yet
to attack and define on the map. No part
of the earth is without its terra incognita.
The Alps of Europe are, it seems. not
quite reduced to typographical nicely OF
description. and information is wanted on
the forests and the effects on climate.
Canada has about one-fourth of its area
still wild as far as science is concerned,
but much of this must be contiguous TO
the Arctic belt An immense amount of
work remains to be done in Africa.
There still are parts of 1t absolutely
untraversed. Stanley gave US a glimpse
OF new territory, and tracts quite
as large are yet open to the adven turous in
search of fame. The Sahara right down
10 the equator is very imperfectly known
the highlands of Abyssinia to the Indian
Ocean need this travellers attention. and
the sources Of the Nile are not yet ex-
hausted. Places that have been visited
u
toria Falls. have not yet had their longi-
tude determined with certainty. Many
things will change for the better In Africa
when Premier Cecil Rhodes has his land
telegraph stretched between CapetowD and
Cairo.
Asia is still good ground for the explorer.
1t is surprising that more is not known of
Southern Arabia, the valley of the
Euphrates. Persia, Nepaul and Thibe,.
All the country south of China and east of
India is vague on the mars. save along
the coast line, and there is much yet to
learn of people and natural products. The
English and French may be expected to
reduce this part Of the world to definite
geographical shape. There are portions of
Cent al America and vast portions of
South America, which still await the
thorough researches of the scientific trav-
eler, and, as THE CALL had occasion to
remark recently. even the peninsula of
Lower California abounds in surprises
bath for the geographer and the naturalist.
The traveller to-day must be a student as
we'll as an observer. lie is expected to be
a geologist, biologist or botanist, at least,
and must know enough of astronomy to
take observations. Wlthal he should be
facle aud accurate in description and be a
good photographer and sketcher. When
most successful he writes book, names a
few rivers and mountains, and earns fame.
Stanley alone among travellers has grown
rich by his adventures.