The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎337r] (26/232)

THE PRESIDENT’S OPENING ADDRESS, SESSION 1900-1901.
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Guatemala,’ which is most beautifully illustrated, with valuable chapters
on the Maya ruins, by Mr. Maudslay, and a most charming and interest
ing narrative of travel by Mrs. Maudslay. The biography of my old
friend Mr. Oswell, the companion of Livingstone, with an introduction
by Mr. Francis Galton, is very interesting, and contains a good deal
of hitherto unpublished matter respecting the early exploration of
Southern Africa. The Duke of Abruzzi’s ascent of Mount St. Elias, by
Dr. Filippo de Filippi, is a beautifully illustrated work, with a well-
written and interesting narrative.
It is in Africa that the greatest amount of geographical work has
been done this year. But a review of it must, alas ! commence with a
reference to the loss of a valued young explorer. It was only last session
that Captain Wellby’s father read us the account of his gallant son’s
splendid geographical achievement in marching from Abyssinia to the
Nile. You will all remember how we looked forward to welcoming him
on his return from the front. Now that can never be. Captain Wellby
has fallen, fighting for his country in a most righteous war. It was
a glorious death, fitting close of an adventurous and active life. We are
left to mourn the death of a young officer who was a great explorer and
an ornament to the army. His noble example has been followed by
others ; for there has been remarkable activity in the exploration of
Africa this year. Major Gibbons has followed Mr. Grogan from the
Cape to Cairo. Mr. Moore has returned after his important investiga
tion of the Central African lakes. Mr. Harrison has brought home an
admirable map of the region between Lake Rudolf and Addis Abeba.
Our gold medallist, M. Foureau, has safely returned after his wonderful
journey across the Sahara, of which he has promised to send us some
account. Last, but certainly not least, Dr. Donaldson Smith, who is
an old friend and known to us all from his previous work, has made
very remarkable journeys, involving new discoveries between Lake
Rudolf and the Nile ; and I am sure we are all delighted to welcome
him here this evening.
Already the benefits to geographical knowledge of the effective occu
pation of the Sudan are beginning to be felt; the first sheets of the new
maps of the Nile, as far as the Bahr Ghazal, the results of the survey under
Colonel Talbot, have reached us; while Sir W. Garstin’s journey up the
Nile to the lakes will no doubt yield further important results in the
same direction. Major Wynn has gone out to Abyssinia, and will
shortly be followed by Major Austin and Major Bright, the two latter to
the Sudan ; and between them we may expect great accessions to our
knowledge of the eastern tributaries of the Nile, and of their basins.
From South Africa again we have in the map room several sheets of
the maps which have been made during the war by the surveyors sent
out by the Intelligence Department. And in this connection I am
pleased to learn that serious steps have been taken to carry out
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