Jump to content

Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 14.djvu/842

From Wikisource
This page has been validated.
822
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.

ceeding interest, which are set forth in the second chapter of the work. The Sultan's letter at length arrived. It was written "on a small sheet of inferior paper, folded to the size of a note, and sealed with coarse sealing wax." It was addressed to the Governor of Mogador, and ran thus: "On receiving this, you will send the English hakeem, and his companions to the care of my slave, El Gradui, to whom I have sent orders what to do." This slave was the Governor of that portion of the Great Atlas which it was desired to explore. They started at once for south Marocco, and reached the port of Mogador on the 26th. Thanks to the Sultan's letter, the Governor provided for their safety and comfort during their journey across the plains from Mogador to Marocco. They had time to study the region about Mogador, and their observations, meteorological, geographical, zoölogical, and ethnological, as well as botanical, are recorded in Chapter IV. Chapters V. and VI. narrate the journey from Mogador to Marocco. The six following chapters are devoted to the exploration of the Great Atlas. Chapter XIII. describes their second stay at Mogador, their return to Tangier and England, and Chapter XIV. discusses the future prospects of Marocco. The narrative from first to last is one of absorbing interest, not only to botanists but to readers of all classes. The maps and pictures add greatly to the interest and value of the work. It is scarcely possible in the space at our disposal to give any fair idea of the work by means of extracts. The great ability and experience of the authors are evident not only in the delightful and instructive account of each day's proceedings, but equally in the reflections scattered throughout the volume upon numerous subjects, suggested by the physical, social, and political aspects of this strange country. For instance, in speaking of the climate of north Marocco, we have the following:

Nothing is more rare than to find a country where neither the natives nor foreign visitors have any complaint to make against the climate, and in this respect Marocco is almost unique. As regards the season of our visit, however, our case was that of nearly all travelers in whatever country they may find themselves. We had arrived in an exceptional season! How often is this fact gravely stated as something remarkable and unusual in the experience of the narrator, whereas, if he would but reflect, it merely represents the common experience of mankind in most countries of the earth! Excepting some portions of the equatorial zone, where the seasons recur with tolerable constancy, our notions of the climate of a place are got at by taking an average among a great many successive seasons. Any one who watches the meteorological notices, published in our newspapers, must be aware that if any particular day, week, or month be compared with the general average for the same period during a long term of years, he will find it considerably hotter, or colder, or drier, or moister, than the corresponding average day, week, or month; and, when registers have been kept for a sufficient time in other countries, the same result will be seen to hold good. Travelers will then be prepared to find that they should expect to enjoy, or suffer from, an exceptional season, and will think it more remarkable when they happen to alight on a season near to the average.

We also note the following hint to travelers:

The net result of our short excursion was not large or brilliant; but, in the case of a country so little known as Marocco, the interest of his collections to a naturalist does not mainly depend on the rarity or novelty of the objects he may happen to meet. Each plant or animal carried away contributes an item of information respecting the distribution of the organized world, the value of which it is impossible at the time to estimate. Travelers who happen to visit little-known countries would do well to remember that with the most trifling trouble they may make useful contributions to natural science, by preserving specimens of the most insignificant looking objects, provided always that these are afterward placed in the hands of competent naturalists.

International Scientific Series, No. XXV. Education as a Science. By Alexander Bain, LL. D., Professor of Logic in the University of Aberdeen. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 453. Price, $1.75.

In the maturity of his studies as an original investigator of the science of mind, and in the ripeness of his experience as a practical teacher in the higher sphere, Professor Bain has suspended the course of his customary work to prepare a little treatise on education, and we have no doubt that, as it is the latest, so it will be regarded as the best and most valuable, of his books. Less formidable than his elaborate volumes on "The Senses and the Intellect" and "The Emotions and the Will," the new book is still very full, and brings us to the more important application of the views contained