TASMAN:
A FORGOTTEN NAVIGATOR[1]
By Captain W. EATON.
Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—This being (in the phraseology of the stage) my first appearance, a few introductory remarks, presenting my credentials as it were, may not be considered altogether inopportune.
Standing here to-night, it would be quite natural, and very much in accordance with my wishes, to eulogise the aims and ideals, and also the past triumphs of Geographical Science, but I think, and you will all agree with me, that to do so would be quite superfluous, and only furnish another illustration of what is termed "painting the lily."
But a few words bearing indirectly on our subject may not be out of place.
The great kingdom of Geographical Science has many ramifications, and these ramifications are so extensive and far-reaching that, like the territories of some powerful potentate, they sometimes infringe on the boundaries of neighbouring States. For instance, when we investigate the cause and effect of earthquakes, we find ourselves on the edge of the Dominion of Geology.
The north coast of Queensland is ravaged at intervals by cyclones, and when we try to solve the laws which regulate their motion when in our vicinity, we are on the outskirts of the Domain of Meteorology.
But Nautical Discovery is distinct from all neighbouring sciences. It stands alone, and is the very foundation of the building. To the ordinary student it is also the most attractive section of the science. Philology, Ethnology, Zoology, and the other abstruse 'ologies which contribute their quota to rear the great geographical edifice, are less attractive, but by no means less valuable.
But to the boy, or to the grown man, the literary or the illiterate, the story of Columbus, of Cook, of Dampier, and the grand roll of Arctic and Antarctic heroes, is for ever fascinating, and inspires in present and future generations high ideals and heroic aims.
Nautical discovery occupied a pre-eminent position in the earlier stages of our geographical knowledge. It is different to-day. The 19th century gave birth to Geography as a science, as it did to
- ↑ Read at the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, April 27, 1905 .
Reprinted from the Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, Vol. XX.
