Untitled

THE UlSL'OVEKEKS OF THE CAUCASUS 7
fai- surpassed us—have played a pai't
in Caucasian exploration
similar to that played in the Alps by the first generation of the
Alpine Club. But their work, it should be remembered, has been
carried thi-ough in the face of ditticulties and hardships far
greater than those that were encountered by mountain climbers,
even in Dauphine, thirty to forty yeare ago.
'
The Caucasus
does not suit me,' grumbled a well-known Alpine guide; 'the
vallevs are too long, and the peaks are very high, and one
cannot get to the top till late in the day, and has to come
down in the dark.'
If I insist here on the substantial results of the travels of
English climbers in the Caucasus in promoting
a better know-
ledge of the chain,' it is not only as an answer to attacks that
have been made on them by certain persons abroad— self-styled
Scientists—who might have been expected to know better. I
trust that nothing I may have occasion to say in these pages
will be construed as implying any want of respect or symj^athy
for genuine scientific research or for those who pvxrsue it in tlie
mountains. My object is to promote genuine re.search by emphasising
the necessary connection between mountaineering and the
phvsical investigation of great ranges, to show that it is as im-
possible to explore thoroughly the heights of the Earth, AA-ithout
the aid of ice-craft, as it would be to explore the depths of
the ocean without the aid of seamanship.
The founder of '
mountaineering,' De Saussure, I'ecognised this
connection and created— those who have studied the story of his
life will know that I do not use too strong a word— the first
school of glacier guides at Chamonix. It has been the occupation
and delight of later men of Science to follow in his footsteps.
Tyndall and John Ball were eminent equally in the Alpine Club
and the Royal Society. Forbes and Agassiz emi)loyed the best
and were themselves active climbers. It is no doubt un-
guides
fortunate that the chai-acter of English education does so little to
> The number of the Koyal Scottish Cfeographical Magazine
for June l