Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 2.djvu/192

302 descriptions of mountaineering efforts. I have been very much struck indeed with one of the earliest of the important works to which I refer; I mean Mr. Whymper's great book on the Andes. (Hear, hear). That book is a marvellous collection of archaeology, history and science of all kinds—geology, petrology, entomology, and all sorts of things; excellently put as literature, and accompanied by abundant evidence of, I suppose, about the most skilled power of illustrating man ever had. (Hear, hear). There is nothing like Whymper's illustrating, I think, done by the mere hand. He makes noxious insects much more real than life. There is one standing prominent in the middle of a page, the most dangerous, poisonous, mischeviousmischievous [sic] beast that is to be found in the whole of the Andes. I regret to say that the natives call it the 'Bishop.' (Laughter). A few pages on he describes another formidable stinging beast, evidently only less bad than the 'Bishop.' This the people call the 'Devil.' (Laughter). The libel stands in the latest edition."

Again: "Here is Conway, going wherever there is anything to be seen that other people have not seen, describing it in a wonderful way, taking about with him men who can produce those marvellous photographs of mountain scenery accessible and inaccessible. The Alpine Club has done at least as much as any to bring about that development to the very height of perfection which has now been reached by photography in mountain scenery. Here is Conway, conquering unconquered mountains, and describing it all in so fascinating a way; and the mystery of it is that he makes it all seem so easy, though he confesses now and then that it is not always pleasant. He, too, is everywhere, not in literature only, but emphatically in art, very much more than a mere mountaineer."

Passing on to science: "What a chance the Alpine Club men have always had in the direction of science.