Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/400

Rh The August number of this Magazine will contain an address by the Secretary of War, Hon. William H. Taft, on the Philippines, illustrated with a four-colored map of the Philippine Islands.

A Tribute to American Topographers.

In an account of a lecture given by Mr Bailey Willis before the geographers of Venice, Professor Penck, than whom there is no higher authority on topographic maps, pays a high compliment to American topographers:


 * " . . . Above all an opportunity was afforded of obtaining an insight into the really astounding cartographic results achieved by Willis' party in China. The maps which were exhibited gave proof of the very decided superiority of American topographic

methods over those employed by most European expeditions. The Willis party carried on plane-table surveys, on a scale of 1:90,000, with 20 to 30 meter contours, from Paitingfu to Taijaufu. This mapping was the work of Sargent, the topographer of the expedition, one of that group of expert cartographers of the United States Geological Survey. In 58^2 days Sargent mapped no less than 8,500 square kilometers, occupying 103 .stations, locating 2,600 points by intersection, and measuring the altitudes of 2,150 points." A. H. B.

"The Negritos of Zambales" is the subject of a recent publication of the Ethnological Survey of the Philippines. The pamphlet is very fully illustrated with maps and pictures showing the customs and life of the little brown people.

Although living in the mountainous and wooded portions of the islands, the Negrito grows tobacco, maize, and vegetables. He usually plants in cleared spots in the forest, because the soil is

loose and needs no plowing, as in the case of the lowland. All work of digging up the soil, planting, and cultivating is done with sharpened sticks of hard wood, sometimes, but not always, pointed with iron, for iron is scarce. The piece of ground for planting is regarded as the personal property of the head of the family which cleared it. No one else would think of planting on it, even though the owner had abandoned it, unless he declared that he had no more use for it.

Many of the vices of the Negrito, says the report, are due to contact with the Malayan, to whom he is, at least in point of truthfulness, honesty, and temperance, far superior.

While living in the wild state, they have a very simple form of government. They simply gather around the most powerful man, whom they are quick to recognize in this way for superior ability or greater wealth; but when living peaceably scattered through the mountains each head of a family is a small autocrat, and rules his family and those of his sons who elect to remain with him. When he dies the oldest son becomes the head of the family.

DECISIONS OF THE U. S. BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES

April 5, 1905

CHINESE PROVINCES

Anhui (not Nganhwei, Ngan-hwei, Ngan-hoei, Ngan-hui, Ngan-hwuy, nor Ngan-Hway).

Chehkiang (not Cheh-kiang, Chekiang, nor Che-kiang).

Chihli* (not Pechili, Pe-chili, Pe-chi-li, Chih-li, nor Chi-li).

Fuhkien* (not Fukien, Fu-kien, Fuh-kien, nor Foo-kien).

Honan (not Ho-nan).

Hsin chiang (not Eastern Turkestan nor Kashgaria). Hunan (not Hu-nan nor Hoo-nan).

Hupeh (not Hu-peh nor Hoo-pe).

Kansu (not Kan-su, Kansuh, nor Kan-soo).

Kiangsi (not Kiang-si nor Kiang-se).

Kiangsu (not Kiang-su).


 * Revision of previous decision.