Abstract
DURING the past winter a biological and geographical investigation of the Island of Sokotra (lying in about 12° north latitude and 54° east longitude), some 600 miles south-east of Aden, was undertaken, on behalf of the British Museum, by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, and, on behalf of the Liverpool Corporation, by the Director of Museums (Dr. H. O. Forbes). Mr. W. Cutmore, of the Liverpool Museum, accompanied the party as taxidermist. From the Bulletin of the Liverpool Museums we learn that the expedition landed at Aden on November 18, 1898. Political difficulties between the Government of India and the Sultan of Sokotra unfortunately caused some delay in starting, but through the kindness of the Political Resident, Brigadier-General Creagh, V.C., these days were employed in visiting Sheik Othman and Lahej in South Arabia, where collections of considerable interest were made. On December 1, the difficulties referred to having been surmounted, the party was enabled to leave for Sokotra on board the Royal Indian Marine steamer Elphinstone, which had most generously been placed at its disposal by the Indian Government. Permission was also kindly given to detain the vessel for some days at Abd-el-Kuri, a previously unexplored island lying between Sokotra and Cape Guardafui, the eastern horn of Africa. There four days were spent in making as complete a collection of the fauna, flora and geology of the island as the time permitted. On December 7, the expedition was landed on Sokotra, near Hadibu, the capital, and it remained on the island till February 22, 1899. On the return voyage, a second visit was paid to Abd-el-Kuri for a couple of days, to enable more complete collections from that out-of-the-way spot to be made.
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Results of the Scientific Expedition to Sokotra. Nature 60, 116 (1899). https://doi.org/10.1038/060116a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/060116a0