However, on the last night of the examinations, I had some conversation with one of the students as to the subjects required for physiography.

He said, 'You want a little knowledge of everything in a scientific way, and nothing much of anything.' I determined to try, for 'nothing much of anything' suited me exactly.

I rose early next morning, and as soon as the shops were open I went and bought a book on the subject, 'Outlines of Physiography,' by W.Lawson, F.R.G.S.

I read it all day, and at night sat for the examination.

The results of my examinations were, failure in mathematics, but second class advanced grade certificates in all the others.