also contains many important geographical and biographical papers, and the various geographical journals for many years had valuable articles from his pen. For a new edition of John Wood's 'Journey to the Oxus' (1872), Yule wrote an introduction which is a brilliant essay on the topography of the Upper Oxus regions, with, incidentally, an exposure—a remarkable piece of geographical intuition—of the curious literary frauds of the great Russian geographer Klaproth. Yule also contributed introductions to Nikolai Mikhailovitch Przheval'sky's 'Mongolia' (1876), and for Captain William John Gill's 'River of Golden Sand' (1880) he prepared a learned and highly interesting study of the river systems of Eastern Tibet and Burmah. A long series of biographical notices, chiefly in the 'Royal Engineers' Journal,' of distinguished engineers, are models of what such compositions ought to be. He gave, besides, a vast amount of friendly help, in suggestions and criticism, to the works of others, and notably to writers for the Hakluyt Society, of which he was president until the end of 1899.
The widely awakened interest of late years in the geography as well as in the medieval history and archaeology of Central Asia is largely due to Yule's labours. His erudition and sympathy have inspired alike explorer and student. Baron F. von Richthofen, a scientific traveller and geographer of the first rank, and endowed with wide philosophic observation, speaks of Yule's unique position as an historical geographer, and attributes to his mode of treating his subject (viz. by combining 'wissenschaftliche Grundichkeit mit anmutender Form') a wide influence, not only on English but on continental scholars. He was a many-sided man. His efforts in verse, serious and humorous, ' and sometimes in good Scots, were very happy, and he was interested to the last in art, politics, discovery, and social and philanthropic movements. A keen and delightful sense of humour was never far from the surface in his conversation or in his writings.
He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh in 1884, and was created K.C.S.I. in 1889. He died at his residence in London on 30 Dec. 1889, having within eight hours of his death dictated in Latin the following message to the Institute of France, which had just made him a corresponding member; 'Reddo gratias, illustrissimi domini, ob honores tanto nimios quanto immeritos. Mihi robora deficiunt, vita collabitur, accipiatis voluntatem pro facto. Cum corde pleno et gratissimo moriturus vos, illustrissimi domini, saluto. Yule.'
His portrait, painted by Mr. T. B. Wirgman, is in the Royal Engineers' Mess-house at Chatham.
Yule had two brothers. The elder, Sir George Udney Yule (1813-1886), was a distinguished Indian civilian and a famous shikari. During the mutiny, with a corps of mounted European volunteers, he maintained order throughout the division of Rhagalpur, driving out large bodies of the mutineers and keeping open the navigation of the Ganges, while preventing communication between the rebels in East and West Bahar. He subsequently served as chief commissioner of Oudh, as resident at Hyderabad, and finally on the governor-general's council, from which he retired in 1869.
The other brother, Robert Yule (1817-1857), published an excellent treatise 'On Cavalry Movements' (1856) as well as some fugitive writings in prose and verse. After much active service in Persia and Afghanistan he fell while leading his regiment, the 9th lancers, in a gallant action before Delhi.
[Journals of the Royal Engineers and Royal Asiatic Society for 1890; Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1891, and the Royal Geographical Society, 1890; Scottish Geographical Magazine (see for bibliography), 1890; Herr F. von Richthofen in Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Erdkundern Berlin, xvii. 2; Professor Giglioli in Bolletino della Societia Geografica Italiana, March 1890; H. Henri Cordier in Journal Asiatique, 1890. iv. 3; personal knowledge.]
