The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-25 00:00:00

The African Traveller, Mr, S. Baker,

The following communication from Mr Pethei
rick, late her Mri.sty's Consul at Khartoum, who
concludes his communication at Berber on his way
home, has been published

Khartoum, June 8, 1864.

My dear Sir,—Since my last, dated May 23, I have had
several interviews with Hhurshid Aga's men from the in-
terior of Gondokoro.

They unite in their statements of having accompanied
Mr Baker to liamrati's residence, where they had met with
a good reception ; that Mr Baker was in excellent health,
but that he had lost the whole of his cattle, and had been
training bullocks for riding.
From this point ell agree that Mr Baker and his 10 men,
under the guidance of a confidential person of the chief, left
to inspect a lake, but thenceforth the stories told by the
men are conflicting. Some say he went to the Lutu Nzigi,
while others maintain that he left for the Lake Nyanza,
and that he did not intend to return, but to proceed onward
to Zanzibar.

It is, I fear, but little light that is in my power to throve
men upon la's movements, but of the two versions I am
more inclined to give credit to the first—viz., his journey
to the Lutu
From what I have been able to glean by cross question-
ing, I am disposed to think that Mr Baker intended to have
returned to Kamrasi, in older to join the trading party on
their return journey, or ho would have consigned letters to
them respecting his futwe requirements from Khartoum,
as also for posting letters at this place for Europe.
Ten men of lihutshid Aga remained stationary, while.
the majority with the proceeds of their trade, went to Gott-
dokoro, there to be reinforced for the purpose of returnins
to form a permanent trading establishment at Kamrasi'a
residence.

I have stated in my Last that these men ccnvoyed
packet of letters from Gondokoro to Mr Baker, but, plead-
ing. want of porters, they refused to take charge of sundry
provisions I had sent for his consumption. _ _

From thes3 men Mr Baker will have learnt the departure
of the boats from Gondokoro, and their absence during the
rainy season ; therefore, until the next trading compaign
nothing more can be heard of him.—Believe me, very

sincerely, yours, JOHN PETHI:II,ICIi..
Sir E,oderick I. Murchison, President of the
Royal Geographical Society, &c.

P.S. My wife's very serious illness, together with oar
departure from Khartoum, prevented my completing and
for warding this letter until this day at Berber—nainelb
August 11, 1861.

SUBWAYS IN LONDON.—The Metropolitan Basra.
of Works has determined to carry out the plan of
constructing subways, as in King-street, Covent-gardent
and Southwark-street, behind the embankment of the nevi'
Thames Way. The same body will shortly, wo believe, take
into consideration the propriety of constructing passages
beneath the most dangerous crossings in the metropolis.
The City authorities have the same thing in view; and the
time will, we trust, not be long ore passengers may traverse
such streets as Cheapeide, Fleet-street, King "William..
street, the Strand, and Bridge-street, Westminster, with.
safety to life and limb, and without interrupting the carriage
traffic or waiting till a policeman gives signal for a rush. It
has been ascertained that at leest half the "blocks', in the
great thoroughfares are caused by the necessity for allow-,
ing persons on foot to proceed. If it be not found conve-
nient to have sub-crossings, surely light iron bridges would
answer the purpose; these might be extremely elegant in
appearance. and give a picturesque aspect to a street. It is
objected that infirm per Sons could not use these sub-cross-
ings or street bridges ; in reply we may ask, how then does
the small proportion of such passengers now traverse the
thronged streets? Doubtless the foot bridges added to the
viaduct over Ludgate-Lill will prove public conveniences
and lead to the construction of others. These bridges will
be open fur use In a very short time.