The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

[PRICE SD.

DR. BARTH'S AItRIVAL AT TIMBUCTOO.

TO THE EDITOR OF TAE SUN.

SlR,—Despatches and private letters have this morn-
ing been received from Dr. Barth, announcing his safe
arrival at that celebrated city, Timbuctoo.
In order not to encroach too greatly ou your valuable
space, the reader may be referred to the account of the
expedition under Dr. Barth just published by authority
of her Majesty's Foreign-office, in which work all the
reasons which prompted Dr. Barth to venture on that
undertaking are explained, and the first portion of the
journey itself is described. It suffices to observe that
when Dr. Barth, in Sept., 1852, lost his only companion,
Dr. Overweg, he saw himself reluctantly compelled to
abandon for the time the contemplated journey across the
continent towards the Indian Ocean. He resolved, how-
ever, with true heroism, to undertake alone the journey
to imbuctoo, which, though greatly less in magnitude
than a journey would be to the Indian Ocean, was looked
upon as a most difficult and dangerous attempt. "As the
sole survivor of the mission" (so wrote Dr. Barth before
his departure from Kuka) "the completion of its ob-
jects now devolving entirely on me, I feel my powers
doubled, and my mind all the more determined, single-
handed, to follow up the results already obtained. My
means consist of a tolerable supply of presents, in addi-
tion to 200 dollars, four camels, and four horses. My
health is in the best condition, and, with five trustworthy,
long-tried servants, well armed, and having plenty of
powder and shot with us, I shall, with fresh and re-
doubled courage, and with full confidence of success,
start on my journey to Timbuctoo."
Accordingly Dr. Barth, a man who never boasts with
empty words, set out from Kuka by the end of Novem-
ber, 1852, and proceeded first to Sakatu, by way of Zin-
der and Kashna, the route by Hano being impracticable
on account of the war in that region between the Bour-
nouese and Fellatahs. The last letters received from
him were'ated Kashna, 6th March, 1853 ;, those re-
ceived this day from Timbuctoo (by way of Tuat) bear
dates ranging from the 7th of September to the sth of
October last, and none of the various letters despatched
during the six months from March to September have
as yet reached Europe. The details of his proceed-
ings during that time, therefore, comprising the whole
of his journey from Kashna to Timbuctoo, are
yet unknown. It appears, however, that the gene-
ral direction of his route from Sakatu to Timbuctoo
was at first west-north-west, and that he crossed the
Kowara (commonly called Niger) at Say, an important
place, of considerable size, situated in about 14 deg.
north latitude and 3 deg. 45 min. east longitude Green-
wich, 150 geographical miles west-north-west from Sa-
katu. Both from this place and Libtako he had de-
spatched letters to Europe by way of Sakatu. Libtako
is a large place, situated in about 14 deg. 40 min. north
latitude, and 0 deg. 30 min. east longitude, 335 geogra-
phical miles from Sakatu and 240 from Timbuctoo.
From Libtako to Timbuctoo, the general direction of
Dr. Barth's course was north-west, till he reached Sarai-
yamo, a large town 60 miles south of Timbuctoo, and
situated on a tributary or branch of the Kowara. On
the former river he embarked on the Ist of September.
At first it presented a fine sheet of water, 300 yards in
width, but afterwards a more intricate system of narrow
meandering channels, partly overgrown with reeds and
grass, at a distance of 40 miles in a straight line from
Saraiyamo. After a very tedious zigzag navigation, be
entered the main stream, the Kowara, on the 4th of
September, near the village of Koromeb, presenting a
magnificent aspect, covered, as it was, with a numerous
fleet of vessels and boats of various sizes.

Crossing the Sowara and entering a creek on its
northern side, Dr. Barth reached Kabara on the next
following day. Kabara is only a small town of 400
houses and huts, but has attained great celebrity as the
port of Timbuctoo. It scarcely, however, deserves that
distinction, as it is approachable by water only during
four months of the year at an average, and at most
during five months, when the floods are unusually high.
The creek on which it is situated is of so inconsiderable
a size and depth that even at the time of Dr. Barth's
visit, which was during the rainy season, the boat,
bearing only himself and his effects, had to be dragged
up to the place with great difficulty ; the creek mea-
sured about 15 feet across, and the water scarcely
reached up to the boatmen's knees. The docks of
Kibara, has an artificial, large handsome basin close to
the town may be called, contained but a few boats at
the time of Dr. Barth's arrival. Koromeh, the place
already mentioned, and the islands of Day, between it
and Kabara, have greater claims to be considered the
port of Timbuctoo.

On the 7th of September, 1853, Dr. Barth entered
the city of Timbuctoo in grand style, escorted by the
brother of the Sheikh-el-Bakay, the ruling chief, and by
a splendid suite on horseback, on camel and on foot,
welcomed and saluted by the festive multitudes of
the inhabitants. The latter had been made to believe
that the arriving stranger was a messenger from the
Great Sultan of Stamboul! The real character of Dr.
Barth was only known to the Sheikh himself, whose
protection and goodwill the intrepid traveller had been
fortunate enough to obtain, and who considered it ad-
visable that he should assume that character, on account
of the very fanatical disposition of the great mass of the
people. During Dr. Barth's subsequent stay, up to
the sth of October, the Sheikh-el-Bakay and his brother
had remained the faithful friends of the pretended " am-
bassador from Stamboul ;" but even under this charac-
ter Dr. Barth considered himself not entirely free from
danger, owing to the complicated nature of the political
powers which exercise a sovereign sway over Timbuctoo,
the inhabitants being composed of various nationalities.
There are—first, the Sonray, forming the great mass of
the people ; then Arabs of various tribes—Fellatahs and
Tuaricks, together with a small number of Bambara and
Masidingo. One faction was not at all favourably dis-
posed towards Dr. Barth, but wished his death ; so
that it was necessary for him to observe great caution
in his movements and in his intercourse with the peo-
ple. Fortunate, indeed, it was that the traveller had
secured the sincere and unequivocal friendship of the
Sheikh, under whose immediate protection he lived at
his residence, and who had promised to have him safely
escorted on his return to Sakatu.

Thus far the news will be gratifying to the friends of
Dr. Barth. His state of health, however, was not in
the same degree satisfactory. The accomplishment of
the journey from Lake Tsad to Timbuctoo, which in
linear extent, taking into account the windings of the
route, amounts to at least 2,000 miles, may well prove
a trying task for the physical powers of any man, from
its extent alone ; but when to this is added a preceding
three years' travel and toil, the obstructions arising from
the rainy season, with its swollen rivers, floods, and in-
undations, during which, partly at least, the journey to
Timbuctoo was accomplished, together with the harass-
ing difficulties and dangers arising from the fanatical
character of the inhabitants he had to pass through, it
will scarcely excite surprise that Dr. Barth should have
reached Timbuctoo in a rather exhausted condition.
Such were the exertions of the journey that two out
of six camels died on the road, and the remainder
were rendered unfit for further use. And as to Tim-
buctoo, the sojourn at that place seems to have
been anything but refreshing and strengthening
in its effect on Dr. Barth, consisting, as it
does, of a pent-up mass of closely-packed buildings.
Attacks of fever, therefore, affected the health of the tra-
veller still more than the weakening effects of the jour-
ney, and it is evident from the letters that his strength
was greatly impaired when he wrote them. Hopes, how-
ever, of soon rallying and regaining his strength never
left Dr. Barth, and with a most remarkable perseverance
and courage he was planning his next journey, the return
to Sakatu, while despatching the letters now received.
The city of Timbuctoo, which to reach had been the
life's ambition of so many celebrated travellers, is placed
by Dr. Barth in 18 deg. 3 min. 30 sec. to 18 deg. 4 min.
5 sec. north lat., and 1 deg. 45 min. west long., Green-
wich. Its form is that of a triangle ; it is closely built
of houses, mostly of clay and stone. many with handsome
and tasteful fronts—the interior being similarly arranged
to that of the houses in Agadez, visited by Dr. Barth in
1850. The population is estimated at 20,000 souls. Dr.
Barth found the market of Timbuctoo, celebrated as the
centre of the North African caravan trade, of less extent
than that of Kano, but the merchandise of superior qua-
lity and of greater value. He has obtained a complete
imana from the Sheikh for any English traders who may
wish to visit Timbuctoo. The country in which that city
is situate borders on the Zahara, and is indeed similar to
that region, being of a dry and barren description, ex-
cept towards the Kowara, where it assumes a more fer-
tile appearance. September formed the height of the
rainy season, and the rains, though not heavy, then oc-
cur every second or third day.
Dr. Barth hoped to leave Timbuctoo " within a
month" from the 29th of September last, to return to
Sakatu, and it is most probable that he will travel down
the Kowara as far as the town of Say. He was not
yet aware either of the success under Dr. Vogel, de-
spatched from this country in February, 1853, nor of
the steam-boat expedition now on the eve of departure
for visiting the regions discovered by him in 1851 ;
but it is sincerely hoped this cheering and encouraging
news may have reached him soon after the despatch of
his letters, and that, moreover, it may be his good for-
tune to fall in with either the one or the other.

Further communications, both from Dr. Barth and
from Dr. Vogel, may now be expected with every mail.
The geographical importance of Dr. Barth's journey to
Timbuctoo will not require to be pointed out ; its ac-
complishment adds a fresh leaf to the laurels of that
meritorious and distinguished traveller.—l have the
honour, to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
AUGUSTUS PETERMANN.
9, Charing-cross, March 25.

THE REPRESENTATION OF TYNEMOUTH.—Both candi
dates, Mr. W. S. Lindsay and Mr. Dickson, have been
pursuing an active canvass. Mr. Lindsay has addressed
his committee, and will speak to a public meeting of
electors on Monday evening. The election will be con-
tested upon purity principles—no bands, no colours, no
open public-houses. Both gentlemen are holding their
committee meetings in private houses. The only ap-
pearance of bribery and corruption has been a plentiful
and gratuitous distribution of the Newcastle Journal, a
Tory paper, containing a violent personal attack upon
Mr. Lindsay. They have been sown broadcast over the
borough. The nomination day is fixed for Wednesday.

- -e,e--