The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EyENINC4, AUGUST a 12, 1861.

pure mind. In fact, the numerous and sad
instances of clerical lapses from
..paritY, at
home, and the still greater number where Triestly
celibacy is the law of the Church, occur immediately
to their minds. It is but too well known that
asceticism and mental impurity, if nothing worse,
are very near of kin?' Let the hint suffice now.
As to the consistency of the present marriage law
with religious toleration, it is ludicrous to assert-it;
The Church of England is the only sect of reli-
gionists in England which desires to maintain it, and
that at the expense of forbidding all other sects
under heavy disabilities to act on their own religious
views. If Churchmen like it to be law for them-
selves, so be it ; but to the other half of the nation
it appears to be nothing but sheer ecclesiastical
tyranny. It appears so to us also.
In all this latter part of his speech indeed the
Bishop, although his whole charge is oleaginous
with the usual episcopal blandness, appears in that
character which we always lament, because it dis-
sociates the Church from the mind and thought of
the age. There is not one of the six reforms which
he exults to enumerate as checked, whi:th is not in
accordance with the improving religious charity of
the day. If the whole list of them could be effected
next session, nothing can be more certain than that
the result would be most injurious to Dissent, and
equally beneficial to the Church. Bishops must
not take their opinions from each other, and from
their clergy ; not even from a few pet laymen, like
Mr. HOARE, and the clergyman's churchwardens.
The laity move on, though bishops and clergy stand
still. The stiffness of the latter is the strength of
the Liberation Society. It is the immovables who
furnish targets for the men of progress. We are
perfectly sure that the Bishop of SALISBURY'S
charge is regarded as a very valuable contribution
by Mr. SAMUEL MORLEY and Dr. FOSTER,

• - t -
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has conferred the
honour of knighthood on. Mr. Edward Cciey, mayor of
Belfast.' •

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
de Montpensier honoured the establishment of Mr. Harry
Emanuel, of Brook-street and Hanover-square, with a
lengthened visit on Saturday.
Earl Russell honoured Mr. Walter Fry, Mr. E. J.
Chance, and - Mr. Samuel Tillett, a deputation from the
City Orthopedic Hospital, Hatton-garden, with an inter-
view at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, this morning,•
and was pleased to signify his willingness to preside at the
annual festival of that charity in the month of November
next at the Albion.
The Archduke Maximilian, Lord High Admiral
of Austria, purposes visiting Southampton this week to in-
spect the docks and commercial facilities of that port. This
visit has reference to the contemplated line of steam-packet
communication about to be established by the Austrian Go-
vernment between England and Trieste. A meeting of the
Southampton Town Council took place on Saturday for the
purpose of making arrangements for the suitable reception
and entertainment of the distinguished visitor.

The Official Gazette of Turin publishes another
list of subscriptions towards the cost of a monument to
Count Cavour, from which it appears that the total sum
subscribed up to this time is 64,864 f.
SIR J. RAMSDEN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.—The
executive of the Holbeck Parliamentary Reform Associa-
tion have adopted the following resolution :—" That this
committee, after carefully reviewing the parliamentary
career of Sir John W. Ramaden, Bart., M.P., during the
last two years; is of opinion by his treatment of the Ballot,
the Repeal of the Paper Duty, and the bills introduced into
parliament by Lord John Russell, M,P., for the amend-
ment of the parliamentary franchise, he has proved himself
unworthy of the confidence of the county voters of this
Riding.
BOOK-POST TO AND FROM FRANCE.—Before the
prorogation there was laid before Parliament a convention
which has been entered into with France, extending the
privilege of the book-post between the two •countries to
patterns of no intrinsic value, photographs, commercial and
legal documents, printed or engraved or lithographed works
bearing corrections or manual notes, and " all other papers
in manuscript," but there mast be nothing in the nature of
a letter or which could serve as such, and prepayment is to
be essential. The day for carrying the convention into ex-
ecution was left to the respective Post-offices.
CONNECTION OF THE TRIANGULATION OF GREAT
BRITAIN WITH FRANCE AND BELGlUM.—Lieutenant the
Hon. Delaporte French, with a party of one corporal and
six sappers of the Royal Engineers, crossed to Boulogne
on Thursday, for the purpose of connecting the triangu-
lation of Great Britain with that of France and Belgium,
in ! co-operation with a commission appointed by the
Minister of War of France. The ultimate result to be
obtained is tho substitution of one meridional line for the
three lines of Greenwich, Paris, and St. Petersburg, that
are at present in use in different countries, and thus to
harmonise the maps of all countries. The party took over
camp equipage for six men, consisting of observatories,
marquees, &c., packed in two ambulance waggons ; and
they are expected to be absent from England about eight
months. The connection of the French and Russian sys-
tems will be carried out by the officers of those countries.
BLONDlN.—Blondin made an ascent on Saturday
from the Zoological Gardens at Liverpool, in the presence
of upwards of 20,000 persons. He has returned to town
for his 17th ascent this afternoon at the Crystal Palace,
when, in addition to his feats on the long rope over the
fountains, he will repeat his extraordinary muscular per-
formances on the slack ropo suspended in mid air. He will
also again give his amusing exhibition of wheeling Punch
along the rope in his barrow, the automaton figure, during
his progress, making his obeisances to the thousands as-
sembled below on the slopes and terraces. This will be
Blondin's last ascent at the palace for some time, as he
departs to-morrow to fulfil engagements in Ireland, after
which he visits Scotland.

DEER-STALKING.—That admirable shot, Mr.
Edward Ross; has been eminently successful at deer-stalk-
ing in the North. On the 24th ult. he shot a very fat stag
at Glendibisdale—the antlers royal on both tops, and the
venison having two inches of fat on the rump. On the
25th he shot a roebuck; on the 29th, in company with Col.
Baker from Ceylon, he had four stags ; on the 30th one
stag; on the 31st four stags ; and on the Ist of August two
stags—one weighing 15 stone and the other 20 stone. In
the woods of Beaufort Lord Lovat and Sir Piers Mostyn
shot a stag each ; and at Corryvullie Captain Mackenzie,
younger, of Ord, shot two stags. At Coulan forest, on the
sth inst,, Mr. J. 0. Holmes killed two fine stags, one of 17
stone clean, carrying a head of 10 tines; span of antlers,
34in. ; length, 30in. ; girth, bin. The other stag carried
large antlers of 11 tines. The head of the first of these fine
animals has been forwarded to Mr. Snowie for preservation.
Inverness Courier.

DARING BURGLARY AT SOUTHPORT.—EarIy on
Friday morning the dwelling house of Mrs. Prince, Bath-
street, Southport, was entered by burglars. About four
o'clock, Mrs. Prince was aroused by a noise in her bed-
room, when she observed a man leaving tho room. She
raised an alarm, and then heard a rush out of the house.
She at once discovered that her parse, containing about
£2, had been taken from off her dressing table ; two silver
sugar-tongs, and a small silver spoon had been stolen
from one of the parlours, and a small sum of money from
a child's missionary box. Two pairs of men's boots were
discovered in the back yard, having been left behind by the
burglars. Constables were at once despatched in search of
the thieves, and about two hours after the robbery, two men,
who gave the names of Robert Threlfall and Chas. Noble,
were apprehended. Threlfall at once admitted that ho had
robbed the house. The prisoners have been committed for
trial. <

SUPPOSED Loss OF ANOTHER HULL STEAMER.—
It is feared that the splendid screw steamer Z. C. Pear-
son, belonging to Major Pearson (ex-mayor of Hull), has
been lost. The vessel left Riga, for Hull, on the 28th of
last month, and although she should have passed Elsinore
three 'days afterwards, nothing whatever has since been
heard of her. There were twenty,seven hands on board,
all of whom it is feared have perished. She was a vessel
of about seven hundred tons burthen, and, was built at
Sunderland about 12 months ago, for the Australian trade.
Since October no less than eight Hull steamers have been
wrecked in the Baltic trade =ln October the Artie, be
longing to Messrs. 'Wilson and Sons, with a valuable cargo
and eleven hands, together with Mr. Earle; the engineer,
was Ipst ;,in November, the Emmeline, belonging to Major
Pearson, was wrecked, on her passage from Riga, and in
the same month the Edward Hawkins, trading between
Hull and Cronstadt, went down ; during the present year,
Messrs, " Wilson and Sons have lost three fine Baltic,
steamers, the Kingston and the Bothnia, with all hands,
numbering about 40, and lately the Baltic, for the loss of
which the Board of Trade has cancelled the captain's cer-
tificate. About the time Bothnia and the Kingston were
wrecked, the Wesley, also belonging to Major Pearson, was
lost with all hands, and now there can be little doubt that
the Z. C. Pearson has shared the fate of many of her prede-
cessors.. Altogether, there cannot have been less than 100
lives lost in Hull steamers during the past 12 months.

EXECUTION OF HILTON, AT CAMBRIDOE.—This
culprit was executed on Saturday morning at 12 o'clock, at
the county gaol at Cambridge. The gloomy apparatus
was fixed on Friday, and every necessary arrangement
thade'for carrying out the last dread sentence of the law.
Hilton; it will be remembered, niurdered his wife at Parson
Drove, a village near Wisbech, by cutting her throat with
a knife; a few slight words of an unpleasant character re-
lative to money matters passed ; she retired to her sleep-
ing room threatening to leave him, and he shortly fol-
lowed and committed the act for which he on Saturday
paid the penalty. He never attempted to deny the fact, or
to vindicate or offer the slightest excuse for his conduct.
On the contrary, he expressed penitence and a desire to
die. As day by day passed, he observed, "My time is
getting short now. I don't care how soon it comes,: I
want to join my wife-" Calcraft, the executioner, arrived
'on Friday evening. Hilton rose on Saturday morning a
little before his usual time, and expressed an immediate
wish to see the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Ventris. They
prayed together, and the prisoner uttered "Amen" with
great fervency. He frequently exclaimed, "My poor wife,
my poor wife, I shall soon be with her." He partook of
some slight refreshments, furnished by Mr. Gibson, the
governor, and continued praying and reading till the dread,
hour arrived. He offered no resistance to the executioner,
and walked to the gallows unassisted. When he reached
the summit of the scaffold he took one hurried glance at
the thousands assembled round the hill, and then hung
down his head, as if deeply affected. The cap was shortly
placed over his face, and as the clergyman was saying,
"In the midst of life we aro in death," the bolt was
withdrawn, and the hapless man ceased to exist in a very
brief period.

LONDON WELLS.-A pump now covers St.
Clement's Well. Fitstephen, in his description of London
in the reign of Henry 11., informs us " that round the, city
again, and towards the north, arise certain excellent springs
at a small distance, whose waters arc sweet, salubrious and
clear, and who runnels murmur over the shining stones.
Among these, Holywell, Clerkenwell, and St. Clement's
Well, may be esteemed the principal, as being the
most frequented, both by the scholars from the school
(Westminster), and the youth from the City, when in a
summer's evening they are disposed to take an airing."
The; last-named well was also much resorted to on account
of its being supposed of peculiar efficacy in the cure of cu-
taneous diseases, and other disorders. At the end of Old-
street .road is a famous spring dedicated to St. Agnes, and,
from the transparency and salubrity of its waters, denomi-
nated St. Agnes la Clair. It has claims to antiquity, for it
appears-that in the reign of Henry VII. it was thus named
—"Forts voe' _Dame Agnes a Clere." It belonged to Charles
Stuart. This spring is 18 feet deep, and is said to be of
great fficacy in all rheumatic and. nervous cases, headache,
buta en ls
&c. The spring was divided into two baths. In a six-
Cr°
nfid the facingother the
h
gereeaftthme-all
high of Ared
ldagatteo-hßoouwse,-gisaradefiunse,
s?ring Of excellent water, dedicated as early as the year
1160 to St. Winifrid. The water was conveyed -to the
houses from, it by copper pipes underground to the villages,
monasteries, and other religious foundations in thq neigh-
-7411,11199d

LATEST NEWS,

TURIN, AUG. 10.

The Official Gazette of to-day publishes a de-
spatch addressed by Baron Ricasoli to the repre-
sentatives of Italy abroad.
This despatch reviews the history of the recent
Parliamentary session, and mentions the absence

of those deputies representing opinions favourable
to the former Government. It concludes by
saying :—" Italy has constituted herself, notwith-
standing that a portion of Italian territory is in the
hands of others. Europe, beholding us armed and
strong, will become persuaded of our right to the
entire possession of our territory, and will appre-
ciate our sincerity in offering liberty and indepen-
dence to the Church."

PESTH, Auo. 10.

In to-day's sitting of the Upper House the
draft address proposed by M. Deak was read and
put to the vote.
On the motion of Count Szaparys, it was unani.
mously adopted by acclamation, without any
amendment.

THORN, AUG. 11.

On Thursday evening last a conflict took place
at Warsaw between the people and the military, in
consequence of the latter having interfered to pre-
vent an illumination of the, city.
One person was killed, and several were arrested.
On Friday Warsaw continued in a very Lis-
turbed state. A great concourse e people assem-
bled in the Methstrasse, notwithstanding the re-
quest made to them to disperse.
The military marched up, but were afterwards
withdrawn.
Great agitation prevails.

THORN, AUG. 11, EVENING.

Since yesterday troops and artillery have been
placed iu all the public gardens and squares of
Warsaw.

It is said that the Emperor's acceptance of M
Wielopolski's resignation arrived at Warsaw lasi
night.

CRACOW, AUG. 11.

A great fete, to take place in Warsaw, has been
arranged by the party of agitation for Monday

next.

The circulars which have been distributed enjoin
the public celebration in the churches, during the
usual religious service of "the highly important
anniversary of the former union of Poland with
Lithuania."

MADRID, AUG. 9.

The jury has acquitted the journal La Discusion,
prosecuted for having published a Democratic
political programme, demanding the establishment
of a single Chamber and the independence of the
Church.

PARIS, AUG. 11.

The Patric of this evening publishes the follow-
ing despatch from Constantinople, dated the Bth
inst. :—ln view of the state of things in the,Herze-
govina, Servia, and the Principalities, the Porte
has decided to send all the available troops of the
army into Roumelia."
The Pays of this evening has the following news :
—" A new Pretender disputes the throne of Abys-
sinia with the Emperor Theodore."
The Presse of this evening asserts that at the
end of July great agitation prevailed in Damascus
and in some other towns of Syria. The Ulemas,
says the Presse, endeavoured to excite the people
to rise against the Maronites, but the agitation
ceased when the arrest of the Ulemas was ordered
by Daoud Effendi.
The Pattie of this evening says:—" The report
that General Goyon is about to leave Rome is
without foundation.

"'The, King of Sweden will embark on Monday
next at Cherbourg.
" On Tuesday next the Boulevard de Malesherbes
Will be inaugurated by the Emperor, who will pro-
ceed to the camp of Chalons on the following day."

INDIA; CHINA, & AUSTRALIA.

MALTA, AUG. 10.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company's 'stearaer, with the mails from India,
China, and Australia, arrived here to-day.

MELBOURNE, JUNE 25.
The intelligence from 'New Zeala,nd is most
gloomy.
Sediiion is spreading among the natives.
The Governor has issued a proclamation demand-
ing obedience:
Heale's Ministry has been defeated, and has
appealed to the'country.
The shipmelits of gold since last mail amount to
89,645 ounces.

SHANGHAI, JUNE 19.
The relations of England with China and Japan
are satisfactory.

CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

QUEENSTQWN, SUNDAY. MORNING.

The Royal ,Mail steamship Asia arrived off, the
harbour at 8.45 p.m. yesterday. She brings 59
pasSengers, of whom she landed 10, together with
126 mail bags, and proceeded at 9 p.m. All well.
NEW' YORK, JULY 30.
Apprehensions of a Confederate attack on Wash
ington are still entertained.
The Federals have evacuated Hampton, near
Fort Munroe.
The Marshal and Police Commissioners of Bal-
timore have been removed as, prisoners to
,Fort
Munroe. „ ,

" The Military Commissioner of. Fort Lafayette
has refused to obey the writ of habeas corpus to
produce the British subjects held as political
prisoners. _ .

Prince Napoleon and suite arrived at &iv' York
on the 27th July.
No demonstration has taken place, as the Prince
preserves a strict incognito.
He resides on board the yacht in the harbour,
and visits the city dwing the day.
Advices from St. Thomas state that Antigua had
been totally destroyed by an earthquake, with the
loss of 2,000 lives.
The Borussili has arrived out. The Africa was
intercepted off Cape Race on the 28th July, by. the
Associated Press Yacht.

COMMERCIAL.

NEW YORK, JULY 30, EVENING.

Cotton firm, and advancing. Middling Upland
is quoted 16c. to 161 c. Wheat—Nothing doing.
In corn there is a good export, demand. FlOur
quiet. Provisions are slightly firmer. Exchange
quiet. Bankers' Bills on London, 1071 to 1074.
Money abundant. Stocks dull. Nev York Cen-
tral, 751; Erie, 24 ; Illinois Central, 62/.

THE PRINCE CP WALES'S ,GENEROSITY.—A good
aneddOte is told of Prince Alfred. "The Doctor," a famous
jockey, who had the contract to furnish 30 horses for the
suite of the Prince of Wales throughout the tour at eight
dollari each per day, drove Prince Alfred to the Falls of
rtiattmorenci; I" The Doctor" remarked to Alfred, " 1
'drove the Princb of Wale 4 here."' " Did you ?"' said the
Prined. "Yes, and his Royal Highness gave me this gold
watth." " You are a lucky fellow," replied Prince Alfred ;"
" that is more than he ever did for me." " The Doctor"
puloidesh—=.4tithican Taper,

LI7'ERATUBE.

The Okavango River. A narrative of Travel,
Exploration, and Adventure. By Charles John
Andersson, author of "Lake Ngami." With

I numerous illustrations. Hurst and Blackett.
Some few years ago, before the wastes of Cen-
tral and Western Africa were the great fields
of discovery and adventure, which they have now
become, the attention of the public was attracted
by a gorgeous volume, enriched with plates, and
rife with tales of adventure and narratives of dis-
covery, recounting Mr. An dersson's experince
of that inhospitable country. He was thus one of
the first of that band of adventurous spirits of
whom Dr. Livingstone and M. Du Chaillu are the
most remarkable, who have undertaken these
hazardous expeditions, and have added largely to
our geographical, ethnological, and zoological lore,
besides opening up new roads for civilization and
commerce. The dangers they encountered, the
loss of health and property they suffered, the
anxiety and perplexity to which they were often
the victims, have unfortunately counterbalanced in
many instances the gratification the travellers
derived from their labours, and added to the debt
due from the public. In Mr. Andersson's instance
this is especially the case, as he underwent the
severest hardships, which seriously affected his
health, incurred great pecuniary loss, and was,
after all, compelled to abandon his expedition just
at its culminating point. All explorers, and, in-
deed, all readers of spirit and intelligence, will
sympathise with his feelings when forced to turn
back just as he had the extraordinary fortune to
discover a large river hitherto totally unknown to
Europeans. Feelings of humanity and prudence
made him abandon the attempt to pursue his inves-
tigatiens further, and he by no means repents of
his decision, although he deeply deplores its neces-
sity. It appears to us, however, that Mr. Anders-
son does not sufficiently estimate the distinction he
has acquired by this important discovery. It was
during his return from an exploring expedition that
he first came upon the river.

THE OKAVANGO RIVER.
After this little delay we again proceeled, but had not
gone far before I perceived on the far-away horizon a dis-
tinct dark blue line. " Ah, all!" I exclaimed to myself,
in the valley of which that line evidently forms the bor-
der, there is surely something more than a mere periodical
water course." A few minutes afterwards, catching a
glimpse of an immense sheet of water in the distance, my an-
ticipation was realised to its utmost. A cry of joy and satis-
faction escaped me at this glorious sight. Twenty minutes
more brought us to the banks of a truly noble river, at this
point at least 200 yards wide. This was then, in all pro-
bability, the Mukuru Mukovanja of the Ovamba, which
these people had given us to understand flowed westward.
Taking it for granted that their statement in this respect
was correct, I had stood some time by the water before I
became aware of my mistake. "By heavens" I suddenly
exclaimed, "the water flows towards the heart of the con-
tinent, instead of emptying itself into the Atlantic !" For
a moment I felt amazed at the discovery. " East," I con-
tinued to soliloquise, "why, what stream can this then be,
in this latitude and longitude? Tioughe ? No ; that
channel alone is much too insignificant to form the outlet for
such a mighty flow of water. Well, then, it must be one
of the chief branches of that magnificent river, the Chobe."
This was my first impression, which was to some extent
corroborated by the natives, who described this river,
called by the Ovaquangari "Okavango," as forking off in
two, directions in the neighbourhood of Libebe, one branch
forming the said Tioughe, the other finding its way to the
ChObe. But on more mature consideration, I strongly
question the correctness both of my own impression and of
the account of the natives.
It is true Dr. Livingstone, in one of his early maps, lays
dovin a river as coining from Libebe's towards Sekeletu's
town ; and I myself, when at Lake 'Ngami, heard of a
water communication existing betwean these two places.
But as the Tioughe is known to send out a branch towards
Chobe considerably below Libel* i.e., south of it, called
Dzo, it is just possible that this is the stream alluded to by
the . natives. Furthermore the country, for a great dis-
tal* about Libebe, is known to abound in immense
marshes ; it is probable, therefore, that the Okavango,
though of large dimensions, is more or less swallowed
up in these extensive swamps, leaving merely sufficient
water for the formation of the Tioughe and its inunda-
tions. Unquestionably Dr. Livingstone, if he succeeds
in revisiting Sekeletu's town, will be able to settle this
question.

Here is Mr. Andersson's account of the causes
which induced him to return from this interesting
expedition :

DUTY AND AMBITION.

With one or two exceptions, all my native servants were
at this time prostrated by the fever, Pereira and Morta
alone being still unaffected by it ; and as I had at an early
period taken the precaution of administering to these men
quinine and brandy, antidotes, I believed, against the dis-
ease, I had some faint hopes that they might escape the
infection, and thus afford me at least some help in carrying
out my plans. But in this hope I was disappointed; for
after about a month's stay on the river both these men were
suddenly confined to their beds. To add to my dismay, the
other patients, instead of improving, were rapidly getting
worse, in short, sinking into their graves. Had I then,
under these circumstances, persisted on prosecuting my
long cherished project, I should certainly have been much
to blame; for I had the sad experience and melancholy fate
of former explorers, who had obstinately, in a similar
situation, persevered in darling schemes, become hopeless,
ever before me, ever forcibly present to my mind. What
then was to be done ? T.) linger where ,ve were seemed
certain death ; and my visions of future success I might
still entertain were too remote to justify mo in imperilling
so fearfully the lives of my fellow••creatures. A precipitate
retreat appeared therefore quite imperative. It cost, never-
theless, a severe struggle between duty and ambition before
I could resolve upon it. I obeyed at last the monitions of
conscience, and bade with a sigh farewell to the pursuit of
fame and glory for ever. That this act of self-renuncia-
tion was not determined on without acute pangs, it would
be useless to deny. After such toils, such hardships, such
sacrifices, and with the prospect of a final crowning success
just dawning upon me, it may well be imagined that I
turned my back on the land of promise with drooping spirits
and a heavy heart.
Thus ended my short but memorable visit to the Oka-
vango river. I sincerely trust that future explorers of these
parts may meet with better success. An excursion up this
stream towards its source would undoubtedly prove very
interesting, for it is, I believe, perfectly unknown to Euro-
peans; I doubt even whether the native Portuguese are
aware of its very existence ; they are certainly quite insen-
sible to its importance in a commercial point of view.
Navigable it must be throughout a great'(if not the greater)
portion of its course, even to vessels of some pretension.
Numerous tribes, more or less intelligent, more or less
traders and acquainted with the art of agriculture, possess
permanent habitations along its banks. The unhealthiness
of the climatq may, it is true, be considered as prohibitive
of any frequent or constant intercourse with this country.
I strongly suspect, however, that this objection would only
apply to a certain season, i.e., to the time when, the annual
flow of the river ceasing, exhalations from the surrounding
swamps and marshes poison the atmosphere. In the months
of June, July, and August one might, I firmly believe, visit
the Okavango with comparative safety. s It is only'
is r think,
in the spring, when I was unfortunately in its neighbour-
hood, that the malaria from the Lagoons so fatal.
We trust that better health and more favourable
circumstances will await Mr. Andersson's next visit

to the Okavango. In the meantime he has the
glory of its first acquaintance. The' reader can
best judge of the perils and hardships the little
party encountered from a few extracts from, this
interesting volume. On one occasion they 'were
suffering fearfully from want of water, and quite
uncertain where to obtain the next supply.
A SEA OF FIEF.

W'o had
,proceeded but a comparatively short distance,
and were just escaping. out of a thorn • thicket, when we
were suddenly startled by. a grand hut to 'us appalling
sight. . . •
Turning to Mortar, I exclaimed, " Good God, our return
is cnt off!" I had seen many wood and
,grass fires, but
nothing to equal this. Immediately in front of us hy
stretched out like a sea: a vast pasture prairie, doted with.
occasional trees, bounded in the distance by groves of hugs
giraffe thorns--all in. a blaze i Through the very midst of
this' lay our path. By delaying a few hours the danger
would have been considerably diminished, if not altogether
over, but delay in our case seemed almost more dangerous
than going forward and so on we pished, trusting to
some favourable accident to bring' is through the:perils we
had to face. As weadvancedwe heard distinctly the sput-
tering and hissing of the inflamed grasses andbrushwdod,
the cracking of the trees as they reluctantly yielded their,
massive forms to the 'unrelenting and ull;dertirinreleraent
the screams of startled birds and other commingling sounds
'or terror and dOustation. There.was a great angle in our
road, running parallel, as it were, to the raging firer but
afterwardS turning abruptly into a burning savannah. By
the time we had reached this .point the conflagration, still
in its glory on our right, was,fast receding on our left, thus
opening a passage, into which we darted without hesitation,
although the ground was still smouldering, and reeking,
and in some places quite alive with flickering sparks from
the recent besom of hot flames which had swept over it.
Tired as our cattle were, this heated state of the ground
made the poor brutes step out pretty smartly. At times
we ran great risk of being crushed by the falling'timbers.
Once, a huge trunk, in . flames from top to bottom, fell
athwart our path, sending up millions, of sparks, and,
scattering innumerable splinters of lighted wood all
around us, whilst the numerous nests of the social crois-
beaks—Textor erythrorhyndia—in the ignited,, trees
looked like so many lamps suspended. in designs at
once natural, plealing,adn splendid. It was 'altogether a
glorious illumination, worthy of l'ature's palace with its
innumerable windows and stately vaulted. canopy. But the
danger associated with the grand spectacle was too great and
too imminent for us thoroughly to appreciate its magnifi-
cence. Indeed, we wero really thankful when once our
backs were turned on the awful scene. , ,

At break of day we halted for a few:minutes to breathe
arid' to change oxen, then continued to journey on. I des •
patched all the loose cattle ahead, giving the-men orders to
return with a fresh team as soon as they had drunk, fed, and
rested a little. We arrived at the vley a little before mid-
night on the 24th of May, but on attempting to kraal the
trek-oxen, notwithstanding their fatigue, the thirsty brutes
leapt over the stout and tall thorn-fences as if they had
been so many rushes, and with a wild roar set off at full
speed for Okaoa fountain, which they reached the following
dayi having been more than 150 hours without a single drop
of water I
Before reaching the water the men in charge of the loose
cattle had become so exhausted with long and incessant
marching, suffering all the time from 'burning thirst, that
one by one they had sunk down. The cattle, unherded,
found their way to the fountain without much difficulty ;
but the wretched horse missed his, and kept wandering
about until he dropped from sheer exhaustion. Some Ovat-
jimba fortunately found the brute, and reporting the disco-
very to their chief, he good-naturedlybrought the dying
beait some drinlc and fodder, by which means he gradually.
recovered. The animal when found, had been seven days
without water. I had co idea that a horse was capable of
enduring fatigue and thirst to the extent experienced by this
this time ienyea
now
wrfuapl
appeared
under
hack of mine.
What • was once a clear
; "and
eNravbarasecirVa;t.
tehdßdl car-ioffide dd.:
""perspicuous
The poor dogs wespreecbky
like a mere lustrous
flowed at times from their
tnhoesirtrit arnsilanagdgy
cameo, sometnnes they tried totye
cuity they dragged along their
St nit