The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-06-12
MISCEiI.AN Y.
From the London Monthly Magazine for April
1920.
The Interior of africa.

The Marquis d'Etoursie, who IS at pres
ent in Africa on matters Of private business,
intends, on his return to France, 10 publish
some interesting notice, relative TO national
history, science wherein he has made NUN.
berless discoveries, aud such as well deserve
the attention Of the learned. lie has recent
ly forwarded certain memoranda which he
made during bis long captivity, al which the
following is very brief analysis.
nj. d'E,ourvlle emigraled from France to
Spain in 1890 he then commenced course
of medical studies, and afterwards resided
some time in Lisbon, taking lessons in that
science. From Lisbon he repaired TO the isle
St. Thomas, situated under the Equator, al
the extremity Of the gupb Of Guinea. He re-
manned some years in this island, whence oc-
casionaly he made excursions into the ives
tern regions OF Africa. In one Of these he
fortunately cured sore dangerous wound I'M
der which the Mani congo, prince OF the
country, was suffering. Having thereby gain
ed the favor OF TIE prince, he attended him in
an expedition OF Journey more than four hun
bred leagues in the interior OF the continent.
In the course Of tins per'grination, M. DE-
tourville traced on a map, the western lines
of the lake Aqualinda respecting which, till
then, no certain information had been obtain
ed. He likewise aseer,ained with precision
the geogra phical route OF The cairo, with its
sources, and the lakes il forms in It's progress.
In a journey which he undertook 10 1900,
w. d'Etourvlle was taken prisoner. by wan.
dering tribe Of Gsjas, who are cannibas.
Whatever common fame has reported Of their
ierocily, is no exaggetation. They make war
to devour their prisoners and It is certain, as
Dopper relates, that human hesh's sold in
their markets. The blood which they draw
from the veins of their living victims, is TO
them a delicious beverage. M. d'Etourville
remained fifteen months among these barbara
ans.-All his companions were devoured, and
be must have shared the same fate, had he
not been so fortunate as to cure broken arm
of the favorile mistress Of the chief OF the
Horde.
Compelled to be in the train OF this troop
of Gaas, he ranged through an extent Of the
continent, from the country OF the Auriscans
to HULA, when he escaped from their hands.
He then proceeded to province south OF the
western Mountains of the Moon, at small
distance from what be considers as the real
sources o! The Nile. Hsreabouts he fixes the
Empire OF Droglodo, unknown at present, but
far more civilized than the circumjacen, re
gions. The politics Of the government, &C
cordng to M. d'Eloursie, bears strong re.
semblapce TO the Chinese, and the civilization
Of the Droglodians must be traced to very
remote source The merchants Of Droglodo,
60 once year, authorised by their govern.
ment to meet the Abyssinian merchants In the
narrow passage in the mountain NaIcar.
They convey lhilher gold dust, musk, pearls,
precious stones, ivory, gums, and Ethiopian
slaves, in exchange for which they receive
shawis, India stuffs, Turkey carpets and salt.
In this country NJ. d'E'ourslle remained
about ten years and though in state Of
slavery, he had many opportunities OF noticing
the manners Of the people and their antqui-
ties. His diaerent observations have led him