New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-22
,.noM NEw-YoRK TO NINEvEH.
xxx.
- XXX.
ADVENTURES AMosSS %an .l i'IAN'' o' 'i'
Ap'N SHILLOOKS.

Tbove inst paSsed the northern poiht VI
:, :.,s,d Of Aba, on my return to khart0um
rns se;ls are taken down, and the men are row
- along the lee side of one Of the islandbeds o
,Ssi.se which stud this glorious river. l reached
INV turning point, between lat. p end l3' N
s.,v this morning, in just forty-eight hours from
vhs,toum, having sailed in that time upward o
ose miles. Now the gateway to the unknown
soufb is closed, and my face is turned toward the
wediterranean. But have Mt least stood in tho
tbyesbold of that wonderful realm, and in the
grand and strange vistas opened before me have
realized portion of my dream.
We sailed nearly all night with steady north
Wind. which toward morning became so strong
that the men were obliged to take in sail and LET
NE scud under bare poles. When ! rose, in the
gray Of early dawn they were about hosting the
little stern-sheet which alone suihced to carry u;
along at the rate Of four miles an hour. We had
passed the frontier of Egyptian Soudan soon after
sunset, and were now in the negro kingdom of the
Shillooks. The scenery had changed consdera.
bly, since yesterday. The forests were taller and
more dense, and the river more thicky studded
with islands, the soil Of which was entirely con-
ceaed by the Iuxuriant girdle OF shrubs ana wafer
pIsnts in which they lay imbedded. species
aouatc shrub, with leaves resembling the sensitive
,asnt and winged, bean-like blossoms of rich yell
L.. bue grew on the edge Of the shore, with its
-.o,. in the water and its long arms floating on
Az. surface. II formed impenetrablc ramparts
.,oupd the islands and shores, except where the
h;ooopotamus and crocodile had trodden paths
;,to the forests, or the lion and leopard had come
down 10 the rivers margin to drink. Behind this
Aost;ng hem foliage and blossoms appeared other
and larger shrubs, completely matted together
18th climbing vines, which covered them like
MANTLE and hung from their branches dangling
steamers of white and purple and yellow BIOS
SONS. They even stretched to the boughs OF the
large mimosa, or ambaktrces, which grew IN the
center of the islands, thus binding all together in
.o,ndea masses. Some of the smaller islands
embIed floating hills of vegetation and their slopes
and srmmits of impervious foliage, rolling in the
wind appeared to keep time with the rocking of
the waves that upheld them. The profusion of
vecetable life reminded me Of the Chagres River.
If not so rich and gorgeous, it was on far grander
scale. The river had still breadth of mile and
a half where his current was free, but where Is
land crowded on island in vast archipelago of
leafy shores, he took much wider sweep. The
waves danced and glistened in the cool northern
wind as we glided around his majestic curves, and
stood on deck watching the wonderful panorama
unfold OH either side, with feeling of exultation,
to which gave free vent. limo other river have
seen landscapes Of larger or more imposing char
acter.
All the rich animal world of this region was
awake and stirring before the sun. The wild
fowls left their roost the zik-oks flew twittering
over the waves calling up their mates, the sleepy
croeodiles; the herons stretched their wings
against the wind the monkeys leaped and chat
tered in the woods and at last whole herds of hip
popotami, sporting near the shore, came up spout
ing the water from their nostrs, in manner pre-
cisely similar to the grampus. | counted six to-
yether soon after sunrise, near the end of an is
land They foundered about in the shadows, pop
ping up their heads every few minutes to look at
us and at last walked out through the reeds ana
stood upon the shore. Soon afterward, five more
appeared on the other side of the river and since
then we have seen them almost constantly, and
sometimes within fifty yards. noticed one
which must have been four feet i'll breath across
the ears. ard with head nearly FIVE feet long
lie opened his mouth wide enough to show two
round, blunt tusks, or rather grinders, one on
each side. They have great deal of curiosity,
and frequently turn about after we have passed,
ind follow for some time in our wake
Soon after sunrise the rails observed some Shil-
looks in the distance, who were sinking their
canoes in the river, after which they hastily re-
treated into the woods. We ran along beside the
empowering shores, till we reached the place. The
canoes were carefully concealed and some pieces
of drift-wood thrown the spot, as if left there
Ly the river. The ruis climbed to the masthead
and called to the people, assuring them that there
was no danger, but, though we pecred sharply INTO
the thickets, we could find no signs OF any human
being. The river here turned to the south, dis
closing other and richer groups of islands, stretch
ing beyond one another far into the distance.
Directly on our left was the northern point of the
island of Aba, our destination. As the island is
six or eight miles in length, determined to make
the most Of my bargain, and so told the rals he
must take me to its further end and TO the villages
Of the Shllooks, whom had come to see. Abou-
Hammed is small in body, but has stout heart.
The Consul and fat Abou-Balta had given him
special Instructions to keep me ont of danger, yet
he could not refuse my demands. We sailed two
or three miles along the shore Of Aba, looking into
the depths of its ambak forests for traces of the
Shillooks, who, according to the rails had village
on the island. On our right extended cham OF
smaller islands--bowery masses OF leaves and
blossoms--and beyond them the Wild forests OF the
western bank. Glorious above description was
that world of waves aud ioliage--of wood, water
and sky.
AT last, on rounding one of the coyes of Aba, we
came upon flock of sheep, feeding along the
shore. A light thread of smoke arose from among
some dead, fallen trees, few PAGES in the forest,
but no person was to be seen. The boat was run
fO ha Shora aOl ,,.a landci aud examinei the