Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-02
DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA.

large portion Of the vast peninsula of Africa Il ON
unknown region. Notwithstanding the repeated efforts
of such travellers Bruce, Park Denham Clapuerton
Ledyar and Lander the interior Of the country has been
in great measure sealed book to the European disco
glance the latest map yet published Of the
country designated Ethiopia extending from the Noun
tains of the Moon the ropO of Capricorn will present
to the eye almost dead blank and whatever Insert
ed is made up from the uncertain accounts obtained
from the natives than from any well authenticated and
reliable Many important discoveries however
have very recently been made in that benghted portion
Of the globe and preparations foot push disco
very throughout the continent both north and SOUTH the
results Of which will be of vast Importance to the re-
searches of physical science late English paper says
"a map Of that country is about to be published COM
prisng the whole region from the equator to nineteen de-
grees Of south latitude In this the recent discoveries
will be laid down, and shall Mr. Cations route Of
sixteen hundred miles from Walsh Bay to Odonga near
Ovampo described intelligent tribe Of natives We
shall nd ALSO that the peaked mountains seen by
the German and considered to be the source Of
the White Nile are not more than about three hundred
miles distant from the eastern coast and it is said that no
more promising enterprise could be undertaken than an
attempt to ascend and explore them starting from Nom
bas Barth and Overweg at the end Of Lake
Ichad when last heard FROM and told that the
Traders finding their occupation decreasing on the
western coast have lately for the first time
to the interior and tempted many of the natives to sell
their children for snowy European goods Lieut. Mac
leod OF the Royal Navy proposes ascend the Niger in
steam-launch, and when up the country cross over
to and descend the Gambia, with view to discover new
sources Of trades and Mr. Macgregor Laird is still ready
to carry vessel up any river Of the western
which Government may please to send him.
Besides the travellers mentioned there are others
pushing their way in different parts Of the and the
French not idle in the they have added to our
information concerning Abyssna and the countries bor
derng the Great Desert But, in addition African
geography. all these explorations have added our know
ledge of African geology vast portion of the interior
is supposed to have been inland sea- of which Ngami
and other lakes the remains fossil bones of most Pc
cuiar character have been found but only of terrestrial
and freshwater animals "A is already given to a.
creature Of remote secondary PERIOD Prof Owen from
the examination of few relics pronounces 1t to be
Dicynodon According to Sir r. MurchsoA, such have
been the main features of Africa during Countless ages
for the old rocks which form her outr fringe unoues
tonaby circed round an interior rarshy lacustrne
country, in whichthe dcynodon flo rshed at time when
not single animal was similar t, any living thing which
nhabits the surface of our globe The present
trail and meridian Of waters whether lakes rivers
marshes, extending from Take Tchad to Lake Ngami,
with hppopoam on their banks, are therefore but the
great modern residual geof aphca phenomena of those
of mesozoc age"