The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-17

Nat with soil Is is now stated admirably adapted
Ios The manufacture of bricks, the materials actually
employed should have been so exclusively lumber
The truth is however that everything has proceeded
On the goa-head principle alone. brck making TOOK
mn time, and a wooden mouse or store could De
run ND and inhabited before clay could be fairly
baked. Instead Of guarding against coniiagratlons
Nv the construction of their houses the Calfornans
seem 10 prefer taking the risk as il comes and main
tanning machinery to encounter IL. Most towns
n the United States have their volunteer lire nr
xades. raised, trained and mustered something IKE
militia, and the practice indeed, seems TO satisfy
in some sort that military spirit which no free com
nunites are without Still the PERIODICAL absorption
by fire Of entire cities, with their properly, mus.
eventually prove a contingency too serious To be
sghted, and shall be prepared to hear that some
precautionary conditions OF building receive the
brce of law. Meantime, one confiagration more or
less appears be thought Of very little consequence
IN Europe such calamity would have been bewailed
IN the sympathies, and relieved by the subscriptions
sf whole continent; but in America the damage is
repaired and the event forgotten almost before the
peport has been made public. BY this time, IN all
human probability, new city of Sacramento IS sub
staAtally completed OF more magnificent proportions,
nere durable material and greater riches than the
sne which persisted six weeks ago. II IS certainly
reat thing to say, but American towns are built
almost as rapidly they are burnt and the kings OF
Palestine, who constructed eighty or hundred
cities in lifetime, seem TO be surpassed by Anglo
SaxOn coonists who create almost as many III year.
Expedition to Central Africa.
RIO the Editor Of the London Iimes]
Sr-Further dispatches and communications
nom nv friends in the interior OF Africa have this
moment been received ofwhich the following lew par
sulaIr may be interesting to some OF your readers
ON the date of the previous letters Dr. Oyerweg
was at Kuka, expecting the return of DR.. Barth
from his journey to Baghirmi, powerful kingdom
situated between Lake Tsad and the Nile, and
never before visited by any European. On the
10th Of August last DR.. Barth having successfully
explored that country as far as Masena its capital
returned to Kuka and rejoined his companion, in the
best health and spirits, The meeting was q
very joyful one, as the liberal supplies OF
Lord Palmerston, and various subsidies from
their own country--despatched in the beginning Of
the yearhad at length arrived Before that time their
communication with Europe had been greatly inter
yupted on account OF the wars raging over an exten
sive portion OF the Southern Sahara. indeed, one OF
the caravans ventnring to proceed nom Murzeeh 10
Kuka was plundered and parcel addressed to the
expedition stolen by the Tuaricks, and conse-
4ueny never reached its destination. Between July
1851 and June last no supplies had reached the travel
lers who were thereby reduced to great straits All
tAey could possibly spare OF what they possessed ne,
sessary to their personal comfort, had been parted
with to defray the expenses OF their continued eXcur
sions and at last means were left them to pay a
courier for the conveyance OF their letters to the north
The great kindness and generosity OF the Vezeer OF
Bornu alone had enabled them to perseyere IN their
undertaking. This enlightened man, by the advice
Of DR.. 0verweg, Is making collections OF the natural
products and manufactures OF Bornu which viii be
sent to England
The suggestion threw out in my previous comm
nication respecting the kawara and Tchadda as the
two great highways to the interior Of Africa from the
west coast seem to receive stronger bearing by the
present communications Of DR.. Barth, who recon-
mends to the special attention Of this country that
part OF the coast which extends from the kawara TO
the equator. | may be excused in again mentioning
that this is just the region the Importance OF which
has long been recognized by our transatlantic breth-
rem; it is there that the American missionaries have
secured footing; it is that region which no doubt IS
within the limits OF operation OF the projected eXpe-
diton under Captain Lynch, who is already on his
way to Western Africa on a preliminary tour OF re-
eosnaissance The object oil that expedition, accord
ing to President Fillmore 8 Message to the American
Congress. on the 9Th December, as reported in the
Times, is the reconnaissance OF the continent OF
Africa eastward OF Liberia
The two travellers meanwhile, are determined to
the whole Of the African continent and to reach,
II possible, the Indian Ocean. 1.-The powerful assls-
lance of England and Prussia, writes DR.. Overweg,
~inspres with redoubled courage and strengthens
our determination to push on TO the SOUTH and to
Persevere in the attempt to accomplish our great OBJ
Ject. SHOULD monetary difficulties arise to prevent
this they will previously make another voyage in q
westerly direction, and attempt to penetrate as far as
Tmbuktu.
three years in exploring it." so writes DR.. Barth to
the Chevalier Bunsen; .but what two persons do
in this vast unknown wordt and he suggests that
other travellers should push into the heart Of Africa
from the west coast, either up the Tehadda or from
Pablo de Loanda situated at the south OF the equa-
SOr. He recommends in particular that, as arrange
ments have already been made at Zanzibar, on the
east coast of Africa TO assist them from that drec-
ton one or two travellers should start from MoZam-
biaue or kilwa in the direction of Lake Nyassi.
am sir your very obedient, humble servant,
AUGUSTUS PETERMANS.