Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-24
AN UNKNOWN LAND.

Inc English have recently made settlement
at Alden, near the Red Sea. Having since OBJ
tained foothold, they English like began to push
aboutthem, and one oftheir first dscov cries was
river where none was marked upon any chart.
aud upon this they steamed 800 miles without
any obstrRctiou. Having now passed round this
continentsset us look into the interior For half
centt,k 1.-The Eogsh government have hAea ca
pending Dir yves and treasures in partial ex-
ploration17 They have found that this whole
tract of county is one of amazing fertility and
teuuty, ab0uq ing in gold and all sorts of tropical
vegetation lere are hundreds of woods, in
valuable for ing and architectural purposes,
not found in kr portions of the world.
Throug b it, thousands of miles sweeps a
river. from thnfltO six miles broad with clear
water and un(NHassed depth, flowing on at the
rate oftwo or hiee miles an hour, without rock
shoal or snaa Interrupt its navigation. Other
rivers pour his their tributary waters of such
volumes as musf have required hundreds of miles
to be collected, yet they seem scarcely enlarge
it. This river pours into the Atlantic through
one OF the moss magnificent Detas in the world,
consisting perhaps Of an hundred mouths, extend
ing probably, five hundred miles along the coast,
aud mostly broad, deep and navigable for steam
boats Upon this river scattered Cities some
of which are estimated to contain million of
inhabitants, and the whole country teens with a
dense population.
Far in the interior, in the very heart Of the
continent, is a nation in advanced state of
civilization The grandeur and beauty of por-
tions OF the country through which the Niger
max es its sweeping circuit indiscribable.
La many places its banks rise boldly thousand
feet, and are thckly covered with the richest
vegetation of tropical chimes. But all this vast
and sublime country, this scope of rich fertility
and romantic beauty. is apparently shut out for
ever from the world 1t is the negroes sole pos
session. He need not fear the incursons of
the white man there: for. over this whole lovely
country moves one dread malaria, aud to the
white man it is the "valley of the shadow of
DEATH" In expedition after expedition sent out
from the English ports on the Island of Ascen-
sion, not one in ten hive returned alive-all have
fallen victims to this seemingly beautiful coun-
try.
1t seems impossible for an Enslishman to
breathe that air. So dreadful as it $50 small
the chance of life, that criminals have been offer
ed pardon on condition of volunteering in this
service, more terrible than that of gathering the,
poison from the tabled Upas. This country
tempting as it is, only be penetra ed at the
risk OF life, and is it melancholy to think, that
those who have given us the meagre information
that we have, do it at the expense of their lives
The only tolerable account which we have Of
this country, is published by n Swiss officer in
the service of the Egyptian government, who wax
member of an expedition fitted out by Meheme
Ali. He could give but very little account OF
the country, however, only that they saw races
OF the most degraded negroes and some fine spe
ci:nens OF humanity in other races One tribe
averaged, both meneasld women, seven feet I'D
stature.