New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-27
aew-llork Qailn oribnne.
THE EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL AFRICA
The following letter has been addressed by Mr. Augustus

The following letter has been addressed by Mr. Augustus
Petermann to the editor of The LonioH Daily Ncrsi
Fourteen months since laid before the public com
municaton respecting the progress OF the African Etpedi
ton and particularly the important discovery OF Or
Barh Oh ma ynifcent river in the far interior forming
the upper of the Chadda, tributary TO- but larger
than the Kowara commonly called Niger and ho"ins
through the extensive kingdom of Aiamaua, the most
fertile end beautiful Of all the countries OF Central Africa
visited by DR. Barh Five months since was announced
in the public papers that expedition up that river by
eans Of steamboat, had been decided on by Her yes
tvs Government and few weeks since Mr.: Macgregor
Laird the contractor for building the vessel IN comm
nicaon to the Royal Geographical Society announced
that the vessel would be ready next month lhe pan OF
the expedition IT, 10 arrive at the mouth of the kowara
before the LIST Of July and TO steam at once up the river
with the rising waters II is estimated that the Kingdom
of Adamaua may be reached within three or Tour weeks
after leaving the Blight Of Benin Ii is the opinion OF the
most competent persons that if anything VIII open the
vast interior of Africa to European commerce ana
civilization it will be the magnificent river discovered by
DIR BArtb and the British public will therefore, doubt
less look forward with anxiety to the present attempt To
ascend the river leading to those important an1 promising
regions Accounts Of the progress OF tins expedition have
been PROMPTLY and regularly laid before the public and
the Ear of Clarendon, in order TO give TO tue Wod me
benefit Of this information early as possible has kindly
sanctioned at my particular solicitation me Ihealsle
publication Of some most important maps with descriptive
letter press relating thereto In connection with ths pup
Ecation which will be ready in the course OF few weeks
have been kindly allowed to make extracts IRON Dr.
Barhs official communication containing the details oihe
said discovery of which the following as being parcu
larry interesting with respect to the Chadda EXPEDITION
am anxious make al once known 10 tue puOlic ana
would ask of YOU kindly afford the space for that pur
pose. 1t viii be remembered that Dr. barth after
a twelve months journey through the great desert,
under severe hardships and trials was the ifst oil
the three travellers arrive at Lake Tsad Owing to the
melancholy death Mr Richardson the leader OF the expe
don he found the whole undertaking IN stare OF compoe
DISCRIMINATION Yet such was his ndemltabe energy ana
courage that he borrowed of money from the Nzer
of Boruu and determined to penetrate 10 the south alone
in order reach Adamaua, which country had been re-
I;,u fha h.au iful nf
On the 10Th of May, 1884, accordingly he efs huka and
after fortnight march through the dominons OF Bornu
well as those of independent pagan nations DIS
tsnce from Kuka of 1855 geographical miles in straight
ne-he reached Uba the northernmest place Of Adamaua
situated exactly in the latitude as the celebrated
Mount Mindif by Major Denham namely, in 10 deg
20 min north latitude and IS geographical miles west
from it. From this place. says Dr. Barth' all the
country the south covered with the most splen
did heritage and enlivened with numerous herds OF
cattle belonging to the Felatas. The atmosphere
was now cool and refreshing, the sky covered with
clouds during the greater part OF the day, ana thun
der storms occurred almost every day The country wore
altogether rich and beautiful appearance the huts
of the inhabitants are built with sody than In the
northern region of Sudan the rainy season lasts seven
months in Adamaua The population OF the country Is
considerable large towns being met with at every trosor
four hours with villages between exclusively inhabited Dy
the slaves of the ruling Feaias The slaves do all the
work and every Feaa down ~ the very poorest possesses
a, least from two four slaves Indeed in country OF the
world slavery carried to such degree a. IN Adamaus
where slaves In addition 10 cattle are considered "a the
"a
the country have countless multltudes OF these poor
creatures There few slaves however exported from
Adamaua except those Of the Dana tribe east Of lola
the capital OF the kingdom, as they do not md ready
sale In the Sudan markets account Of their great NOR
tally when taken away from their mountainous country
Nevertheless they FORM with ivory, the chief articles OF
commerce Ivory is extremely cheap in Adamsua ON sc-
count of the great number of elephant In Baya twelve
DAYS journey south Of Yoa the elephants are found
in still greater numbers. The chief articles of i'm
port are turkedies tobes, glass, pearls, and salt.
Tou kava
medium of barter consisting OF narrow stripes Of coarse
cotton called gebbega Saraw distant % miles from UDs
the chief town of the northern part Of Adamaus ands
consdersbe market place Previously to reaching Ssraw
We passed place called Umbutdi surrounded win beau
tfu scenery where the gigne peculiar species OF PAIN
tree appears The people OF THIS tract bad neser seen
kindness and hospitality taking me altogether Tor supe
rior being. The most important day, however, IN al
my African Journeys, was the letn OF june ~nen We
reached the liver Benue point called Taepe, wheret
is joined by the river Faro In latitude degs min
north snd longitude IL dogs east from Greenwch Since
leaving Europe had not seen 50 large and imposing
liver The Benue mother of waters. which by far
the larger of the two, half mile broad and " feet
deep in the channel where crossed It On our return
eleven days later, had risen feet The faro ihs
of mile broad and feet deep which hsd aoreasedto
feet by Both rivers have very trong cur
emit ana run the west into the kOwara We crossed
be Benue in boats made out Of single trees - TO 30 set
one and 10 feet broad and forded the Faro, which
after wa. accomplished not without difficulty on account
o. The strong Tie Benue is said to rise nine days
Faro seven days journey distant In rock called Laou
During the rainy season the country Is inundated 70
great extent By the two ver which rise to their
level toward the end Of July and remain at that syeor
forty DAYS viZ till the first days Of September Wnen the
waters beCinto fall Both rivers are full OF erocodiies
and the Benue was told contained gold Alter having
crossed the rivers with difficulty to the cameb, we
passed at first through swampy ground then through
very me country thisky inhabited and reached foa the
capital on the 29d of June In another Of
by Bsh be states that the river Benue rises during the
rapy eason TO hight OF 40 to so feet The dscovey OF
Dr. Bsrth i unques onably the most important which hss
beeuuade in Africa for q very long time and 50 striking
did the superior advantages Of the river ne discovered a
near 10 Her Majesty Government that proposed ascent
10 the Koware reach TiInbuku and the desert coun
tries was rejected and the ascent the Chsdds Benus
was decided on Indeed if the hopes of those most able
20 Judge be realized those virgin countries with their in
Vulnerable herds Of cattle and other agricultural treas
ures with their abundance ivory blessed with climate
which seems sslubrous, that the Inhabitants, wnen
brought to the unhealthy regions further west along
the Kowara, die of like sheep-hese fertile cuiIlva'ed,
and deusey peopled countries Of Inner Afnea VIII DC
brought 70 within few weeks sail OF the docks o. Lon
don There no desert TO be passed ~ IN Nonnetn sul
Southern Africa which have been and ever WI" 0e' TAG
natural barriers TO commerce aud evIizauon-
One of the largest diamonds knOEn has been dePosed
~