Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-15
NUMBER 1S1.
From the London Athenaum.

leyed dead-to meet in very good health ard
spirits" DR.. Vogel--to see once more the face of
European, and grasp the hand Of countryman
| who had been sent to join him. As only a few
preliminary hasty lines from DR.. Vogel, written in
pencil have come to hand, the particulars of this
| event have not yet TRANSFERRED; but il NAV easl,
be conceived what II must have been TO Doctor
Barth. II was exactly six years since he left Ell.
rope in company with Mr.. Richardson and Dr. Oyci-
veg; and since the decease Of the latter, on the
27th of September, 1852, not only had his commu-
nications with Europe been all but entirely cut of,
but he had indeed been isolated from the civilized
world, and left to battle with manifold hardships
and dangers
DIR. Vogel writes he intended to proceed as
speedily as possible to Yakoba and Adamaua, in
which plan he seems to have been encouraged by
some acceptable and important passports in the
shape of letters Of Recommendation, from the pow.
erful Fcllata Chief at Sokoto, which Dr. Barth had
brought with him and handed to his countryman
Dr. Voge had not received any communication
from Tripol or Murzuk since the 9th of February,
/ 1854, In consequence of the state Of the Saharan
countries, which seem again involved in genelal
| war and bloodshed
Letters from DR.. Barth himself have come to nv
hands, which, though written before his meeting
with DR.. Vogel are of great interest," as they cor
tain the first news respecting his journey from Tin
buktu back to Sudan, and the first positive inform
alton ever received from a European traveller ,f
the river Kowara, between that place and its lower
| course.
It appears that DR.. Barth had been detained at
or near Timbuktu several months beyond the date
| Of his last letters despatched from that region,
namely the 23d of March, 1854, between which
date and the time of his arrival at Kano, which
took place on the 18th Of October last nearly seven
months intervene. DIR. Barth himself says / "after
a protracted stay of nearly gear at Timbuktu---
the Queen of the Desert rs it is Justly called by
| the nativna-I rptracad nv ata arl aln
the shores OF that magnificent river which the
undaunted Scotchman (Mungo Park) descended
| about fifty years since, fighting his way through
numerous fleets manned by Tuaricks and Sudans-
lost labor to science, his journal having pershed
with him-while | went along reconciling and
security from their chiefs for any English visiting
their territories, whether by land or water"
Thus DIR. Barth has been able to realize his
great wish, namely, to trace this river between
Timbuktu and Say; which latter place is situated
in about thirteen degrees ten minutes north lat
tude, and three degrees east longitude Greenwich
This, its middle course, seems everywhere nayiea.
BILE and enlvened with large deets--its shores
denscly inhabited by people who received and
treated DR.. Barth most kindly, and implored him
| to stay with them altogether or to return soon in
an English ship. They learned from him with
establishment as to whence the river which forms
| the basis of their existence and wealth comes
and where it terminates.
DIR. Barth aludes to large map Of the river
drawn by him, which he had sent to the Foreign
Office. He has also transmitted with the present
letters some OF former date which bad been
despatched by him while on his way to Timbuktu
but which, he found on his return to Sudan, had
not been forwarded, probably because their envel.
opes and addresses had been lost. These letters
are dated "Dore, in Libtsko, 10th July, 1863"
which place is about midway @bstween Sokoto and
Timbuktu, (see map in my Geeg aphische Nit
theiungen," part ID or nnttnde 40 deg. 80 min.
north, and close upon the MERIDIAN of Greenwich
and they contain full account respecting that re-
gion, which was entirely unknown before.
Libtako forms portion Of the very extensive
Fellata domnions and is very important com
mercial point The principal article Of trade is tho
salt of Taodenni which IL brought thither by the
Arabs of Timbuktu, while the Tuaricks bring
corn and butter, the people of the Mos their cele
! brated donkeys and their famous cotton manufac-
lures, cheap black shirts and large, peculiar kind
Of guro.nuts The inhabitants Of the country sup,
ply sweet and sour milk and their manufactures
consist chiefly of very handsome and cheap shawls
made of cotton and WOOL and of various coors.
The market at Dore, their chief place Of Libtako,
is held every day. Cowrics are almost the sole me.
dium of Interchange.
Libtako occupies an elevated, dreary plain, dc.
void Of trees and shrubs, aud suffering from the
want Of rain. Granite protrudes In many places
out Oh the SOL. LIT. baFtn Hlhue mhnY inquiries
respecting the town of Adafudia reached by Mr
Duncan, and which, according 10 the position as
signed 20 IL by that traveller, ought 10 be within
one hundred geographical miles from Libtako but
in vain. lie could hear nothing whatever of II.
Though the country was in a state of anarchy when
Dr. Barth passed through il, he did not suffer on
that account, but rather from the too exalted man.
ner IN which he was received everywhere, the
inhabitants fockng from all quarters 10 receive his
blessing The Arabs looked upon him MS no com.
mon Christian, owing to the information he pos
sessed Of topics specially interesting 20 themselves
and to the fact Of his coming from the East The
Tillahas had christened him Modibo," by which
name he was universally known in those countries
It was near Libtako where Barth was 80 forth.
nate as TO make the acquaintance Of one Of the
followers of the Shekh of Bakay, the Pope Of Tim
buktu, who subsequently became his best friend
and greatest benehctor. This person exercises an
influence over n very extensive region, nearly A.
far as Sokoto in the east and he may be said to
have created Of Timbuktu a kind Of African Rome,
the centre Of the power Of Islam.
The region between Lbtako In the west, and the
river Kowara (here called Tha, Say or Msyo,) in
the east il occupied by territories belonging to
the large country Of Gurnn only the northern
part Of which belongs to the Fellatas. The lar
, guage Of Gurma has few words in common with
that Of. Benin Within Gurma are various rivers,
! all tributaries Of the Kswara-tbe largest being
the sirba, which Barth found twelve feet deep IN
the beginning of July, and which he had to cross
by means Of immense bundles of reeds fastened
together as boats are entirely wanting. The val.
lev of the Sirba Is very ilhmed Ms being most de-
: structve to all kinds Of cattle and horscs. The
soil along the course Of the river swarms with
black worms
DR.. Barth's letters contain interesting extracts
from the "Tarikh Ell Sudan" an importsnt work
on the history Of Sudan, hitherto unknown.
| IN bia orr;yaI NJ ,nn ncto T1r D,rsI,
instead Of finding letters and supplies from home,
received information Of the rumor OF his death hav
ing been spread in Sudan and even reached Eu.
rope, about which--not knowing exactly the origin
and circumstances connected with it-he felt very
sore and indignant while the absence Of all need.
, ful supplies put him to great straits and inconvc-
nence. Happily, these, as We know, he subsequent.
: ly got over. His longing to reach Europe knew
no bounds as he declares that the being exposed
to another rainy season, the SIXTH to remain
I much longer without the refreshing influence Of
European atmosphere and proper food would be