New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-09

BY the sharp edge Of American enterprise ouci
are the principal results of modern explOra ION
What quarter Of a century, since the form of u
earth ard the boundaries of its land and waite.
were known, can exhibit such list Of achieye.
ments
Of all the more recent schemes Of exploration
none approaches in interest and importance the
expedition to Central Africa, which has now been
carried on for nearly six years under the combined
patronage Ofthe English and Prussian Governments.
Notices of the progre of this expedition have
from time TO time appeared in our columns Piece
by piece, with long intervals between, the story OF
its difficulties, its dangers, its defeats and sue
eesses, has been Transmitted across that Sahara.
from whose further bOurn So few travellers return,
and for lcng time its final fate seemed to hang
by thread which the slightest chance might snap.
One after one the intrepid explorers sickened and
died, snd when, year ago, it was reported that
Dr. Bartb, the last remaining member of the orig
nal company, had been murdered in Timbsctoo,
the world was almost ready to believe that the
Central African secret was but lure to temp.
brave men TO their destruction.
But the truth is, this expedition seems destined
to become the turning point in the history of Afri-
can Exploration. After much disaster it is at last
successful beyond all expectation. On the morn
ing of the sth of September DR.. Barth landed at
Marseiles precisely five years and nine months
after bis departure from that port in lSi9, on his
way to Tripol to join Mr.. Richardson who had
command of the expedition. The intervening pc
Rod contains a history of greater peril and prya-
ton, greater hazards and more wonderful escapes,
grs alter disappointments and more complete tri-
umphs. than has ever fallen to the lot of any Ari
can traveller AS the return of DR.. Barth may be
locked upon as the termination of the original ex-
peditiop, notwithstanding DR.. Nogel still remains
TO attempt further discoveries, We proceed to give
brief outline of what it has accomplished.
The undertaking originated with Mr. James
Richardson. who had previously explored the
northern part Of the Sahara In the Summerof 1917
be received commission from the British Govern
ment to visit Central Africa on political and COM
mercial mission Drs Barth and Oyerweg, who
were highly recommended by HUMBOLDT, Ritter,
and Encke, volunteered to accompany him, the
former as antiquarian and philologst, the latter as
naturalist, on condition that the British Govern
ment should defray their expenses Their offer
was accepted and an appropriation OF Si,0OO made
for them, in addition to which they received $4,000
from the Geographical Society OF Berlin, the King
of Prussia and other sources The explorers met
at Tripoli, where they were delayed come time for
the purpose of having boat constructed Tor the
navigation of Lake Tsad. Finally, on the 30th of
March, 1850, the party started, comprising cara
van of forty cames, with which they Joined the
great semi annual caravan to BornOu.
On the 9th of May they reached Mourzuk, the
capital of Fezzan, where they were obliged to
await the arrival of a chief of the Tuarick tribe,
who was to escort them to Chat. Instead OF fol-
lovipo the caravan route from Mourzuk to Central
Africa by way of Blma, they determined to pro-
dfrom Chat in a south western direction through
the unknown kingdom Of Air or Ashen which had
never been visited by Europeans DR.. Barth, in
attempting to explore group OF hills near Chat,
called Kar DjenOrn, or the Palace of Demons,
lost his way and remained twenty eight hours in
the Desert without water. His fortunes were so
great that he opened vein and drank his own
blood The Tuaricks consi ,ered his preservation
miraculous. as they had never known any one to
survive more than twelve hours deprivation Of
water.
Leaving Chat on the 25th Of July they continued
their Journey southwark through une1ploret des
erts. and in month reached the frontiers of Air.
Here, after being attacked by Tuarcks, threatened
with death by the fanatical Moslem priests, who
were determined that no n6dels should pass
through their country, and exposed to demands for
tribute from En-noor, the Sultan OF the Kingdom,
thew were obliged to remain for more than three
months awaiting a safe opportunity to proceed fur
Their. During this time DIR. Barth made journey
TO Aesdez the capital of Air, city containing 5000
inhabitants, situated in rich and beautiful valley
The entire kingdom contains population of 10000
The climate is healthy for Europeans. The iuhab-
itants appear to be q branch of the Tuarick or
desert tribe mingled with the races of SOudan.
They are tall and finely formed and some of them
are quite European in features and complexion.
After period of great uncertainty and anxiety
the travellers finally won the good will of Sultan
Ep.poor. who escorted them over the remaining
portions of the desert into SOudan, the boz ers
ofwhich they arrived on the lst of January, 1851.
At the village Of Tagelsl ia the country OF Damer
CON, they separated, and, in order to explore as
much of Soudan as possible, took separate routes
making Kuka their place of rendezvous. Mr.
Richardson took the direct road by way OF Zinder,
the capital of Dsmergou, while DR.. Barth set out
for Kashna and Kano. Mr.. Richardson remained
nearly a monthly at Finder, and continued his
iourrey, encountering no difficulties on the way
until the close of February, when he fell sick at
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