The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-02-24
AFRICAN ENPIOXATRQN

AFRICAN ENPLOxATE0Ns.
From present Indications. not manv years
can elapSe ere the veil Which has hitherto en-
veloped in darkness, so far as the civilized
world is concerned, the major part of the AZ
rican continent. will be completely lifted and
the character of its inmost rrcc.scs become
known. Africa seem. now to he the favorite
field of operations, upon which the energies
'A'd resources of geographical and scientific
explorers are expended, and their labors are
already being we'll repaid. The recent dis
coveries of Dr. Barth, DIR. Livingstone, Lieu
tenant Burton, Mr.. Anderson and others
have added larselv to our knowledge of the
geography. the natural history, and the peo-
pie OF Africa. But there vet remains vast
undiscovered country which the foot of
the intelligent traveller has not vet penetra.-
ed. whose mysterie. geogrAphers will be the
more anxious and determined to reveal, in
consequence of the Unexpectedly favorable
accounts which the latest African explorers
give of the characteristics of the country.
and the ability of European constitutions to
conform to the exiccncie. of the climate
The number of scientific explorers will he
increased. and Africa will not much longer
remain a sealed book to commerce and civil
Iiz.tion.
In this furor for African discovery, the old
problem of the source of the river Nile
which has been handed down to us from th;.
anricnts. still! continues 10 excite the hiphes,
ambitions Of adventurous explorers. Al
though the English traveller, Bruce, t,i.tin
cui,hed himself hv the discovery Of the source
OF the Blue Nile. as it is called. there vet
remains another or Western branch called
the White Nile. which Is evilont!v tie Nile
proper, and whose source is a. Vet unknown.
From an article in the New York Herald
containing information upon the subject dc
rive! from the proceedings of tie Paris a
radrmy of Sciences. We gather some interest
inc facts in regard to the various expeditions
which have attempted to explore the White
Nile 70 il. sources.
According 70 the French Swans. it was a
French mathematician named Fourier. Sec
rectarv of the Academy of Sciences, who
Ncctt%Nclt -ur'n -rc-----.,-t l;--~~~-.. h~:..
being first directed to the matter hv Dan
vile. French ccocraphrr. in l.45. 1t Wa,
not until twenty years after Napoleon. ex
petition to Egypt. however. that the projec
WAS seriously thought Of In 1899. Mehemr
All. the Virsrov of Egypt. wa. induced b,
the French Consul 20 dispatch AN exredi'io,
for this purpose One of his officers. Selin
Bimhachv wa. placed at the lead Of the cx
pc,cton. which consisted Of seven armet
ments being detective. and himself possess
) inc hnt few qualifications. Bimha"hy trace
y
, the sixth degree Of North latitude
THIS expedition eos. bnt little additions
linht upon the population Of the country. i,
productions and climate. and Mrhrmet 4
shortly after ordered another expedition. y
D'Arnard. French engineer. who is still! /
the service of the Ecvrtian government. W.
appointed commander. and the cxpedtio
: penetrated as far .S deg. 80 minntrS nor,
latitude. thus traver>inc distance Of owe
three thousand miles without the river pr,
: sentr, any other aspect than it hears III NJ
per Egypt and Soudan. An immense nun
= Der of observations Of all kinds were mad
J. hut. unfortunately. NJ. D'Arnaud's narrati,
9 has never been published.
l. Since this expedition, several others ha,
IL been attempted upon tho White Nile, and
IL is averred that Don Angelo Vinco. Of II
l. Austrian mission established at khartou,
l. examined every bend of the Nile a. far
= the second degree Of north latitude Their
+ it was reported. the river was much narro,
r ed and navi CATION became very difficult, o,
'e ing to frequent rapids and numerous rock
~ '''+ that which promised the most satisfacto
: '.'u''' was an Expedition formed in the mon
~ Oh "c'ooer last, under the aus...o. of A,
70 hammed Said, the present enli shtened Viz
roy of Egypt. The expedition was plsnn
+ by NJ. fEscayrac dc Lauture, Frenchm.
l. who was joined by ok of hi. own countrvme
III lour Austrian gentlemen, one Prus.ian,
!e tng'''hman, and one American, all of the
ne men of scientific professions, or attainmen
'e lhe American was Mr.. C'agne, of New c
Sc 'eanS' a Photographic artist N. rEscavr
IL oe Lauture is acquainted with q portion
the country to be traver.ed, is habitua:ed
inc climate. and to the manners ard custo,
OF the inhabitants, and familiar with Atric
exploration. The cost of the expedition "
TO DC betrayed by the Egyytian Vicero
D who provided on liberal scale evervtb;,
deemed necessary for it, success-boats q,
~ steamers for transportation, an escort of ,hr,
Il hundred soldiers, besides pontooners, po
eer'' 'appers, carpenters and workmen. TT
II enterprise was superior in its appointment
{ to all that had precededit. The party bega
: the ascent of the Nile in October. and q,
pected to occupy two years in pursuing the
Investigations. Late report, from Uppt
Egypt however, render it not improbabl