The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-02-05


cannot give It's indemnity for the past no,
security for the future; we tell them to
preserve their weapons bright keep their
powder dry, aud he ready for tie issues, ol
war in earnest, or peace i'll earnest.
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
Two great unsolvcd geographical prob
lens are now prominently before the world,
bafiling, and yet encouraging, the efforts Of
travellers and scientific men to unravcl them
what surrounds the Nori, Pole, and what
exists in the interior of Africa. The i'm
pcnetrable mystery which, like thick veil,
shrouds both regions, gives to each char
actcr Of romance, and clothes it with IN
interest which stimulates investigation. The
North Pole is surrounded by barrier of
eternal ice, which locks its secrets in its
frozen embrace, and seems to look with
chilling rrpusiveness upon the importunatc
curiosity which seeks to peer through the
adananlne walls and view the calouslv
guarded mystery within. The interior of
Africa is cnvironcd l'y an equally forbid
ding ari'lity, redolcnt Of frigh,fuI diseases
and fearful dangers, and cncompasscd, also,
by hordes of barbarians, whose bristling
spears and pixies prohibit the approach of
the white traveller, except at the peril Of
his life.
The open Polar Sea theory of Dr. Kane,
though unconfinned, as yet, by actual facts,
is SO accurately jointcd and dovct:iIed by
scientific rcasonings aud deduction, as to
be almost certainty; and the future dis
covcry OF such sea is looked upon with
co"tidence. The existence Of this sea is a
subject secondary in importance to the
question, what is in it' Is it o;!y waste
OF waters, forever hcaving YEARLY around
the pole, with no human eye to look ON its
silent majrsty9 Or, is it IN archipelago,
wilderness Of isIa,ds, the watcry bed of
warm, green gems, grouped within Il rim OF
ice, i"l'aIitcd 10y thousands Of happy hu-
man beings who have no knowledge, and
no dream, even, of the mighty world with
out! These questions it is which add Il
cI'arn to the subject, and will continue to
do SO, until some breach in the icy rampant
! he discovered. through which VIC can look
on the unveiled realities within.
iie burning heart of Africa still tl,robs,
unseen hy civilized eyes; yet its secret is
being gradually revealed. Slowly, but sure
ly. the circle OF tcrrors which surrounds it
is being narrowed 10y the efforts of daring
travellers aud courageous missior aries, and
every year brings with it some fresh discov-
cry made hy these brave men. Several
months ago, an English expedition pene-
tra'cd by boats up the Niger river and its
tributaries, the Binue and the Tshadda, to
= region never before explored, and brought
back knowledge of the natives and their
country, of a deeply interesting and valua-
bic character. And now, scientific circles
arc gratiiicd hy the return to England of
DR.. Livingston, after wandering in Africa
period of sixteen years.
Dr. Livingston went out to Africa as n
missionary, but avalcd himself of tho op-
portuni'y which long residence in that
country afforded, Of gathering much valua-
bio geographical and astronomical knowl-
edge. Starting from Cape Town, the brave
missionary went northward beyond Lake
Ngami, and thence westward till lie reached
the Atlantic coast, at Loanda. Returning.
partially by the same route, lie again reach
cd the Lake Ngami, whence he directed his
steps eastward, and reached the opposite
coast ut the mouth Of the Zambeze rivers,
having twice traverscd tho African CONT
ncnt-a feat never before performed. It
was journey of periIs. His body was
torn, and his arm broken on one occasion.
by n lion, while an unoifending Christian
missionary alone saved him from death, a
hundred times, At tile hands of barbarians.
The public will await with much anxiety
the report of Dr. Livingston's travels.-St.
Louis Ncws.
Self: Nude Msn.-It is tho subject of
frequent remark, that most Of the distin-
guished public men of America, were the
architects Of their own fortunes, and either
in great measure self.educated, or, if they
enjoyed the advantages of a college educa-
ton, were in 10 wise among the most dis
tinguislied there. Of tie mutitudes Of
young men, who every year take the frs,
honors at colleges, We somehow or other
hear very little afterwards. We make this
remark from no desire to disparage college
education, but it is a curions fact which
we should like to see accounted for. On
the other hand, under the quickening i'm.
pulse of poverty, hosts Of bright and ener-
getic spirits are daily forcing their own way
into the front rank of every department of
useful industry and enterprise, and into the
most influential public stations, without the