The Kanzas news., 1858-05-15
Exploration of Africa.

The keen interest awakened on the sub
;eet by DIR. LiVingstone's fascinating vol
ume will, at the present moment, make any
information on the subject peculiarly accep
table. 1t viii be recollected that before the
close of the special session of Parliament,
earlv last month, it was announced that gov
eminent intended to propose a vote of G5,
600 to fit out an expedition under the su
nerinteudenee of the distinguished African
exnlorer. at whose disposal was to be placed
a steam vessel of light draught, capable of
ascending the river Zambesi. Since then,
DIR. Livingstone has been actively engaged
in organizing his expedition. In order that
the work of exploration may be successful
Iy accomplished this year, it is necessary
that the vessel should start very early in the
season. In consequence of the short time
at his disposal, it is doubtful if the Doctor
will be able to pay his promised visit to Lis
bon, to consult with the king and the Por
tuguese government before his departure.
We learn that Lord Clarendon, who takes
great interest in the enterprise, has left the
. Jealous head of the expedition to mature his
own plans in conjunction with the Geograph-
ical and Royal Societies. With their CO.
operation DR.. Livingstone has now nearly
completed his arrangements. It has been
determined that the gentlemen to accompa
nv him will be Commander Beddingfeld,
r. n, well known for his exploration of the
Congo and other African rivers; DR.. Kirk,
a distinguished NJ. D. of Edinburgh, who
goes out as the economic botanist of the
expedition; Mr.. Richard Thornton, of the
Geological School of Mines, who is to be
the mining geologist; Mr.. Baines, who is a
1Ia1 -
regions and Australia; and Mr.. Livingstone,
the Doctors brother, who will attend the
expedition as associate and companion, and
take charge OF the little establishment which
the Doctor hopes to fix for a time at the con-
fuence of one of the tributaries to the Zam
besi. The council of the Geographical So
ciety have expressed very decided wish
that, considering the unhealthiness of the
delta of the Zambesi below Tete-that is
for the last $50 miles-the expedition shall
be forwarded from the mouth of the river
to Tete in decked steam-vessel of light
draught, and that the steam launch now in
preparation shall carry the party on from
that point.
The expedition is mainly preliminary, for
the purpose of collecting Information
Should it be successful, it viii no doubt be
followed by another on larger and more
complete scale Though it will be compos-
ed exclusively of Englishmen, there is rea-
son to hope that the Portuguese govern
ment, who have generously taken upon
themselves the charge of DR.. Liyingstone's s
native companions at Quillimaine till his re-
turn,s viii cordially cooperate by affording
every facility to the expedition. and by help
ing to make the Zambesi a highway for Eu-
ropean commerce.
So much for the efforts to open Africa
on the eastern side. DR.. Barth's interest
ing volumes have already fully acquainted
the world with his persevering and success
full efforts to penetrate the interior of Afri-
ca from the north. The progress of DIR.
Vogel, another celebrated explorer, has been
arrested by the hostility of the natives; and
whether he has come to an untimely end, or
Is kept prisoner by the Sultan of Waday,
must remain for time an unsolved mystery.
On the west coast of Africa, the most re-
cent attempts to penetrate the interior have
met with only partial success, owing not to
any insurmountable obstacles, but to one of
those unforeseen casualties that cannot be
guarded against. The steamer Day Spring,
under DR.. Baikie. NJ. D., has penetrated as
Tar as Rabba, nearly 500 miles from the
coast, but short distance above that town
1t was unfortunately wrecked on a sunken
rock. By the last accounts, the wrecked
party were on shore, alive and well, waiting
for the return of Mr.. May, the second mas
ter, who had, without difficulty, made his
way overland to Fernando Po, where he
awaited the arrival of the steamer Sunbeam,
expected from England, to take the place of
the vessel that had been lost.
The object of the lost expedition was to open
trade with the interior, and, in spite of the
disaster that has befallen it, the result has
been satisfactory. DR.. Baikie, in q report
of an earlier date, states that he had COM
pleted an elaborate survey, on the trigonom-
etrlcal principle, of a portion of the river
and surrounding country from Idda--the
point where the high land commenced: that
the natives were exceedingly friendly, and
that. if supported. he could do anything:
that he had already received grants aud sites
Tor missionary stations; that be had estab-
lshed school, and hoped soon to have a
Christian church in that part of Africa, ad-
Ding that the expedition have discovered
two OF three small tributaries of the Niger,
hitherto unknown. Not less satisfactory is
,he account given by Mr.. May of his over
and journey of 500 miles to the coast
de was everywhere treated with kindness and
hospitality, though accompanied with only
TWO Negro attendants. He stayed awhile at
norm, the capital of the Yoruba kingdom,
with a population of over 100000 and the
stronghold of Mohammedanism in that re-
sion. In fsct, it is evident that there is
throughout this vast territory abundant scope
lor the operations of legitimate commerce,
provided the slave trade can be extinguished.
III this momentous practical question, so
.aeeimateiy .e affecting the welfare of the whole
al, Hniriean Negro race, the French and Eng
.sh cabinets are at direct variance. While
r government are doing their utmost to