American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-04-22
CITY OF LANCASTER:
Thursday MOrnIng,Aprii 2,Is5s
Travels in southern Africa.
EDITORS AND PRoPRfE

Travels in Southern Africa. |
We continue our extracts from DR.. Liv-
iugstone's African travels:-[ Cincinnati
Times.
WILD FRurrs.-The men went about
during the day; and brought back wild
fruit Of several varieties. which | had not
hitherto seen. One. mogametss. isa bean
with little pulp round it, which tastos
like spongs-cake; another named mawa.
grows abundantly on low bush. There
are many berries and edible bulbs almost
everywhere. The mamosho or mosho o.
sho, and milo, medler, were to be fund
near our encampmant. These are both
good, If indeed one can be a fair judge
who felt quite disposed to pass favorable
verdict en- every fruit which had the prop
erty Of being eatable at ALL Many kinds
are better than our crab apple or sloe, and
had they the care and culture these have
enioyed, might take high rank among the
fruits O. the world. All that the Africans
have thought Of has Leen present grati6ca-
ton; and new, as | sometimes deposito
date seeds in the soil. and tell them have
no doubt whatever of seeing the fruit. it
seems to them as the act OF the South Sea
Islanders appears to US, when they planted
in their gardens iron nails received from
Captain Cook.
There are many fruits and berries in tie
forests, the use OF which are unknown to
my companions. Great numbers Of a kind
OF palm have never met with before,
were seen growing at and below the con
auence Of the Loeti and Leesmhye; the
seed probably came down the former river
It is nearly as tall as the palmyra. The
fruits larger than Of that species; it is a
bout four inches long, and has soft vel
low pulp round the .kernal r eeed; wher
ripe, it is fluid and stringy, like the wild
mango, and nat very pleasant to eat.
YOU'VE ALLIGAToRs.-On the 28tb we
slept at spot on the right bank from
which had Just emerged two broods OF ALI
gators. We had seen many young one!
as we came up, so this seems TO be the
time OF coming forth from the nests, fol
we saw them summing themselves on sand
banks, in company with the old ones. W.
made our fire in one of the deserted nests
which wer strewed all over with the bro
ken shells. at the Zouga wesaE sixt!
eggs taken out of one such nest alone
They are about the size Of those ofa COOS
only the eggs ofthe alligator are Of the
same diameter at both ends, and the whit
she'll is pratially elastic, from having
strong internal membrane and but littl
lime in its composition. The distsnc
from the water was about ten feet, an
there were evidences of the same plac
having been used for similar purpose i
former years. A broad path led up fror
the water TO the nest, and the dam, it wa
said by my companions, after the deposit
ing of eggs, covers them up. and return
afterwards TO assist the young out of th
place Of confinement and out of the egg
She leads them to the edge of water, an
then leaves them to catch small fish fC
themselves. Assistance to come fort
seems necessary, for her, besides the toug
membrane of the shell they had four incl
es of earth upon them; but they do n
require Immediate aid for food, beoaui
they all retain portion Of yok, equal
that Of hens egg. in q membrane in Il
abdomen, as stock Of nutriment, viii
only beginning independent existence
catching fish. Fish is the principal foe
ofboth small and large, and they are mut
assisted in catching them by their broa
scaly tails. An alligator, viewing
man in the water from the opposite ban
rushes across the stream with wonderf
agility, as is seen by, the high ripple
makes on the surface. caused by his rap
motion at the bottom; but in general In
act by stealth. sinking underneath as SO
as they see man. They seldom leave I
water to catch prey, but often come out
2day 10 enjoy the pleasure of basking in
sun. In walking along the bank Of
Zouga once, a small one, about three f
long. made q dash at my ieet, and caus
me 10 rush quickly in another directic
but this is unusual, forI never heard Of
similar case. A wounded leche, chas