The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03
HE REVIEW .

THE VIEW.
La Plata, the Argentine Confederation, and Paraguay,
being Narrative Of the Explorations of the Tributaries
of the River La PalIa and adjacent Countries during
the years 1883 54 IS and So the orders of the
United States Government. By Thomas J. Page, u.
S.N, Commander of the Exped ion With Map and
engravings. New York Harper Brothers.
1850. For sale by Taylor Maury, Washington ID. c..
Voyages and tours of exploration, when prop
erly conducted, furnish us with our most reliable
and accurate means of information respecting
countries remote from our own. There is good
reason for this. Those who are engaged in them
are provided with all the means necessary for
the accomplishment of their objects, the requisite
instruments of measurement and observation,
and for recording the results, which the mere
casual traveller cannot usually possess. 1t is
but seldom, also, that Humboldt, combining
science and tact of eliciting knowledge as well
as enthusiasm and perseverance, is found among
those whose private explorations are given to
the world. There is, too, a degree of responsible
ity attached to a Government expedition, which
the individual traveller cannot so fully have !;
so that for the greater characteristics of solid
information respecting the geographical features
and forms of natural development of country
comparatively little known, such volumes as the
one before us must be the source whence we may
hope to draw our materials of acquaintance with
the general state of its surface elements of pros
perity, and means of advancement. For more
private details, and the particulars of social life
and manners, interesting anecdotes, and oc-
currences of the passing day, we Of course
look to the sketchy tourist or adventurer. La
Plata, Paraguay, &c, is such a country; por-
tons of it have been described by Dobrizhoffer,
Faulkner, Head, and others but still it is for
the most part region of which we have scanty
knowledge We welcome this book, therefore,
and the more so, our relations to these coun-
tries are widening by commerce, and will be-
come yet more important, doubtless, as the
facilities become greater for such intercourse.
Our naval expedition, too, is just at this time
at the mouth of the La Plata, and we may pos
sibly be involved in a war at a distance, with
one of the nations described. Hence, all ma
terials of information are desirable. Captain
Pages work furnishes a variety of such useful
information. The map, on a large scale, enables
us also to understand the widely region
intersected by the great river La Plata and its
tributaries The narration Of the explorations
is given clearly; much light is thrown on the
character of the native population the civil his
tory and relations of the different States, the
course of the streams; their magnitude and
means Of navigation, with the other geograph-
ipal faoturaS Of tho oountr;aS H. ,.ol..o.. II
the soil and staples of trade; while the illustra-
tons convey more complete idea of the curios-
tiles, public buildings, persons of note, costumes
and manners, than we could otherwise have.
The readers of Harpers' Monthly from the in
stalment there furnished of the volume before
it was published, will be prepared to appreciate
its value, and, no doubt, will be among the
most eager to possess it.
Travels and Discoveries in North Central Africa be-
ing Journal Of an Expedition undertaken under the
auspices Of Her Brstannic Msesty's Government in
the years ls4s-ls55. By Henry Barth, Phi d d c. L.
Fellow Of the Royal Geographical and A. atic Socie-
ties, &c, &c In Three Volumes Vol. Ill., NewYork
Harper Brothers. 1889. For sale by Taylor Maury
Washington, d. C.
If to secure the universal appreciation of
those in Europe and Great Britain, as well as
in our own country, who are best qualified to
judge, be any evidence of the capacity by which
traveller is fitted for his task, and the ability
with which he has executed it and arranged its
results it is not exaggerated praise to say that no
contribution to geographical science has been
made to the public for many years, so thorough
and valuable as that contained in Dr. Barth's
three volumes here before us, containing. we
believe, the whole work, which is embraced, if
we mistake not, in five volumes of the German
edition. We have had no opportunity to COM
pare the originals in the German or English
editions; but for the price, certainly, the Amer
lean is not behind them. This has been effect
ed, as we have an impression, by the omission
of some expensive colored engravings. We
have not seen the earlier volumes, and are there
fore uncertain as to the number and variety of
the maps but this volume contains numerous
wellexecuted wood-cuts, relating to the people,
their buildings, as well as the natural scenery
that came under the travellers notice. DIR.
Barth was singularly fitted for his enterprise,
and associated with him, too, was the lamented
Overweg, each with his individual peculiarities
of observation. They visited . region respect
ing which previously but indistinct knowledge
had been furnished. Resident for long time
in the principal places, having every means for
examination, and prosecuting his inquiries with
the utmost diligence, the amount of materials
collected, and the scientific exhibition made of
them, is Of the highest Importance. Compared
with Dr. Livingstope's Travels in Southern Az
RIGA, Dr. Barths researches are less home-bred,
hearty, and racy. They partake Of that thorough
ly national scientific character which belongs
to his countrymen. The former fully accredited
sources of information, perhaps will more COM
mand the popular applause Of the general of
readers while the latter will be standard au-
thority treasured, up among the archives of dis
covery, with those of the most celebrated in