New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-02

AFRICAN EXPLORATION.
There seems to be no Tagging in the zeal with
which the explorers of our age are endoayonngto
elcidate the long enduring geographical mystery %
Central Africa Several expeditions are either pro-
ieced or in progress for the purpose Of extending
the explorations in the essatoria regions which wero
50 successfully initiated By Burton and Spoke.
One left Bombay for Zanzibar last November, under
the auspices of Lord Elphinstone and under the
personal direction of the Secretary of the Bombay
Geographical Society. Another, to cons ct Of Cap
tain Burton ard Mr.. Petherick the English Consul
at Chnrtum, will soon commence its labOrs from tho
North, and attempt TO ascend the Nile directly to
its supposed source in Lake Nyanza. In addition
to these, the jealous Captain Spoke himself win
soon return TO the scene Of bis former exploits.
He viii penetrate to the Nyanza, from the western
shore of which be will endeayor to reach Condo
koro, and will then descend the Nile. The results
Of these various attempts will be- il is hoped, .
more thorough knowledge Of the size Of the Nysnxa
and of is availability for commercial purposes, the
definite settlement Of the much-vexed question Of
the actual sources of the Nile and the cause Of its
periodical overflow, and an acquaintance with the
upper waters of the great Egyptian streaa.-
Since his late letter to the American Geographi-
cal and Statistical Society, DR.. Livingstone has
been engaged ninvestigatng the nOrtherly portion
of the cotton growing valley of the Shire, tribu-
tary of the Zambezi. In the course of hs xbors
b. has discovered a lake called Shirwa, hing $50
miles north of TIE mouth n the Shire. Ii is from
2cto so miles rp breadth, and from so to- so In
length is situated 1900 feet above sea-evel, and
has no outlet. Itswatcr has bitter taste, butis
potable, and it is the abode Of nnumerable fishes,
crocoailes, and appropriateness. 1t is surrounded
by lofty mountains one Of which, called Zombs,
rises TO the hight of 5000 fest, aud is of thessmo
form - the Table Mountain at the Cape. The
valleys opening to the Shirwe sre inhabited by the
MaDga8gs, race of people who devote Themselves
to the culture of cotton. The natives inform Cd Dr.
Livingstone that the Jew lake was separates from
the Nyasra by strip Of land emily Eve or sir mica
in width. Beside DIR. Livingstone, another traveller
is on his way to the Ngassa. Dr.. A. RoseAer,
young German, after having explored the astern
cast of Africa from Zonzibar southwark to kilwa,
nd after having made himself familiar With tho
mouths of, the Lu6ji, started 81 August %, 1859,
from Kilwa for Nyassa. Cooley, the EDgli1A geog-
rapher, has published an article 10 suppo-t Of his
belief that the Nyassa, The southeInmOst pxtion OF
which has been described by Livingstone, and viz
tied by aeyeral of tbs Portuguese explxers, is
identical with the Tanganyika, the northern end Of
which was discovered by Burton and syeke. H.
this theory be true then shall have rsgreat in
land sea- available for navigation, $40 scal miles
in length, and extending from latitude % to 1919
south of the Equator.
In the extreme South the Rev. Mr.. H0fat, as
we learn by late advieas fre the Cape, had crossed
Lake Ngem on bis way TO the home Of the neted
Becbuana chief, MOsaleAatse, with every prospect
of attaining the object Of bis journey in safsty.
Mr.. L. Green was about to explore the couatsy
north of the Ngami and Mr.. c. Green was to take
route Ia the northeast of the lake. hunting
party, consisting ofCapt. Thomson and wife. Mr.,
Palgaye, and NJ. Hslden, had iuGs started eEtliA
interior. k
The ultimate sfs ets upon tas commerce. OF
the world of tAsse attempts to opea up region 50
immense. fert;ls and well-pOpuated, can hardly DO
estimated A few years more will probably wit
ress the spriBgDg up of lsrga,aDd lucrative trade
between the commercial natioas of Europe and the
Tribes of Central Africa; and II. as Dr. L:xingssone's
later researches would seen to Indicate, there
exists Il vast belt Of land ip South Africa, ad-
mirably adapted TO the raising of Gotten, the
growing dem and of the wo5d for THAI product viii
soon be felt powerful eivilixng influence IN the
center of Ito African continent.
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