New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,y,,GsToNE's TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

Eothers.
Tn, Expedition of which q highly instructive
aoeo,nt is given in the present volume was UNDER
.sken At the instance of the British Government
1ot the purpose of extending the knowledge already
.,,aired Of the geography and mineral and agncul-
nal resources Of Eastern and Central Afrca.
win the inevitable English eye TO trade, 1t was
,,stuoted toengage the inhabitants to apply them
.ves 20 the cultivation Of their lands and to other
E, usirial pursuits, in order to open market LOT
81 fish manufactures in return for raw maternal
. olateral object was of course the eXihcuoh VI
Do, slaye-trade by inducing the natives TO occupy
t,cuselves in the development OF the resources ol
,be country. which would prove more certain
.uyce OF profit than the trathc III human heSh'
l. Livingstone was accompanied by has brother
NJ Charles Livingstone, who took charge OF the
magnetic and meteorological observations, and
collected large number Of birds insects, andother
object, of interest; Dr. Kirk who was chiefly de-
voted 70 researches in botany, and other branches
ofoaturll history; aud several assistants who en-
tered vii. intelligence and energy into the objects
! the se1r.se. Tho Expedition sailed from
Ioado1 March TO- 1853, and returned on the Goth
ofJ1ly 1864, having devoted period of more than
sr ycarsto the difficult and perilous explorations
which are recorded in this work.
After reaching the river Zamhcsi, the Expedition
parsued It's voyage into the interior until it arrived
a: the Portuguese settlement of Tette on the 18th Of
September. This place is situated on the right
hank Of the Zambcsi, which is here nearly thou
caa Yards wide The houses are built OF low sand
none ridges, between which the streets are formed
b. shallow rayines which run parallwith the river.
A wall OF stone and mud surrounds the village, and
de native population live in huts outside. The
number Of white inhabitants is small; the military
element predomina,es in society; the moral coEdi-
ton of the people is deplorable.
TIE climate of this part Of Africa is not favor
ale 10 successful cultivation. DrOuths are OF
fegueut occurrence. and the crops suffer severely
Most Of the trees shed their leaves in May, the be-
ginning of Winter, and remain bare until the
rains come in November. Several kinds have the
curious instinct, as it were, of anticipating the
nins. IN the beginning of October vhen the dry
season has reached its dres point and there is not
q drop of dew they commence budding and IN
few days put forth fresh foliage, and sometimes
beautiful blossoms. At the end of the hot season,
everything is dry and dusty The atmosphere is
loaded with blue haze, and very sultry. After the
rains begin the face Of the country improves very
rapidly. Fresh green heritage quickly springs up
over tho hills and dales lately so parched and
brown. The landscape is bathed in a perfect flood
ofEght and a delightful sense Of freshness is ex-
perienced before the glare of noon oyerpowers the
eye The charms of the climate seem even to
awaken the natives TO poetical feeling Of It's
beauty One of them. on being asked what he
understood by the word used for "holiness," re-
Piled, when copious showers have descended
during the night and all the earth and leaves, and
cattle, are washed clean, and the sun rising shows
drop Of dew on every blade Of grass, and the air
.breathcs fresh, that is holiness"
The young foliage Of several trees comes ont
Town, pale red, OF pink like the huos Of autumnal
leaves in England, and the leaves increase in
size they change to pleasant fresh light green.
Bright white scarlet pink, and yellow flowers are
everywhere; and some few Of dark crimson give
rsuperb warmth ofcoloring. Many trees attract the
eye by the beauty of their blossoms. The white
AL bloom of the baobab and the small and delicate
dowers of other trees, grouped into rich clusters
deck the forest.
Mvriais of wild bees are busy from morning TIL
night. Brilliant butterflies fit from flower to
flower. Charming little sun-birds which represent
the humming birds Of America are ever on the
wing. Multtudes Of ants are hard at work hunting
fo- food IL the month OF December the winter
bids Of passage have gone, and other kinds have
come, from whose throbbine threats pours forth
volume Of sweet sounds which make an Afncan
Christmas seem like an English May. Some
birds have laid aside their winter garments
Of sober brown, and appear in a gay Summer dress
of scarlet and Jet black. Others have passed from
green TO bright yellow, with patches like black vel
vet. Birds Of song arc not confined to villages a
rsd-throated black weaver-brd comes in focks,
wearing long train Of magnificent plumes.
The hippopotamus is found in great abundance IL
the principal rivers. The banks are dotted with
traps oeer every track which these animals have
made in going up out Of the water TO Craze They
feed on grass alone and, when there is any danger
only at night. Their enormous lips act Ike now
ing.mschine, and form path Of short-cropped
grass as they feed They do not eat aquatic plants
or reeds. Their tusks are weapons both Of ofense
and defense.
The marshes support prod gious numbers ofmany
kinds of waterfowl. Near the edge Of the marsh,
on the branches Of some fayorte tree Sit scores Of
cormorants, stretching their siake-like necks. The
pretty ardetta, of light yellow color when at rest,
but seemingly Of a pure whie when flying, takes
wing, and sweeps across the green grass in large num-
ber, often showing the presenceof cuflaoes and ee-
plants by perching on their backs. Flocks Of ducks
mediate quietly by the small lagoons until startled