The New York herald., 1868-03-30


SWORD HUNTERs OF THE HAMRA ARABS By SIR
Samuel White Baker. NJ. A., Y. r. g. 8. Philadel-
phia: Lippincott n Co. London: Macmillen d Go.
The earlier works Of this author, as well rs the dis
coveres OF Speke and Grant, have sufficiently esab-
lshed the localities OF the sources OF the Nile in the
great equatorial lakes fed by the heavy rainfall
which, for ten months In the year, pours down
upon this region Of country. But there was mys-
terry remaining to be solved, and that was by what
contributions the Nile was enabled to overflow its
banks at certain periods, and thus produce the
fertility In the arid lands and deserts Of
Egypt which could be obtained only by Pc
riodcal irrigation. While the two lakes named
by Speke and Grant Victoria and Albert, when they
struck the sources OF the Nile In their expedition
from Zanzibar to Central Africa, manifestly sup
piled abundant water to carry the majestic river
thousands OF miles to the sea, it was reserved for
Sir Samuel Baker to discover that 1t was the
numerous tributaries flowing into it from Abys-
sinia that supplied the surplus water which caused
the foundations all-imp0rtant to the cultivation
of Egypt. These a1luents are the Atbara, Settle,
Rozan, Saaam, Angrab, Rahad, Dnder and the Blue
Nile, all flowing northwards and making their con-
tributi0ns to the White Nile Nile proper and all
OF which the author traced from their sources.
This is the main result Of Bakers travels,
but his expedition and the account he
has left of it contain details OF the
highest interest, enhanced just now by the events
transpiring In Abyssinia It Is worth something to
learn from conscientious and intelligent traveller
the character of the country and the habits Of the
people ruled over by King Theodorus, the present
English "diflculty" in Christanized Africa. Sir
Samuel w. Baker and his pretty heroine Of a wife
undertook to investigate the causes Of the nunda-
tions OF the Nile, and 1t would appear that instinct
directed him to the rivers OF Abyssnia In the early
Of1 hp at w ri nd
traversed the country In search OF the tributaries OF
the Nile, which he found, as stated above, In the
eight rivers whose names are given. While former
travellers have furnished descriptions Of savage life
In Central Africa and recOunted many extra
UorIas and other II nhabitants Of that Wild domain
1t was the fortune Of Sir Samuel Baker to travel
through country more advanced In civilization.
population Of Abyssinia and S0udan, from which he
chiefly obtained his body guard, guides and hunters.
The superstitions in connection with medicine and
surgery Of this primitive people will amuse many
minds trained to our "mOdern improvements " in
these sciences. That portion of the book which we
perhaps might appropriately call the "Nimrod PEE
rod Is rich with stories or rare sport In which the
smallest game were herds OF elephants an occasional
tami and cr0c0diles, and the common hangers on
Of the camp, lions, tigers and leopards All this
make ones blood hot t. to be- in these sedac.
tive jungles with grinning hippOpotamus at
very long range and safe distance, and Bakers
batter OF rifles ut command. Most agreeably told Is
all this part OF the story but the real value OF the
work is to be found in what may be called the moral
That is the utilizing OF this vast flow of waters into
the Nile from the Abyssinian rivers, which occurs
regularly in the months OF July, August and Septem-
ber "The Nile" says the author, Is a powerful
horse without harness, but with a bride in its
mouth; the fertility Of Egypt might be increased to
vast extent" He proposes q system of artificial
irrigation, by raising the bed OF the river at certain
points by means Of dams. Taking 1t altogether as a
contribution to science, and pleasant story OF
travel In q strange region, most acceptable book Is
this Nile Tributaries Of Abyssnia." Although pub
blished later than the authors book " Albert
N'Yanza" describing his voyage on the White Nile,
his meeting with Speke and Grant and the discovery
OF the lake OF that river. with which are
already familiar, this account Of his experiences In
Abyssina at previous period Is fresh and racy as
we find IL written In the present volume.