New-York tribune., 1868-04-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


readers in Great Britan as this admirable record of
scientific exploration geographical discovery and per-
sonal adventure Its republication In an American edl-
ten will bring il TO the acquaintance OF the lovers OF
good books in this country who VIII hnd III II an over
eOino source of entertainment and instruction. The
preyious work Of the author on the Great Basin OF
the Nilep gives complete account OF the equatorial
lake system from which the famous Egyptian river
derives its origin. 1t is shown in that volume that
the rainfall of the equatorial districts supplies two
vast lakes of sufficient magnitude to support the
Nile throughout its entire course, through the
Burning sands of the desert until it reaches
the Delta of Lower Egypt. The present work is
devoted to another system Of tributaries with an
origin entirely separate from the lake OF Cen
tral Africa and supplying the water for the overflow
on which the fertility of Egypt depends Ihe portion
OF Africa which was explored by the author III Tue
course his geographical researches in regard to the
Abyssinan tributaries is inhabited by Christian ana
Mohammedan races, and affords abundant materials
Cor a series of vivid pictures which lend pecuhal
charm to his work. apart from it's value and interest
in q scientific point of view. Many OF these uescIipe
his sporting adventures which he evidently pursued
with the keen relish of British Nimrod Here is
his account of his first experience in gaZee shooting
In the evening went ont stalking In the desert. aud
rctnFned with five fine buck gaZeles Jhese Deauulul
rratnres so exactly resemble the color OF the sandy
drsrts which they nhabii that they difficult TO
distinguish and their extreme shyness renders stalking
Arab to lead camel, under cover OF which could gen
orally manage to approach within hundred yards. A
buck gazcle weighs from sixty to seventy pounds ana
the perfection Of muscular development. NO person VINO
has seen the gazeles in confinement IN temperate G
Lnae idea OF tho beauty OF the animal IN s
native desert Born in the scorclng sun nulse9 OH he
the atc Is among the antelope tribe as the Arab
among IT'S brethren the highbred and superiatve
color difficult describe II varies between the ghtes
mauve and ycllowish brown; the belly Is wwiIe INC
l.,oo o1otr, UaYdo re "a
ase though carved from Ivory; the ho0t Is Deautu
shaped and taes to SHARP point the mead 1i I9 o orSk
perfectly black nnd generally from nine TO twelve inches
tle fun large, soft and etbac eye Of the gazelle. Al
though the desert appears Incapable OF supporting
animal ie. there the unduatng surface numerous
shallow sandy ravincS, in which tufts of heritage
that, source OF nourslment 1t would oe
dEy and wry the delicate gaZecs subsst; and
although they never faen they are exceedingly heshy
and IN excellent condition. EntFey nee from lat; anu
nevertheless Of muscle and snew the gaelic IS
the fastest OF the antelope tribe Proud OF It's strength
and confident IN It's agility IT VIII generay D9ulu per
peudcuarly four five feet from the ground, seVeIa
nifv Of tts incws before tho race The Arabs course
them with greyhsunds aud sometimes they are caught Dy
frOm tie folly Of the ga2ee which at INST distances his
pHvsuors like tho wind; but secure IN iis speSd mats
and dogs, eXhauSting itself by bounding eNut
tngy the air. in the mean time the greyhOunds are
ch,sing up and diminishing the chance OF escape As
THo Notwithstanding this absurty offhe gaZclle, h2s
en- aud beaten Altogether ii is She most beautiful spec
Of game that exists far too lovely and harmless 10
be hunted and killed FOR the sport But hen
accordingly throughout march we lived upon
gazeles and am sorry ocoufess that became very eT
pert at stalking these wary hte animals Inc hesh, a
though toeraby good, has slight flavor OF musk hs II
cot peculiar the Cazcc the Odor is common to most
81 tic small varieties of antcopes.
Sir Samuel was fortunate in meeting with several
hne specimens Of the wild asses of the desert, IN
animal which he found too beautiful for game, and
with but slight resemblance to the gnobe beast of
burlen which represents his name in more civilized
lands.
The tracks OF wild had been frequent but hitherto
night after which they travelled into the desert how
the morning Of the 29th Of June shortly after
beautiful creatures on our left-an ass female, and
@ s Observed and upon a oar appTSach to within
half that distance, they halted and faced
sbS desert % from mere the rTr Those WSo have seen
dokeys in their civilized state have no conception OF the
beauty OF the wild and original animal Far from the
passive and subducd appearance of the English ass tho
and courage; there is hshbred tone in the department
shghaetoned stem when i trots freely over he rocks
The bOundieSs desert No animal is more difficult Of ap
ptoaeh and although they frequently captured by
ridden down by fast dromedaries while the mothers
with ths shade most prevalent OF the ground that it in
habits and 1t much resembles the sand Of the desert
cried my utmost knowledge Of stalking to obtain shot
at the male. After az least hour and half, sue
ceeded iu obtaining long shot, with single le which
passed through the shoulder, aud secured my first and
last donkey II was with extreme regret that saw y
beautiful prize IN the last gasp and never 10 hre
another shot at Of It's race This fine specimen was
IN excellent condition. although the miserable pasturage
oi She desert - cOhnhed 10 the WHY herbdge
already mentioned; Of this the stomach was full,
this male ass about 1873 or IA hands the
shoulder WIS far more sloping than that OF the
they wde hrn and as broad as those Of horse Of
- hands skinned this animal carefully ar and the Arabs
iected choice piece for own dinner At the close OF
beef but u was extremely tough
He compels another native of Africa to sit for his
portrait, though he proved TO be most refractory
subject.
few days before our arrival had been suatcbed
from the back his while crossing, aud
ricd off by crocodile Another man had been taken
hog 1t supposed that these accidents due TO
s sd s SSnE al me foot "a the cson GnS o
te day following our arrival Mt the Atbarg we found
night with their cames; these were the who had
lesn forced by the Governor Of CaSala There
possibility Of proceeding for some days therefore
sent N Bagcar the river 70 endeavOr 10 engage
cames while devoted myself 10 search for the crOc
Odie shortly discovered that 1t was unfair IN the ex
charge particular animal with the death OF
the two Arabs as several large crocodies were lying
upon the mud in various places. smaller one was lying
asleep high ana dry upon the bank the wind wac blow
tDg strong shat By carefully approaching secured
good shot within thy ards and nedt on the sp0t oy
bullet through the head placed about an inch above
After some time the large crocOdiles which bad
taken 10 toe water st the report Of the gun again
20 their baskng places upon the bank. crocodile
usually sleeps with its imouth wide open; therefore
waited until the immense jaws Of the nearest were well
expanded showing grand row Of gttefng teeth, when
cppt carefully toward 10 through The garden OF thhky
planted cotton. Bachcet ard Wat Gamma followed In
great eaEerness In short time arrived within about
forty yards Of the beast, lay upon fiat mud bank
formed by one OF She numerous torrents that had
carried down the soil during tile storm OF
yesterday. The ceased. and 1t was iIo-
possible TO approach nearer without alarming the
GrOcodile II fine specimen, apparently nineteen
twenty feet ia engtl and took steady shot with
the little Fletcher rne al the temple exactly In front of
the point OF union o the head with the spine. The jaws
riasbed together, and conyusve start followed by