The New York herald., 1871-03-01

rica but much OF entirely Overgrown
win grass. Following this stream for about four
miles In southeasterly direction the party turned
quickly into the mouth OF the Paranchiia. This
RIVER, ike most OF the Others adjacent to It, IL
hrely overgrown with grass, ana for great portion
OF the way the canoe had make an extremely DIFF
fcult passage among the trees. TWO and u
half miles through the river brought the party TO
standstl as darkness had now fairly set in ami
after Composing themselves as best they could the
canoes rocked easily and ere midnight Morpheus
reigned supreme. The next morning at daybrcak
the party started forth again uDon their adventu-
rouS errand, ana after pretty hard days work
arrived at another india rubber huntel's ranch.
The guide informed the explorers that two days jour
ney would bring them To the foot OF the divide.
The canoe was then left IN charge of one or the
cnete men, and the party started on on foot into
the woods. But the guide seeraea entirely ignorant
o. the route, and owing to his want OF geographi-
cal knowledge, compelled the weary travellers to
make circ!e ut least three times. Isolated nils
surrounded them on all sldes and to each inli-
vdua was presented the not very cheering prospect
Of starvation. Darkness pnt an end TO then peram-
buaton, and, setting forth ut day break the follow
ing morning, they were compelled to wade through
the stream for nearly nine long hours. me eX-
plorers camped again al sundown and arose ~
dawn on the following morning. But the guide
stricken down with lever al tDls point. The pro-
spects were gloomy IN the extreme yet the party
nevertheless continued the route three miles further.
beng the highest point TO which they had yet At
tanned. ihey returned 10 the camp towards nghtiali
ana found tne guide still lab0ilng under the disease,
though not sLncently deblltated rs to be unable TO
return with the explorers, WHO proceeded To retrace
lher steps WIN all possible despal ch; and after TWO
days successful journey towards the ship the adj
Vehtufous lhile party was met by the steam
result OF lne feconnoslsance was sufficient to ind-
cate that the roue In tai dire ton wnicn Is nearly
parallel to me Caeariea, Is also feasible. the sur.
Vey VIII be regularly commenced IN u lew days
HNDRoGRAPHiC SURVEY.
The hydrographic survey OF the Gulf Of Darlen,
which is the eastern terminus OF this route, is being
performed as rapidly possible. The triangull-
uon ana topographic work is being done by
Master j. NJ iowley, M assisted ted BY bap M,dshipman J.
J. Hunker Spacious, ana III every way adapted
% lor NE PURPOSE, the naroor covers about seventy
mi
Wide, the depth OF water varying from eight
to twelve iaJaoms. After careful examination
we found that The ground was excellent be-
ing a mixture Of black sand and mud. The
place IS well protected from the prevailing wind
Island about half mile long aud thirty yards wide
SUFFICIENT work has already been performed to show
Of vessel. Observations OF the tide made every
ha hour, both day and night, and thus lar the eX-
trere M rise and FAN Is only twenty-.wo inches. The
! nucnced great deal by the WIND, which, at this
period OF tlle year, blows from the sea. Commander
Luls investigation VIII doubtless prove very yaua-
bic under all circumstances Eighty miles OF sound.
| lngs have already been run.
NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY.
The mneralogtst OF this party, Dr. G. A. Mack, OF
the cambridge museum, has made an excei.ent col
lection in the department or natural history and
geology. The geological collection is particularly
good containing specimens Of many OF the different
classes OF tne animal Kingdom. mammals as well as
DifuS, reptiles, nslcS cruStacea, insects and mol.
luska, are represented IN great number Of fair spec-
mems. The collection will, no doubt be IA valuable
IL
ing material Tor scientific Investigations. The boz
tanlcal results OF pleasant exploration IN
having found that the 6alsam tree, the
sarsaparilla and other valuable plants large
me barren Gulf Near the village OF Turbo speci.
mems OF coal nave also been discovered. In
case the canal should be made from this place the
he country around Turoo Will be found very vaua-
bic for many necessaries. The soil. for instance is
OF line clay. admirably adapted for brick making,
while many other natural advantages are also
mlneraOulSC
nave not as yet been brought into ac-
be needed until the divide comes stoab to be teseS eSs
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
"A Atnongn no porllon Oh the proposed route has as
nave oeen carried on IN the harbor Mr. F. Blake, Jr,
OF the Coast Survey, has made observations III ongi
tude and latitude and In determining the meridian
line. Accurate tidal observations snow the average
rise and fall OF the water 10 be little less than two
many excellent results are expected therefrom.
Among other things the amount OF evaporation
which taxes ace on The river Is also being deter
mined.
SURVEY OF THE ArRATo RIVER
snort time since MIR. j. p. Merrill, Master: Mr.
Duvall. and crew OF men made a faIr survey Of
Barbacoa river and part Of the Atrato The former
was found TO vary from half TO three-quarters
mile in width, with plenty Of water in the channel
No solid ground could be discovered on either bank,
and the surrounding marshes extended for miles.
the place very heavily wooded on both sides. The
party subsequently ascended the Atrate, which was
found to DO much wider than the Barbacoa. There
some Places s' no % coa Be- For
nearly l0rty miles the Atrato presents the same
celent features, being almost entirely free from
snags or otner distractions, that vessels OF the
largest tonnage could sail up or down with the /
THE NIPslC ARRIVES UPON THE SCENE.
SO rar back as the l7th December the United States
Wilson in command, left Washington destined to
perform an Important part In the extensive opera.
lions now in progress. She called at Norfolk on the
18TH and took on board a number OF engineers who
mad heen appointed on the survey at TenuanLepec
ior an interoceanlc canal Leaving on the following
ia KaU Wnl fln nAnl
Ing on the way very severe gale OH Tybee she
arrived on the 29th and two days afterwards sailed
river on the 9th January. AS the water was some
what low the vessel could not proceed sufficiently
ordered three boats TO be lowered ana the surveyors
were then landed. On the following morning the
Nipsic headed towards Key. West, where she arrived
on the 10th January, and two days later sailed
port on the 26th Of the month. After coang
and receiving the mails for the Guard she started
forth against obstinate head winds, and after \
successful trip arrived ut The mouth OF the Atrato
on the sOth January Her advent was welcomed,
and after the Npsic mad catered the Gulf Of Daren
the joyful mails were taken over to the Guard The
when Commander Selfrldge arrived at Paya last
month ne despatched one OF the seamen in barge
to Panama with letter to Consul Long, requesting
Consul Perry, at Aspinwall, to charter q schooner
and send her to the Atrato. With the strong head
but weak caance OF getting up in less than eight
nine days; so Consul Perry thought more prudent
10 WalC uay OF So Wnen luckily tne Nlpslc move In
sight and performed the much-needed duty
ferred To.
The NIpsic will be engaged in assisting in the
expedition. Her officers are:-Byron Wilson, Lieu
tenant Commander, commanding; Socrates Hub
bard lieutentant and executive oicer Emmett
leaf I. NJ Lee J. f. Rogers, masters; j. @. Barton,
passed assistant paymaster; w. J. Simon, surgeon;
X. Potts. first assistant engineer; J. b. Murdoch, q.
Bri2g and b. K. Tyler, mldsnlpmen; Edmond For
tune, captains clerk aud G. w. Sater paymaster's
clerk. The operations OF the Npsics officers will
probably be confined to the vicinity OF the Gull OF
Darien, and she will occasionally go to Aspinwal to
convey the mails the Guard.
THE PRJPOSED OPERATIONS,
Commander Selfrldge, having now sufficiently re-
covered. within the past few days has resolved upon
! plan OF operations which II successfully carried
out, must certainly result in o thorough knowledge
)f the route, and, doubtless, complete and satis-
factory survey which, even, If nothing else be ac-
Will be q most valuable contribution to
he scientific labOrs in connection with expeditions
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