The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-19
Details Of The Preparations for the
Passage of the Desert.
The Gathering Together of the
Caravan.
PERTLS OF TIE FUTURE.
Slave Traders and Ivory Dealers
Threatening and Hostile.
TELEGRAM 10 the NEW YORK HERALD.

Inc GERALD correspondent III LOnuOn mas
forwarded US the following important special
despatc,. =
LONDON, Jan. Is, 1872.
A despatch just received from Karasko,
Africa, dated 10th inst, via Alexandria, gives
details Of the departure Of the HERALD special
exploring expedition in quest of Sir Samuel
Baker.
Having left Cairo with full supplies, the
expedition reached Karasko on the 10th of
January. Here halt was necessarily made,
In order to prepare for the passage of the
desert-a tedious and perilous journey that
will take eight days, even if everything should
go well. This is the very lowest estimate of
the time that viii be occupied in crossing an
unbrOken waste Of arid sand, destitute of
water and unrelieved by single oasis So
long, however, as the HERALD commissioner
has only to struggle against these inanimate
difficulties little need be feared II will be
the after journey among barbarous, treacher-
GUS and inhospitable peoples during which the
graver perils of the undertaking will have to
be encountered.
1t had been arranged to strike the desert
at Mcorabus Hammed (?) and then take a
straight course for the fifth cataract.
Already the commander of the expedition
had busted himself actively in providing for
the transportation of himself and his neces-
sarily extensive baggage Four fast riding
dromedaries and fifty draught camels were to
be bought, and in the course of week or so
this would doubtless be accomplished, though
the task Of assembling them together and
completing the bargains with the natives is
slow business. Even American energy fails
to push things through under such circum-
stances with comfortable degree of speed.
At Earasko the expedition has been met
with news of good omen. Though no anthem
tic basis could be found for the tidings ru-
mors had arrived at that point to the effect
that Sir Samuel Baker was well in health,
though his expedition had suffered greatly
both in numbers and discipline This
report is perhaps as unreliable as that
other goomier news recently received,
that he had either been killed or dan
gerously wounded in mutiny among bis
forces. Shadowy as may be its foundation,
however, IL served to kindle into a brighter
fame the enthusiastic hopes aud strengthen
into added resolution the determined energy
of the expedition.
This report, however, has somewhat Of an
authentic appearance, from its having assumed
an air OF geographical consistency. 1t places
Sir Samuel Baker as again, or, perhaps, one
might say still, at Khartoum. This after all,
would square very well with the other rumor.
That would certainly be the point for which
Sir Samuel would make had his undertaking
become involved in serious difficulties.
The HERALD expedition has been afforded
every assistance by the Viceroy and his
Ministers, and the thanks of the civilized world
are due to them for the cheerful and
enlightened manner in which they have
thus seconded an undertaking which, without
vainglorious Boosting. may fairly claim to be
mission Of humanity. Livingstone aud
Baker will doubtless both be found; at least,
the prospects of such a happy contamination
of the HERALD expeditions may now be conf
IDENTIFY expected.
Some danger is already threatened between