The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17
SIR SAMUEL BAKER.

Whereabouts al the Expi0rer-The Difficulties
and Dangers He Passed Throuah-SVhat He
Thinks OF The Country Far He Has
Gone.
Mr.. Gustave Uppenhem sends from Alexandra a
letter he received on the 18th of January from Sir
Samuel Baker. Mr.. Oppenheim believes the letter
contains the latest news received from Sir Samuel
by the Egyptian government or Others. Mr.. Open
helm learns from Official source that Sir Samuel
Baker has sent back 300 of his troops as being USE
less and unwilling. Those that he can rely upon
most are the blacks:-
NORTH LATITUDE, 455,
1sMAILIA, Africa, OcI. ~, 1871.
After most horrible voyage OF five months ana
twenty-five days the expedition arrived here. IL is
Impossible adequately describe the difficulties OF
the tourney. The white Nile being closed, the
Bahr Grate Is the only route sucn as 1t
is) to GondOkora. This abomlnable river is a
series of shadows, sometimes not exceeding depth
OF fee at the same time there Is not an inch OF
dry land but The river hows through 6oundless
In number including large steamer, drew IRON
tour 10 tour and hall feet OF water thus for months
we had to cut canals and TO deepen cnanneis VITA
spades and hoes To enable the vessels 10 pass. or
course both officers aud men hoped to return.
through the difficulty, and arrived here, having
consumed SIX months provisions on the road-a
serious matter. The Baris savages quickly COM
menced hOstlliJies, and killed some or our men, Dut
| soon disposed OF them and they are quite
cowed. Tue most serious matter is the dis
ike of the onicers and troops to the object
of the expedition; the sJoppage Of the
slave trade is hateful to them. have written 1ulI
accounts OF all Lnat mas occurred to Cnerf Pacha,
also direct to the viceroy. This country Is maguin
cent. ana would produce all That man can require,
but the natives are ever at war with each other,
stealing cattle ana women. never saw such SUI
peru forests Of amarnd trees. The soil Is generally
rich. except in the immediate vicinity OF lsnaiia.
nearly twelve months Lady Baker and are,
thank Goa, always well; sne joins me III kindest
Der me very Kindly 10 all our trends. it Is too an-
noying that we cannot receive european news at
rive the war Will be almost forgotten.
The following letter from Sir Samuel under date
Ismallla, Gondokora north latitude 90, october s,
1871 to Mr. Z. r. Rogers, also appeared in the Lon
don Times OF a late date-
Very many thanks for the post. You can form no
idea OF the pleasure mat the arrival anords; we
snail have no means OF communication with Khar-
toum until the end OF March, 1872; thus 10 letters
must DC expected roln US until October 1872, when
the boats returning from this snail have taken the
post to the Soudan. We mad trying voyage OF five
months and twenty-five days from TOwhklya,
north Latitude 26 TO TINS spot, having had to cut
canals ana channels through dense masses Of vege-
tation ana sandy shadows at intervals over space
oil NV miles OF the Bahr Giraffe TO the junction Of
the White Nile. The difficulties are beyond descrp
tion, nut, thank God, we got through mud slusn,
sand and marsh and at length reached the ueep and
broad water OF The Nile, not, however, without n
sad loss Of life from malaria and fatigue. III the
Viceroy does not order the main stream 10 be cleared
there Is little use IN expending money upon the an.
nexation OF central Africa. Formerly the river, al
though dull to traveller was magnificent chan
see no difficulty IN cutting narrow channel
through tue opposing oDstructoDs; II Is merely
question OF time. II narrow line were opened
through the dense vegetation the rush OF water
would clear the RIVER but n let TO nature tnat
grand obstructress would add raft to raft OF oatn.
vegetation almost hourly to increase the diicuy.
nave Immensely improved the Bahr Giraffe pas
sage by the work OF this year. insomuch tnat the
traders light vessels followed through my canals a
month later without any difficulty These people
travel with no load but provision or corn and am
munIon. our vessels uiity-nine) were heavily
laden, and drew four feet Of water. On the whole,
1t was an immense triumph TO get the fleet
through what appeared to be insurmouniable OBJ
slacles. Nothing Is smooln IN Africa. Upon
arrival here, as ! expected, we were quickly
plunged into war win the Bari tribes, VINO have
been for years leagued with the slave traders, and
they naturally refuse 10 acknowledge the Vlcer0y's
government. | trust TO reduce them 10 subsection
shortly, and then to proceed south; but hope that
no ntrlgues In the Soudan and Egypt Will interfere
with the arrival OF my expected reinforcement OF
800 men. have now 1885 troops, including ten
guns. This Is too small force to divide among
distant stations. We Ost the unfortunate Dr.
Gedge Thank God Lady BAKER and | are always
IN excellent nealth. Therefore we are independent
OF medical attendance. take charge OF the Eng
sh, and am happy to say they are all alive, al
though many have suffered severely from fever. Dr.
Gedpe's effects were sold al Khartoum by order OF
Daner Pacna. who was 70 remit the proceeds TO the
British Consulate.