The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-31
GERMAN AFRICAN EXPLORERS.

The German papers publish letter from the well
known geographer, DIR. Petermann, giving an &C
count OF the mission into Africa OF Dr. Nachtlgal
with presents from the German Emperor TO the Sui
tan OF Bornu. 1t has taken more than four years to
accomplish this mission, owing to the maladminis-
tration OF the Turkish authorities in Tripolitania
and Fesan. DR.. Nachtiga left Trlpoli on the 18th
Of February 1862 and reached Mursuk on the 9th
OF March, but he was not able to proceed to kuka
before the 18th Of APRIL 1870 During the interval
he made journey to 1ibesti, in the
eastern half Of the Desert OF Sahara.
This journey, says DR.. PetcTmann, had
to be accomplished under the most terri
BILE difficulties and privations, and 1t placed
DR.. Nachtigal In the first rank Of African discover
ers, none OF his predecessors, such Lyon Richie,
Denham, Clapperton, Oudney, Barth, Buermann,
Suveyrier, or Kohls having ventured to penetrate
far as Tibest. ON the 9th oil July, 1870 DR.. Mach
audience OF the Sultan to whom he handed the
presents OF the German Emperor, consisting OF a
throne, portraits OF the Emperor the Empress and
the Crown Prince, clock, gold watch, some
needleguns telescope, and velvet and silk stnns.
He proposed before returning to Tripoli to proceed
to the Bahar ell Ghazal northeast of Lake
Tchad, point which has hitherto never been
reached by Europeans, and in 1871 he carried out
his plan, visiting Kanem, Egai, Bodele and BOrku
This expedition lasted nine months, and afforded
some very interesting Information about the geog
raphy, ethnography and natural history OF the dis
trict 1t was known proceeds DR.. Petermann)
that the Bahar ell Ghaza Is q river with an extern
sive and fertile valley connected with Lake Tchad
but whether its source It's mouth is in that Jake
has hitherto been uncertain. 1t is now quite clear
from DR.. Nachtgal's researches that the Bahar ell
Ghazal flows out OF the lake. and that
even Borku, which is far to the northeast,
lies in deep and extensive hollow which
s lower than the level OF Lake Tchad. The Bahar
ell Ghazal does not flow to the north rom the lake.
as has been hitherto supposed, but TO the north
east in which direction IL proceeds for distance
OF at least seventy German miles as far as 10
degrees north latitude and 10 degrees east longi-
tude meridian OF Greenwlch). Thence 1t flows to
the north towards Borku, In an extensive and
fertile valley with many streams, called Bodele.
The northern portion or BOrku is q high range of
mountains which were visited by Nachtlgal in 1862
when he found that one OF the passes no less
than 1873 English feet high. Dr. Petermann be-
lieves that this range extends in the
shape OF huge bew Tor 200 German
miles from Tibesti the west TO Darfur
on. the east, and he says that the information
collected by DR.. Nachtigal in his explorations of
1859 and 1871 furnishes the materials complete
description OF the eastern half OF the great Desert
of Sahara. According to the last accounts from
Dr. Nachtigal which are dated the 23d OF February,
1872, he was then about TO make journey into
Bagrmi. This country has been invaded by the
Sultan OF Wadai, the most powerful State i'm East
ern Soudan who took Its capital and forced its
ruler to escape. The latter has taken refuge in the
southern part of his dominOns, which is very DIM
cult OF access, and which DIR. Nachtigal proposed
to visit in order to pursue his geographical re-
searches.