The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25
Ghe Aaturalist.
From Harper's Kagasins for Nay.
A Naturalist in the Heart Of Africa.
NY HkIKy 4. coN.Nr

There is strange fascination about all
tropical countries. The perpetual soft
ness Of the air, and the luxuriant growth Of
all kinds of plants, driven by the sun to
constant activity, and the far niente inHu-
ence Of all the combined forces Of nature,
lead the imagination to wild and delicious
fights, which would be frozen at their very
birth by the cold winds Of northern lati-
tudes. In reading the experiences of
Kane, Hayes, and other explorers of the
region Of eternal winter, one is brought
face to face with stern facts; and as we
think of the solitary board hut where a
band Of arctic adventures passed long and
dreary months in hand-to-hand fight with
starvation and frost, the world seems to
contract, and misery and suffering to lie
In thick crust all over the surface.
How different are the sensations when
following the traveller in the tropics Sit
ting in our room at night, with the snow
perhaps driving against the window OUT
side, as our eyes follow the printed journal
of some wanderer through Brazil or the
Indies, we are transported into world of
bright visions, gentle airs fan our cheeks,
the perfume of many flowers ellis us with
delicious languor, and the senses refuse to
believe that suffering and priyation exist.
1t is not strange, then, that q new tray
eler through the African wilderness tempts
us to follow him and when the traveller
is DR.. Schweinfurth, a man of large human
sympathy, aud SO keen an observer that
nothing beautiful and curious escapes his
eye, the temptation is irresistible.
The heart Of Africa is no longer an I'M
known and almost fabulous region, rs il was
In the days before Livingstone, Barth, Sir
Samuel Baker, Du Chaillu, and other trav.
elers penetrated the secrets Of its tropical
Businesses, and mapped out its rivers, lakes,
and plains. But this region, when seen
in the company of DIR. Schweinfurth, &C,
quires new charm, and scenes already
rendered familiar through descriptions by
former travellers come to us with fresh in.
terest when pictured by his graceful pen,
DIR. Schweinfurth is no novice in Afri.
can travel. In 1863 he made an extensive
journey through Egypt and Nubia, and he
has spent months exploring the mountain
Gus coasts of the Red Sea, in his own boat
and with his own band of faithful follow.
ers. When, therefore, in the summer Of
1868, he undertook the great journey
which has furnished material for his charm
ing book, he brought to the work all the
intelligence and practical knowledge ne,
cessary to successful carrying out of hi.
great plan. Avoiding the well-known re-
gion Of the Lower Nile, Dr. Schweinfurth
proceeded at once 10 Suez, which he found
more than doubled in population since hi;
visit five years previous. The fresh-water
canal, however, had not effected any mark
ed improvement upon the desolate envir.
ons Of the town. No beauteous vegetation
relieved the eye, and no deposit of fertili.
zing soil had been made, except at the foot
of the Mokkatan Mountains, where the
boulder fats, unimpregnated with salt, are
traversed by separate branch of the main
canal
On the 18th Of August DR.. Schwein,
fuIth left Suez in little French packet
for Djidda, a small settlement on the cas-.
tern coast Of the Red Sea. Here he OBJ.
tanned an open Arab boat, in which he
went by sail to Suakin, a town on the op.
posite coast, and the point from which he
proposed to cross the country to Khar
toom.
Even at this very introduction to his
journey, before his labors had begun
Schweinfurth delights us by his exquisite
description of the voyage across the Red
Sea in his Arab boat, and shows himself
a true poet as well as scientific student
He says: "There was spIashing and spor,
in the bright green foods which spread
over the shadows where coral banks rang.
ed themselves below, and where the eve
could detect thousand marvels. Like
terraces filed with the choicest plants, the
sloping beds Of coral descended with vari.
egatcd festoons into the purple shades Of
the deep; strange forms were witnessed Ia
these living groves. and conspicuous among
others was the "bride of the fish," which
is celebrated in the Arabian fishing song,
30 bride, lovely bride of the fish, come to
10" Ever aud anon on my voyage,
which was to me as an Odyssey, did | de.
light to catch fragments Of this song as 1t
vas dreamily hummed by the man at the
stern during the hot midday hour when
the crew had sunk into slumber, and while,
noiselessly and spirit-like, our vessel glided
through the emerald foods. The enchant-
ment, as Of fairy tale, of these waters,
with their myriad living forms of every
tint and shape, de6cs all power of descrip-
tion."
After voyage Of three days Schwein-
farth arrived at Suakin, town formerly
subject to the Turkish power, but now be-
longing to the yiceroy Of Egypt The
people of Suakin followed the customs Of
Europe, and we find them all forsaking
the city during the heat Of summer, and
retiring to country houses among the
mountains, which extend along the coast
between the city and the valley of Singat.
These mountains are rich in all kinds Of
tropical vegetation. The atmosphere is
fresh and invigorating, and the whole air