The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25

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the Nile for Khartoom. Owing 70 the
complete failure Of wind, 1t took sixteen
days to accomplish this portion of his jour
ney, which was dull and uneyentful. On
the LIST of November he reached Khar-
tOom, and at once proceeded to procure
boats, and organize his party for the long
journey of explorations to the interior
kartoom is very important mercantile
depot, where all the riches Of the Upper
Nile regions are gathered together and
packed for shipment to Europe The mer-
chants Of Khartoom maintain great num-
Der Of settlements in districts as near az
possible to the present ivory countries, and
among peaceful races devoted to agrieul-
ture. They have apportioned the territory
among themselves, and have brought the
natives to a condition Of vassalage. Under
the protection Of an armed guard procured
from Khartoom, they have established va
riOus depots, undertaken expeditions into
the interior, and secured an unmolested
transit to and fro. These depots for ivory,
ammunition, barter goods, and means Of
subsistence are villages surrounded by
palisades, and are called seribas. Every
Khartoom merchant, in the different dis
tricts where he maintains his settlements.
Is represented by superintendent and a
number Of subordinate agents. These
agents command the armed men of the
country, determine what products the sub
jected natives must pay by way of impost
to support the guards, as well as the num-
Der Of bearers they must furnish for the
distant exploring expeditions they appoint
and displace the local managers; carry on
war or strike alliances with the chiefs Of
the ivory countries, aud once a year remit
the collected stores to Khartoom.
DR.. Schweinfurth's party, with which he
started on his voyage up the White Nile,
numbered tiiirty-two persons, eight being
Nubians, whom he had engaged for his own
private retinue, and the remainder boatmen
and bOdy-guards. There was no lack Of
incident in the journey up the White Nile,
The flats on either side Of the river, bright
with the luxuriant green Of the sedge
were alive with thousands of geese, which
waddled up and down, in no way discon.
certed by the passing of the boats. These
geese were captured and roasted in such
great numbers that our traveller came to look
upon them with disgust, and forbade the cook
to place them on his table. The number Of
cattle to be seen grazing on the shore was
prodigious, and the river was constantly en-.
livened by the large hat-boats Of the shep.
herds, who row hither and thither, con.
Quoting their cattle to fresh pasturage.
As the party proceeded farther up the
river the hippopotamuses became mort
frequent. Their noise, gurgling and snort
ing, was heard far over the water, and gra.
ted rs harshly on the ear as the incessant
crcaking Of the clumsy rudder. The trav
eler up the White Nile must accustou
himself to this, or there viii be no night,
rest for him during his entire voyage, a.
there is no relief from the tumult Of these
huge animals. By way of variety, there
may be heard at intervals the roar of some
liea lyowling on the bank. All along the
shore vast numbers of crocodiles bask in
the sun. Great iguanas and snakes rustic
in the dry grass. Everywhere under the
trees are snake-skins and egg-shells; above
in the branches, may be heard the constant
commotion of mischievous monkeys, while
birds Of many kinds, eagles from gianl
nests, and hosts Of Auttering waterfowl
give incessant animation TO the scenery
Unlimited varieties Of water plants abound
the sport Of winds and waves. Among
them the herminiera, called by the native.
ambatch, Is Of special importance, cs il
furnishes material for RATS, which are 50
light that man can easily lift to his shoul-
der one large enough to carry eight PEG.
pie. The weight of this fungus-wood is
SO Insignificant that it suggests comparison
to feather. The plant shoots up to fif
teen or twenty feet in height, and at its
base generally attains thickness Of about
six inches. 1t grows with great rapidity
in the quiet water near shore, and since il
roots merely in the water, whole bushes
are easily broken of by the force Of the
wind or stream, and settle themselves
afresh in other places This is the true
origin Of the grass barriers so frequently
mentioned as blocking up the waters Of
the Upper Nile, and in many seasons max
ing navigation utterly impracticable.
One Of the terrors for the Nile traveller
is bees At one time the adverse wind
made it necessary that DR.. Schweinfurth's
boat should be towed by the crew. As
the rope was being drawn along through
the grass on the banks it happened that Ii
disturbed a swarm of bees. In moment,
like great cloud, they burst upon the
men who were dragging. Every one Of
them threw himself headlong into the wa
ter, and hurried to regain the boat. The
swarm followed them, and in few seconds
filed every nook and Granny Of the deck.
Without any foreboding Of IN DR.. Schwein-
furth was sitting quietly in his rude cabin
arranging his botanical specimens, when
he heard scampering round the deck,
which he at first took to be the usual frol-
licking Of his people; but as the noise in
creased, he called out for an explanation
of the disturbance. For an answer here
ceived only the terrific cry Of sBees
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