The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25
Ghe Aaturalist.
From Harper's Magazine for Nay.
A Naturalist in the Heart Of Africa.
ny HELEN s. coxAsr.


There is a 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 influ-
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
band Of arctic adventurers 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 fills US with
delicious languor, and the senses refuse to
believe that suffering and privation exist.
1t is not strange, then, that 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, and so keen an observer that
nothing beautiful and curious escapes his
eye, the temptation is irresistible.
The heart of Africa is no longer an un-
known and almost fabulous region, as it was
In the days before Livingstone, Barth, Sir
Samuel Baker, Du Chaillu, and other tray.
elers penetrated the secrets Of its tropical
fastnesses, and mapped out its rivers, lakes
and plains. But this region, when seen
in the company of DIR. Schweinfurth, ac
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
DR., Schweinfurth is no novice in Afrl
can travel In 1863 he made an extensiy,
journey through Egypt and. Nubia, and h,
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 o
1868, he undertook the great journey
which has furnished material for his charm
ing book, he brought to the work all tn,
intelligence and practical knowledge ne
cessary to a successful carrying out of hi
great plan. Avoiding the well-known re
gion Of the Lower Nile, DIR. Schweinfurtl
proceeded at once to Suez, which he fount
more than doubled in population since hi
visit five years previous. The fresh -wate
canal, however, had not effected any mark
ed improvement upon the desolate envir
ous of the town. No beauteous vegetation
relieved the eye, and no deposit of fertili
zing soil had been made, except at the foo
Of the Mokkatan Mountains, where tn,
boulder flats, unimpregnated with salt, arr
trayersed by separate branch of the mali
canal.
On the 18th of August DR.. Schwein
fuIth left Suez in little French packe
for Djidda, small settlement on the cas-
tern coast Of the Red Sea. Here he oh
tanned an open Arab boat, in which b
went by sail to Suakin, town on the op
, posite coast, and the point from which h
proposed to cross the country to Khar
toom.
Even at this very introduction to hi
journey, before his labors had begun
Schweinfurth delights us by his exquisite
description of the voyage across the Rec
Sea in his Arab boat, and shows himsel
true poet as well as scientific student
He says There was splashing aud spor
in the bright green floods which sprea,
over the shadows where coral banks rang
ed themselves below, and where the ey
could detece thousand marvels. Lik
terraces filed with the choicest plants, th
sloping beds Of coral descended with vari
egated festoous into the purple shades o
: the deep; strange forms were witnessed II
, these living groves, and conspicuous anon
others was the "bride of the fish" whicl
! is celebrated in the Arabian fishing song
20 bride, lovely bride of the fish, come t
mep Ever and anon on my voyage
which was to me as an Odyssey, did / de
light to catch fragments of this song as !
was dreamily hummed by the man at tn
. stern during the hot midday hour whel
the crew had sunk into slumber, and while
noiselessly and spirit-like, our vessel glide,
through the emerald foods. The enchani
, ment, as Of fairy tale, of these waters
with their myriad living forms of ever
, tint and shape, de6es all power of descrip
, tion."
Amer voyage of three days Schwein
furth arrived at Suakin, town .formerl
subject to the Turkish power, but now be
longing to the VicerOy of Egypt Th
people of Suakin followed the customs Q
Europe, and we find them all forsakin
the city during the heat Of summer, an
retiring to country houses among tn
mountains, which extend along the coas
between the city and the valley of Siugai
} These mountains are rich in all kinds o
tropical vegetation. The atmosphere
fresh and invigorating, and the whole al
aror,.t.o a .--.tl A. Q.nts.... -. r -.