The Democratic advocate., 1874-05-02
Ghe Aaturalist.
FtOm Ha,pass Magazine for Nay
A Naturalist in the Heart Of Africa.

"-N%~ 80 NsNa%Nt saAN Ht0othea YittuhC VI tEOp-
ical beauty brilliant eolored flowers toss their
gay blossoms in the breeze, whole forests Of
tamarind aud acacia cover the hillsides, and
even the surface Of the water is beauteous
with the broad rich leaves and fragrant fow-
srs of many varieties Of aquatic plants. The
acacia groves extend over an area q hundred
miles square along the right bank ofthe stream.
They produce gum in such unlimited quaint.
ties, that, in the interests Of commerce, they
are specially worthy of regard In the win.
ter time, with the greatest ease, in the course
Of day, hundred weight Of this valuable
article could be collected by one man. Il is
curious fact, howeror, that the gathering Of
this gum is much neglected, and the merch.
ants of khartoom are never able to supply
sufficient quantity to meet the demands Of
Europe. These acacia trees are called "sof.
far" by the natives, word signifying flute.
From the larve Of insects which have worked
way to the inside, their ivory.white shoots
are often distorted in form, and swollen out
at their base with globular bladders measuring
about an inch in diameter After the myster.
ious insect has unaccountably managed to
glide out Of its circular hole, this thorn. like
shoot becomes a sort of musical instrument,
upon which the wind, as it plays, produces the
regular sound Of flute In the winter sea.
son, when the trees are stripped of their
leaves, the boughs, white as chalk, stretch out
like ghosts, and the wind, signing through the
insect-made flutes, fills the whole air with soft,
melancholy tunes. One who has seen these
"sofar" forests in breezy moonlight night
can never forget the strange and weird effect
produced upon the Imagination.
At latitude of % north DR.. Schweinfurth
first saw the papyrus, this sire of immortal
thought, which centuries ago was just as
abundant in Egypt as at present il is on the
threshold of the central deserts Of Africa. It
strikes one like the creation Of another world
and almost inspires one TO reverence its mar
velouS beauty. The channels of the river be-
gan to multiply at this point, masses of grass,
papyrus, and ambatch covered the whole
stream like carpet, and the actual conflict
with the world Of weeds commenced Even
the most experienced pilot is at loss how to
steer through this web of tough tangle, as
every voyage is along new course, and thro
fresh labyrinth Of plants. Thick masses of
little weeds float about the surface Of the wa.
ter, and, by forming asoft pulp, bind together
the conglomeration of larger vegetation with
strong cement, through which it is almost
impossible at times to force the boat. Two
hundred sailors Of Schweinfurth's party which
by this time consisted of several trading YES.
sells besides his own boat, we're obliged to tug
with ropes for hours together to pull through
one boat after the other. The sailors walked
along the edge OF the floating masses Of yege-
iation, which were solid enough to bear whole
herds Of oxen.
Very singular was the spectacle Of the ves-
sells, as though they had grown in the place
where they were, in the midst Of this jungle
ofpapyrus, fifteen feet high, while the bronz.
ed, swarthy skins Of the naked Nubans con-
trasted admirably with the bright green which
was everywhere around. The shrieks and
shouts with which they sought to cheer on
their work could be heard miles away. The
very hippopotamuses did not seem to like it /;
in their alarm, they lifted their heads from
the shadows in which they had stationed
themselves for respiration, and snorted till
the gurgling around was horrible. The sail.
ors, concerned lest by their bulk these un.
wieldy creatures should injure the boats--not
an unknown occurrence-gave vent to the full
force of their lungs This great region Of
weeds was alive with marabou storks and 9th
er water birds, and at night the whole mass
was brilliant with the dazzling sparks of the
glow-worm, glittering in countless numbers
upon the dewy stalks of the floating prairie
Blossoms Of the water.lily in every variety Of
hue-white, blue, and crimson spangled the
grass tangle with gems. Rooted far below,
they project their long stalks and leaves thro
the openings in the grass carpet in search Of
the sunlight. Their stems possess great tough
ness and elasticity, and it often happens in
attempting to gather them that the entire
plant will slip from the hand with an elastic
rebound, and disappear beneath the water.
Alter several days hard fighting with the
weeds and grasses, the channel became more
open, and the boats proceeded with little
trouble
The Nueir, a tribe of savages inhabiting
these river marshes, appear to be but slightly
removed from the long-legged birds who share
their hsunts. Their feet are large and fat,
and, like the marsh birds, they are accustom.
ed for an hour at time to stand motionless
on one leg, supporting the other above the
knee. Their leisnrely long stride over the
rushes is only to be compared to that Of
s,ork. Lean and lanky limbs, long, thin
neck, on which rests small and narrow head,
giving finishing touch to the resemblance.
The channel became continually broader
as the boats passed upt the river, and the banks
receded more and more from each other. The
appearance Of men in canoes busily engaged
in fishing indicated the nearness Of the dwell
ings Of the Dinkas, the most celebrated cattle
raisers in this portion of Africa, and soon the
whole party came to stop at Meshera, or
Port Rex, where they went into camp on an
island to await the arrival Of a still larger ad.
dition TO the party before proceeding to sx-
plore the inland country. As this point was
in the very heart of the Dinka territory, an
excellent opportunity was afforded to study
their manners and customs.
One Of the most important personages in
this district was an old woman, Of the name
ofShol. As wealthy as cattle could make her,
her word was law in the Meshera. Old shol
made no delay in displaying her hospitality
TO the strangers, and came to pay visit on
board DR.. Schweinfurth's boat on the very
day Of his arrival. On account Of the color
of his skin she persisted in believing him to
be brother Of Miss Time, who had travelled
through that country some time previous, and
who had made herself great favorits BY her
liberaliiy in making presents. Il is almost
impossible to convey an idea Of the repalsive-
moss Of Old Shol
Her naked negro skin waa leathery, coarse,
and wrinkled her figure was totterine and