The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-10-22
THE POLAR AND TROPICAL
WORLDS.

ed with great energy and success, 50 ulist'
regions that only few years ago, were
represented by q blank space upol1 the
map, and whose very names were un-
known are now opened up and are De
coming highways Of intercourse. ne
researches have been conducted not on y
in the interest Of commerce but also c i
science.
In the Polar and Equatorial regions,
the work of exploration has been especi-
ally active, and in one the Equatorial
has been rich in Its. results.
Livingstone has penetrated the inte-
rior of Africa. Agassiz has explored the
valley Of the Amazon, and Hall has made
three successive journeys to the Arctic
regions. Now that they are gone it is
interesting to review what they, and
other. late explorers have revealed, and
what seems to be the future OF the vast
regions.
Let us turn to Africa Tt is not as
many suppose, the purely geographical
discoveries which are of the greatest in
terest. The discovery of the source Of
the Nile is Of 10 practical value what
ever. On the other hand, the discovery
of what sort of people, what resources,
and what productions exist in the lnte-
rior OF Africa, has the greatest possible
value in pointing out the future path of
African civilization, and the aid Africa
Will probably give in the advancement
of humanity.
What Livingstone and Barth have
| done to acquaint Us with the people and
| products OF Africa may and must result
sooner or later in q vast development,
social, productive and commercial, in
that great and heretofore unexplored
region Of the world.
Let us then give brief synopsis Of
what these travellers have already done.
First it was the common and received
idea, that the larger part Of the interior
of Africa WAS an arid desert and little
could be expected from It. Livingstone
| found It the reverse, that It was we'll
| watered country with rich lands and
forests, and that tbereg was provision
made for the populations. Africa is no
longer 10 be regarded as barren region
the last refuge Of barbarism. On the
contrary it is q land full of resources,
| where, in the future progress Of man,
new nations viii arise with new perhaps
! richer forms Of civilization.
IF Intelligent people viii read the late
/ travels Of Livingstone and Barth they
VIII get an entirely new idea, Of the Afri-
can. From the ZaLnbesi river TO Loan
do, Livingstone traced the horrors of the
slave trade. It is that more than one
thing that has degraded africa.
Next fact established by Livingstone
is the immense value in the future Of
| African products. Take cotton for ex-
ample. In the region of Loando cotton
( Is aPe5Tenaia5 plant. 1t is raised and
sold IN LOando for two cents per pound.
Now suppose under civilized modes OF
culture 1t comes to four cents per pound,
how long can American cotton planters
| compete with this Such great differ
| ence IN cost must soon bring African
cotton into competition with all other
lands. The supply Of cotton falls far
short Of the demand, and sugar must
| fall short also. In this state OF things a
new development Of regions fitted for
cotton, coffee, and sugar is needed, and
Africa, undoubtedly, IS fitted for all OF
| these. Then the discoveries of Barth
and Livingstone bear directly on the
| future progress and civilization OF the
| world They are the initial steps which
give promise of a splendid future for
Africa. The Guinea negro is 10 longer
a representative OF African races. On
the contrary we find races OF people
there capable OF d high state of cultiva-
! ton. We find vast extents Of country
well watered and full of magnificent veg
| itatiOn, harbors and coasts sufficient fOI
commerce with the world. In one word
we find the same resources which have
| built up other nations and countries. 1t
need surprise no one if in few years
| there should be railroads there AS
Africa is the last portion OF the globe tC
be touched by the hand of civilization,
it may pe that the light Of its latter life
may stand in strikin contrast with the
darkness OF former years.
The late explorations III South Amer
lea and the tropical islands, have not
been of less Importance than those IN
Africa. Squier he's travelled the plateaus
of Bolivia and Peru Orton has crossed
the Andes and explored they Of Plateau
Quito, and decended the Amazon from
Its head waters to its mouth Wallace
has explored the Malay Archipelago
Darwin has visited the Patagonians, and
Aeassiz has made large contributions to
our knowledge of the natural history of
the mighty Valley of the Amazon.
Our space VIII not permit us to speak
at length concerning any of those great
explorers nor permitting even a men
ton Of Hall, and the importance Of his
three expeditions to the polar regions.
| Happily new work on these subjects
| has been written by one Of the greatest
scholars OF Europe. This work entitled
''The Polar and Tropical World" is a
standard one, and brings us knowledge
fresh from the explorers in every part OF
these vast regions.
II is information derived from the abeve
work, which has promted this article.
Not wishing to disappoint the reader by
cutting the story short, we cannot do
better than to refer him to this new and
fascinating work of DR.. Hartwig. For
reference we append the opinions of a
few of our educational, literary aud sci
entific men.
The work entitled s'The Polar and
Tropical Worlds is highly recommend
ed. The name of the author is enough