The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-29
African exploration. ]
RoHLfs's rxrEDIFlo. 70 TnE LIDTAN DEsEa

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BAYaaD TAyLoa. who Ii ID Germany. has
been writing an accountof the exploration
Of the. Libyan Desert under GERARD RoHIrs,
gathered, we suppose, from the advance ma
,erial Of work to be soon issued by the
German traveller.
The expedition left Stout, in Upper Egypt,
on the nth of December, and consisted OF
one hundred camels and ninety men. The
caravan, after two days march, made
days halt at Deyr ell Mer, where here Is
large Coptic monastery, the inmates OF which
received them with great rejoicing, claiming
them as (ellow.C Christians. They then turned
their heads nearly due westward, and their
backs upon the green fields of the Nile. The
ground assembled about one hundred and
sixty feet to the first plateau, showing series
of plains bounded by ridges thirty4ive to
one hundred feet high, these plains being
scarcely more than three Or four miles in
breadth. The temperature at o'clock 10
the morning was only thirty-fiye degrees,
while at midday it never rose above seventy
seven degrees in the sun. The plateau grad
uaIly increased in height until the sixth day,
when it reached m elevation of one thou.
sand feet above the sea. Soon after this there
were signs of a change in the scenery. The
higher levels sank rapidly, and finally termi-
mated in wall or escarpmept of nearly per-
pendicular rock, of the Oldest eocene forma-
ton, more than three hundred feet in height.
The caravan trail, probably thousands of
years old, descended in steep zig-zag path,
which made locomotion for the. camels very
difficult. A bold spring found in this region
proved to be of glaubers salts, for both man
and beast.
The oasis of Farafrah was the projected
starting point for the expedition, but the ap-
pearance Of the place and the fact that q
sheep, a turkey, some chickens, and some
dates were the only provisions to be OBJ
taincd in this community of about four hun
drcd ragged and dirty Inhabitants, caused
the travellers to decide upon the larger oasis
of Dakhel as their objective point. After
travelling through scenery somewhat similar
to that already described, though more ex-
tended, there was sudden surprise pre-.
scented before them. The final descent to the
level of the oasis lay before them. The vast
mournful, sandy landscape vanished as by a
miracle, and wheat-felds Of deepest green,
dark palm groves, white walls, and NINA
rets reposed under the soft light Of sinking
sun. From the gate of the town stately
cayalcade advanced to meet and welcome
them. 1t was headed by Egyptians in Eu'
ropean dress, some of whom spoke French.
The inhabitants of Dakhe number II, 900,
and are peaceable and friendly. There is
here large area of garden land, producing
rot only palms. and oranges, but olives, april
cots, grapes, and mulberries. Near the town
thirty or forty powerful springs burst forth
from the earth, the water of which is highly
ferruginous, and has temperature of ITO
degrees. It is carried by irrigatiDg canals
over many square miles Of soil. Wherever
the stratum of chalk that underlies the soil
is pierced stream of water is almost sure
TO rise.
From this point the expedition advanced
without knowledge Of the unknown desert
to the westward. 1t was separated into
several parties, and after some days, without
meeting with any new discoveries, the party
was II duited, and proceeded in a northwest.
erly direction, skirtipg along vast sand
ocean, which was thus described by Profess
sor ZlrTEL "a PROCLAMATION of ZETELLED y:
"The huge masses Of sand spread before
us like an ocean agtated by tempest and
then frozen, seemingly firm and yet movable.
When the wind whirIed up fine veil OF
sand along the ridges, blurring all their sharp
outlines, the pale yellow bills, frequently
more than 800 feet in height, make wierd,
threatening, spectral impression upon Us. 1t
seems as if the whole mass were in move
ment. and might soon oyerwhelm u.s."
After journey Of thirty-siX days the
party reached the oasis Of Jupiter AIhmop,
having traversed about 500 miles, which
makes it one of the most remarkable jour-
news in the annals of African exploration,
a scycn-days' journey without stopping hay
ing been heretofore considered the longest
possible. Al Jupiter Ammon the party rest.
cd for five days, started on its return for
Dakhel, which point was reached about the
middle of March. One hundred miles south
by east of this point is the great oasis of
Kharpb, which was visited by DR.. ScHwEIN-
FuRTH tauthor of "The Heart of Africa ~,
who spent winter there, and REvwELL, the
photographer attached to his party, took
careful photographs of the Egyptian temples
there The inscriptions were so plainly
taken that MARIETTA discovered on seeing
the pictures in Cairo the names of eight
Lbyan rulers which have not heretofore
been found on any other monuments.
RoHLFs's party reached Cairo on the 18th
of April, having been absent four months.
The extent of desert travel was about 1,700
miles, two.thirdS Of which were through re-
gions never before explored. This, however,
was more than mere travel, "goiDg to and
fro 1T was thorough scientific examination
from first to last Every result obtained is
positive and permanent. In regard to the
interior of the Libyan Desert it is true, as
RoHLrs says, that the problem has only been
"negatively solved THAT is, that it is I'm.
inhabitable and cannot be explored without
the most careful preparation and good luck
added thereto.
DIPLOMACY WITH THE CELEsTrALs, But NOT
CELESTIAL DIPLoMACY.-It is learned from q
trustworthy source that Consul. General Sew.
ard, now at Shanghai, will shortly resign
from the consular service. Mr. Seward Ia q