The New York herald., 1874-12-04

QclLi duu, DclOTc b VIkOIUua DCecZe anu an lucOm-
night anchored at the mouth OF Pemha Creek At
sne ana a 70 sss
where we were greeted with Kindness BY the peo-
Mana Island we sscertained to be most fertile
island, Astounding In palm groves and shambas, or
gardens. 1t is the third fsiand IN size within the
Of the Runji, it seems as ii placed by nature at
tnis postion as the entrepot OF the main land,
wmcn Is nd out zen & mnes 0lssans: Snips OF large
% charts aDsurd5 can Pon
could easily point out the sdvantases a. @ Of S secar
ing portion Of Mafa-say the district In the
plant colony OF freed slaves nom which locality
after instruction and preparation, they might
emerge as enterprtsing traders with the Interior,
via the Runt Rtvor. But must leave these re-
marks for some future letter for must now hasten
to give an unprctudiced opinion upon the value OF
OF our exploration OF the RufjL.
Readers Interested IN African exploration In
new commercial avenues may see for themselves
VIII what M the Ru! ts after reading this letter i mas
ascend higher than Kisu IN boat built for ocean
sailing. Had possessed the Lady Ahce, which Mr..
and which has only arrived By this mali could
have ascended, / believe, . couple OF hundred
men. For exploration, prudence requires that we
shall be prepared for all contingencies: that there
shall be men sufficient accompanying the explorer
to enable him with few men to make proper de-
fence II attacked Our gig would have ed eight
men and weeks provisions, bur she would not
have made us independent Of the land, nor strong
enough to resist attack, which would have endan-
gered the success Of our great journey. AS look
at the Lady Alice ind her boat OF sufficient
capacity to convey up any river force OF twenty
i've men, with months provisions; yet she
draws but twelve inches loaded. She ls 40 feet in
length, feet be9m, built OF best spanish cedar,
IN vater-nght compartments. duplicate OF this
boat would enable any traveller to proceed up the
Ruff as iar as any native canoe, after which the
report OF such man, on his retnrn OF the naviga-
bility Of the Rnnji would settle tho question for
ever. 3[E
In the meantime, SO far as we ascended, the
RufJt must he classcd as Q navlgabe river. Such
steamer as Sir John Glover possessed on the
Volta, or one built alter the model OF an American
river steamer, may proceed up the Ruff with
ease, whenever any merchant shall be found bold
enough to enter on promising African venture.
Our work OF exploration also clears up the Diff
cultles OF annihtlatinR the overland route OF the
slave trader. Steam launches, properly built for
river navigation, commanded By onicers familiar
with river navigation, assisted by guides procured
at Samuga Island, may proceed either up the Ma.
gafnbu or SimDO-OranRa mouth OF the Ruhi and,
towing up with them lew light Hatboats loaded
with coal, could anchor them at Jumbo and, pro-
ceeding lIgnt lily loaded, could capture few slave
caravans and bring down their proprietors TO be
punished at Zanzibar. Any naval officer, acting
discrcetly and energettcaliy, could strike WITHIN
four days a most eifecive and deadly blow at
the land slave trade. such system Of action.