The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25
cultural e1srtion Of these idle inhabiiaIt.

the Nile for Khartoom. Owing to the
complete failure Of wind il took sixteen
days to accomplish this portion Of his jour
ney, which was dull and uneyentful. On
she lst of November he reached Khar-
toom, and at once proceeded to procure
boats, and organize his party for the long
journey Of explorations to the interior.
Kartoom is very important mercantile
depot, where all the riches Of the Upper
Nile regions are gathered together and
packed for shipment to Europe. The mer-
chants Of Khartoom maintain great num-
Der Of settlements in districts as near as
possible to the present ivory countries, and
among peaceful races devoted to agricul-
ture. They have apportioned the territory
among themselves, and have brought the
natives to condition of vassalage. Under
the protection of an armed guard procured
from KhartoOm, they have established va
rious depots, undertaken expeditions into
the interior, and secured an unmolested
transit to and fro. These depots for ivory,
ammunition, barter goods, and means Of
subsistence are villages surrounded by
palisades, and are called seribas. Every
Khartoom merchant, in the different dis
tricts where he maintains his settlements
is represented by superintendent and a
number Of subordinate agents. These
agents command the armed men of the
country, determine what products the sub.
jected natives must pay by way of impost
to support the guards, as well as the num-
Der of bearers they must furnish for the
distant exploring expeditions they appoint
and displace the local managers; carry on
war or strike alliances with the chiefs Of
the ivory countries, and once a year remit
the collected stores to Khartoom.
DIR. schweinfurth's party, with which he
started on his voyage up the White Nile,
numbered thirty-two persons, eight being
Nubians, whom be had engaged for his own
private retinue, and the remainder boatmen
and body-guards. There was no lack Of
incident in the journey up the White Nile
The flats on either side Of the river, bright
with the luxuriant green of the sedge
were alive with thousands of geese, which
waddled up and down, in no way discon
certed by the passing of the boats. Thes.
geese were captured and roasted in sucl
great numbers that our traveller came to lool
upon them with disgust and forbade the cool
to place them on his table. The number Of
cattle to be seen grazing on the shore wa,
prodigious, and the river was constantly en-
livened by the large hat-boats of the shep
herds, who row hi,her and thither, con
Quoting their cattle to fresh pasturage.
As the party proceeded farther up tn,
river the hippopotamuses became NOR,
frequent. Their noise, gurging and snort
ing, was heard far over the water, and gra
ted as harshly on the ear as the incessan
creaking Of the clumsy rudder. The tray
eler up the White Nile must accuston
himself to this, or there will be no night
rest for him during his entire voyage, a
there is no relief from the tumult of thes
huge animals. By way Of variety, ther
may be heard at intervals the roar Of som
lion prowling on the bank. All along tn
shore vast numbers of crocodiles bask il
the sun. Great iguanas and snakes rustl
in the dry grass. Everywhere under tn
trees are snake-skins and egg-shells above
in the branches, may be heard the constan
commotion of misehievous monkeys, Will
birds Of many kinds, eagles from gian
nests, and hosts Of 2uttering waterfowl
give ineessant animation to the scenery
Unlimited varieties fwater-plants abound
the sport Of winds and waves. ANON
them the herminicra, called by the native
ambatch, is of special importance, as ]
furnishes material for RATS, which are s
light that man can easily lift to his shoul
der one large enough to carry eight peo
pie. The weight of this fungus wood j
50 Insignificant that it suggests comparisol
to feather. The plant shoots up to fii
teen or twenty feet in height, and at it
base generally attains thickness Of abou
six inches 1t grows with great rapidit,
in the quiet water near shore, and since
roots merely in the water, whole bushe
are easily broken off by the force of tn
wind or stream, and settle themselve
afresh in other places. This is the tru
origin of the grass barriers so frequentl,
mentioned as blocking up the waters o
the Upper Nile, and in many seasons max
ing navigation utterly impracticable.
One Of the terrors for the Nile trayele
is bees At one time the adverse win,
made it necessary that DR., Schweinfurth'
boat should be towed by the crew. A
the rope was being drawn along througl
the grass on the banks it happened that /
disturbed swarm of bees. In a moment
like great cloud, they burst upon tn
men who were dragging Every one Q
them threw himself headlong into the wa
ter, and hurried to regain the boat. Tn
swarm followed them, aud in few second
filed every nook and Granny Of the decl
Without any foreboding Of in DR. Schweir
furth was sitting quietly in his rude cabil
arranging his botanical specimens, whe
he heard a scampering round the decl
which he at FIRST took to be the usual fro
licking of his people; but as the noise in
creased, he called out for an explanatio
Of the disturbance For an answer he rt
ceived only the terrific cry Of "Bees
bees r Springing up, he endeavored I