Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-05
Progress of Explorations in Africa.

LETTERS from Egypt of late give very
encouraging accounts of the progress
making by the Khedive's officers in eX-
ploring and opening up the interior of
Africa TO civilization and commerce. Col.
Long, the young American officer who
made himself so famous by his daring and
successful expedition to M'tesa, and who
has since made other equally successful
explorations, has returned to Cairo, bring
ing back five natives of different tribes,
together with many curious war weapons
and implements, showing the different
degrees of civilization attained. He gives
a most graphic account of his adventures
and discoveries, and may be expected
soon in Europe to make preparations for
other explorations which are to be in
trusted to him to penetrate further into.
the heart of Africa under the Khedive'S
| auspices. Seven steamers now ply be
tween Khartoum and Ragaff, above which
the rapids render the Nile unnavigable
| The distance between Khartoum and
Gordon's headquarters is more than 900
| miles. He has established lines of posts
so as to keep his communication open,
and has made peace with the tribes with
whom Baker was at war, adrOitly availing
himself Of Abou Saood Bakers bette aoSl)
in the first place, and then Diminishing
him, thus checking the slave-trade most
etfectually by turning its instruments to
other uses. Gordon has proved a great
success, and his occupation Of the coun-
| try has cost the Government nothing, as
he has made it self-sustaining by the prod
uce he has sent to Cairo Col Purdy
| ian American officer in the Khedive's
| service) has reached the capital of Darfur,
and reports that there is plenty of water
| in the Nile between that point and the
point of his departure, SO that the obstacle
which baffled Baker seems no longer to
exist. Capt. ColstOn (also an American
officer IS pushing on probably into the
interior by another route; while Mitchell,
the geologist Of the Gordon expedition.
who is not far from KEENAN,, between the
Nile and the Red Sea, has discovered two
gold mines, formerly worked in ancient
times, the shafts still open. He reports
that with modern appliances one of these
shafts could be successfully and profitably
worked; what percentage of gold he has
found has not been made public. In fact,
the energetic Khedive, seconded by
equally energetic officers, is pushing ex-
plorations and Investigations of all kinds
into this terra S1c0gn5ta with a success
equal to his efforts.
Germany is even now working along
| the western coast of Africa; France is or
ganizing an expedition from Senegal;
Stanley is pushing on from the eastern
coast, and the dream of the heroic Living
stone seems at last in process Of speedy full
| fillment Even Portugal, ever mindful of
old memories and earlier explorations, is
| striving to retain her foothold by new
| treaties with the Sultan of Zanzibar, whose
putative possessions greatly exceed his
actual authority, for Portugal has already
possessions in his neighborhood and the
capacity of extending them. Four Euro
pean powers have successfully established
themselves on the western coast Of Africa
the Dutch, the Portuguese, the French
and the English For 235 years the Dutch
flag fioated over the fort Of Elmina, on
which Maurice of Nassau placed 1t IN
1887, after which it was abandoned.
France has long held Senegal, and En-
gland Sierra Leone and the adjacent de
tendencies, and Portugal since 14l5 has
been an African landhOlder, still holding
Lower Guinea. But, with justice, this
region has been considered the un
healthiest on the globe while the Nile
basin. with cultivation and civilization, is
capable of becoming a garden, according
IN the more recent accounts of It's explor-
ers. England has had, and still has, her
representative men in this mighty work of
onening Africa to the light of religion and
civilization What Livingstone com
menced. and Cameron continued, Baker
and Gordon have helped to complete
Lo,,don Daily Neaos.
THE Colorado Agricultarist and Lire
Stock Journal of Denver has been swal-
Il.