The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-09

worthless quarantine which was main
tanned by the Administration officials Mt
the Mississippi river station was the sole
cause of the introduction of yellow fever
into the United states in that year. The
quarantine officer was only dismissed from
Office long after all tie mischief was done,
and when the facts could no longer be SUP
pressed.
The United States should take the initia-
tive in procuring the necessary sanitary re-
form in the Spanish West Indian seaports.
New Explorations in South Africa.
1t must be acknowledged that some
famous English jewellers are more con-
spicuous for fortitude aud daring than for
wide scientific requirement. Not seldom
q lively description OF trivial incidents
and the surface aspect Of savage life is the
only fruit of opportunities which trained
and equipped intellect might have turned
TO weighty account. Until recent period
II would have been deemed preposterous
to exact from the professional explorer an
intimate knowledge OF geology, botany,
and natural history, together with an ef-
fective command of meteorological aud to-
biographical data. But since the Germans
have seriously entered upon this field OF
research, public opinion has undergone a
change. We have learned 10 estimate the
qualifications Of travel AT their right mag
uitude, and to insist that distinction shall
be purchased by achievements of solid
value. The earnest, scientific spirit which
is beginning 10 characterize exploration is
w oil N trnf n n al
work performed by "a German physician,
region of South Africa.
the laborious and far-reaching iuvesti-
cations undertaken by DR. HoBUL, and
which have already consumed more than
year, are not ye, completed nor is the
present wher eabouts OF the traveller ex-
actly known. From time to time brief
summary of his observations has been
communicated TO a newspaper printed at
Kimberley, IN the diamond fields tile
Diamond Notcs and Griqidldnd West Gov
ernnont Gd.ette-and quite recently DR..
PETERMANN, the well-known geographer,
received a more copious and elaborate re-
port. Some interesting information NAV
be gathered from these sources respecting
Dr.. HoBUL's plan was o ex plore the coun-
try from the diamond diggings to the head
waters Of the Zambesl, reaching the river
at some foTdable point near its source. and
thence, after II careful study of that region
TO traverse the interior 10 the western
OF eastern coast. He left the from tier town
OF Dutotspan in tho beginning OF March.
$50, and reached Moiloa some thirtJ days
later. From the outset he seems 10 have
given close attention to geological struc-
ture, the nature Of the soil and Of ore for
mauon, the number and direction OF water
courses, and to have diligently amused
collections of minerals. insects, and plants.
The last part Of his route had lain through
the Marco valley, OF which he speaks in
very commendatory terms my re-
Searches he says, Tin the Marico country
have convinced me that tins must ulti-
mately become the richest district of the
Trausvaal Republic, not in mineral wealth
alone, but especially by virtue OF its ex-
traordinary fertility. The superliuity Of
springs and rivers cannot fail to insure il a
brighter future than awaits the gold and
demonstrating regions further south"
The next stage of DR.. IloBUI's journey
covered nearly four hundred miles be-
tween Moiloa and Shoshong. In the
tract beyond tho MARCO river, named
Bushfeld by the Hollanders, he found
numerous abandoned settlements and
mines, formerly worked, the vcstiges. in
his Judgment, of the so-called Nashua
tribe, which seems TO have refrigerated in
civil cation, and 10 have retreated into the
interior. The geological formation Of
Bushfeld is one which recurs frequently
in the Transvaal State-gray limestone,
tcldspar, and quartz Interspersed with ex-
teusive deposits OF iron ore This district
abounds in wild animals, including rare
Ms well as familiar species, but it is Prob
able that hereafter il will afford less scope
TO the hunter, since DR.. HoBUL encoun-
tered detachments of Dutch omgrants in
caravans with thousands of neat cattle
and sheep. These Hoilanders were on
their way to tho Damara country where
they proposed TO found new republic,
From ShOshong the course of the ex-
petition was directed TO the PRnda-ma-
Tenka, n tributary OF the zambosi river,
and the intervening distance Of 600 miles
was traversed in lees than month. II il
tins portion OF HODuL LIS travels which the
report sent to Dr. PETERMANN describes,
and his account OF n region rarely visited
by Europeans presents some novel aud
Characteristic features. The southern sec
ton of this district was conspicuous for
vast nexus of colossal salt beds, some
OF which were ten and twenty miles
long. interpreted with these, as might
a. XnGftpn -nIt t,.l
were encountered, exhibiting diverse stages
OF the process of evaporation, Tho soil
here is everywhere imprcgnaied with sa-
lire particles, and even the water of APP
parently fresh springs and rivers has
bracklsh taste Naturally the vegetation is
sparse and weak, limited for the most part
10 stiff, wirysedge, low bushes, and sunted
trees. Equally deficient In animal life,