The Portland daily press., 1877-06-15
The Woodruff Scientific Expeditton

Ino WOOQruU Sclentnic EXPEDITION.
A curious voyage round the world, or bet
ter stated voyage by curious people, is that
to be made by the Woodruff Scientific Expe-
diton. The plan of travel is now arranged
and the expedition will leave New York in
the steamship City of Merida the first Of Oc-
tober of the present year. Its purpose is to
visit points of general and special interest on
route around the globe, to study the arts,
archaeology and present condition of the bet.
ter known countries, and the geology, geogra-
ply, fauna and fora, as well as the history
and character of the people Of those less
known, and to make collections in the vari-
Gus departments of science. To this end the
expedition will be absent two years, and will
afford opportunities for seeing the greater
part of the world under far more favorable
circumstances and at less expense than could
possibly be done on smaller scale or by in
dividual enterprise. 1t is believed, too, that
the expedition will enable schools, colleges
and museums to form collections to greater
extent and at less cost than has been hitherto
possible.
A systematic course OF instruction will be
arranged and closely followed as soon as
practicable after the boat leaves New York.
The faculty will be composed of men of estab-
lished reputation as teachers and investiga-
tors in the various branches in their charge,
and will have entire direction of the educa-
tional work and the scientific examinations
which the expedition is primarily intended to
assist. One of the faculty is Professor Bur.
G..Wider of Cornell, well known in this
State. Including the faculty, officers, students
and crew there will be about two hundred
persons on the steamship. The expenses
are paid from the membership fees of stu
dents. The vessel will be under charge of
Commander John W. Philip of the United
States Navy, assisted by other officers of The
Navy. The plan receives the warm endorse
nent of men like Profs. Gray, Dona, Yer
rill, Henry and others.
Leaving New York on the first of October
the Expedition proceeds at once to st. Thorn.
as and the Barbados, to enjoy the tropical
scenery in its finest season. The next point
will be the Island of Maraio, at the mouth of
the Amazon, where time will be given to ex-
anime the mounds containing antique pot
terry. Leaving the Amazon, Rio de Janeiro,
Buenos Ayres and Montevideo will be touched
at, and by December the steamship will be
passing through the wild gorges of the Straits
of Magellan. Valparaiso is the next point,
and thence the voyage is to the Society and
Navigator's Islands and other groups of the
great Polynesian Archipelago. Australia
will be the next stopping place, and thence
the expedition goes to Japan. There the
course turns back to the Flowery Kingdom
and up the great Yangtsze Kiang. From China
the ship sails to the East indies, and visits
Celebes and Borneo, and Java. From these
it goes to the Malay Peninsula, and from the
Peninsula to Calcutta, which point it is the
intention to reachiin February 1879. From
Calcutta to Bombay, from Bombay up the
Persian Gull, Thence back through the Gate
of Tears, the length of the Red Sea to the
Isthmus OF iSuez, is the remainder of the
course tosthe. Mediterranean Egypt and the
Nile up to the first cataract, visiting the
Pyramids, aud Memphis, Thebes, Luxor,
and Karnak, will next occupy the attention
of the Expedition. From, Alexandria the
route will turn to the coast of Asia again, and
visit will be made to Jerusalem. Return
ing to the ship the voyagers will visit the
Egean, roam about Greece, then go to Italy.
Passing through the Straits of Gibraltar
Spain and France will be visited. From
Cherbourg the steamship goes to Plymouth,
and remains there.untl it starts on its home
voyage in October 1879. From all the sea.
ports at which it touches, expeditions will be
made into the interior of the countries. Such
is the outline of an Expedition which will, if
it fulfils the hopes of its projectors, be of in
calculable benefit to science