The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-23
WHAT EXPLORERS ARE DOING.
Among the proofs of the interest I

Among the proofs OF the interest now
taken in geographical studies may be named
the founding OF several new magazines and
journals specially devoted to the record Of cur
rent travel and exploration. One of these is n
monthly. LEspiordtore, issued at Milan, which
appears to resemble in scope the older Italian
periodical. Cosmos. which. under the guidance
OF signor Cora. has acquired u reputation. An
other geographical organ has been started at
Halle by Profs. Krchhoff and Won Fritsch, the
latter communicating an account OF his journey
through the mountain region OF Morocco.
From these and other sources. and especially
from DR.. Kiepcrts weekly. Globus. we collect
some items of importance bearing on the pres
cnt work Of explorers.
There are signs that the new maritime route
to Siberia opened by Nordcnskiold is to be
turned to practical account. During the latter
part Of the summer the screw steamer Frazer.
loaded with tobacco. sugar. and machinery. was
despatched from Brcmerhavcn to the Ycnissei.
The commend of tho vessel was given TO a man
~ largo experience In polar voyages. Capt
Dallman. who In 1874 explored Graham Land.
lying south OF Cape Horn. The Frazer was to
coal Mt Hammerfest. and take on board pilot
familiar with the Nova Zembln waters, and VINO
had accompanied Nordenskiod in both of his
expeditions. II appears that Englshmen also
have undertaken to test the availability Of tho
route for commercial purposes. The London
Trade Improving Company. renewing scheme
of enterprise abandoned since tho sixteenth
century. has sent out the steamer Louisa. Capt.
Tcgencr. with load of conl and petroleum.
She Is to make the mouth Of the Oh. and IL pos
sibe 20 on up the river to Tobolsk We may
add. that according TO the Journal de 81 Pliers
boug Of Aug. %. five sailing vessels and tug
boat were being fitted out at Troms0 for the ac-
count Of the Russian Government. This fotilla
was to convey building material. clothing, and
provisions to Nova Zcmbla. the intention being
to erect half dozen houses on the island. and
settle there a corresponding number of Sumoy-
cd families II is hoped that in time this col
ony may become useful halfway station on
the trade route to the Oh and Ycnissei.
BY way OF Tashkent. some advices have been
received from Capt. Kuropatkin, who has been
travelling through Kashgar Kurla. where
Yarub Khan died. although it IL not found ON
any map. appears to be- an important city stu
ated in fine oasis. whose inhabitants maintain
n consid tri,ble foreign trade. karaschar. on
the other hand. which * represented ON all our
maps Of central Asia-on Schuylcrs. for exam
pleas a great emporium. turns out to be an
insgniilcan village. garrisoned 10y half a dozen
men. Several other errors are corrected by
kur"patkin. who says in general Of eastern
kashgnr that, Notwithstanding the natural fer
Unity OF it, numerous oascs. tho country Ia
almost hoprlcssly ruined bv war. and will prove
u worthless conquest to the Chinese We also
hear from Tashkent that DR.. 4. Regcl. u travel
Ter Of ilrst-rate scientific requirement. is now
engaged in exploring Kuldja. II part of east
crn Turkstan almost wholly unknown to Euro
pcan geographcrs. kuldIa IL the province
which the Russians occupied in order to secure
10 t.... 4
by treaty TO surrender to the commander of the
present Chinese expedition.
Cons iderable att nton has been directed from
time to time to Dir. L. Holubs travels in South
Africa. and particularly to his exploration Of
the middle course of the Zambcsi. During the
past summer he has communicated the news
paper called the Diamond Fieli, printed at
Kimberley in West Griqua Land. detailed ac-
counts Of his observations in that quarter. He
describes the Victoria Falls. and the neighbor-
ing region. the native settlement Of Seschcke
on the Zambcsi. and the residence of its chief
and adds some historical notes about the race OF
the Makololo. now almost entirely extinct DR..
Holub seems to have discovered some remark
able salt beds. and he entirely confirms the
statements OF Cameron and Young regarding
the active participation Of Portuguese mer-
chants as well us half-castcs in the slave trade
bered, has been repeatedly repealed by the Por-
tugucse Government.
From Australasia we have news Of the Dutch
expedition to Sumatra During the past spring
and summer ii has travcrscd the island from
ives, TO east. and explored a large tract Of coum-
try lying TO the north Of padang. 1t is under
stood that this expedition is preliminary 10
settlement and occupation on "A large scale. the
absorption Of this great island in the Dutch
East Indian empire having for some time been
urgently pressed upon the authorities at Bata-
via. Meanwhile the Australian coonisis are
discussing the annexation OF New Guinea and
the exploration of the latter island is steadily
going forward. Signor dAlbertis writes from
Somerset. on Torres strait that he is about TO
cross over on the steamer Ncva 10 the Fly river
whose course II will be remembered. he re-
Gently followed Tor several hundred miles. His
present object il To trace the several continents
Of that river west and enst, and investigate
somewhat carefully the region watcred by them.
This voyage. whose results should be impor-
tant, will occupy about eight months