The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-08
A New English Project for a Thorough
Examination of the Continent.
SEVEN DIFFERENT EXPEDITIONS.
Preparations for Increasing the Means OF
Internal Communication.
From the saturday Revtex, July al


Germany. Austria, Denmark, Portugal and England
invited to join. We not acquainted
with tho precise details OF tho plan, nor
arc certain whether the liability OF this
Joint stock company was to DO 'nmlted,"
or how far tho proceedings OF geographical soce-
tics were to held binding tho respective govern
ments to which the individual members belonged
Bus TO any accustomed TO deal with political
picston and contingencies 1t must have been obvious
that such partnership had In It cvery conceivable
element OF disorder and 1t Is necessary
discuss tho checks that might have boon devised 10
prevent obvious national entanglemonts, because
tho proposal cmanatng IRON most philan-
thropic motives, fell stillborn to tho ground.
II mas now, however, been revived
another shape under tho auspices Of the Royal Geo
graphical Society, the council Of which body state
with significant emphasis, that tho exploration will
be eacctually prosecuted by England, and the
necessary funds more readily obtained through
t,ona enterprise than by international association"
Wo gather from certain papers tina. tho outline and
objects Of this scheme follows-That the Geo
graphical Society intend TO assist by grant from
their own income and by other support AFRICAN
Exploration Fund ito DO devoted Sir r. Acock puts
it, 10 "the scientific examination of Atrica--,nc
physical features aud tho best the
INTERIOR" and so on, and invite all Englishmen to
subscribe to the fund.
sEvFN EXPEDITIONS TO START.
No less than Expeditions to be organized
which shall explore or examine seven distinct routes
This number has doubt, an irresistible charm
Tho FIRST party 10 start from tho gold fields in
South Africa, north OF the Lmpopo but south
OF the zambcs, and passing by the south
extremity Of Lake rancanylka, is
to end at Uuyanycmbc. The second somewhat
parallel the first, marches from point not far from
tho mouth of the zambcsl and going over he high
lands OF the coast range passes tho snow capped Kill
mangajo aud Mount Kenia, and is TO end at
point on the Equator. The third rou,e compara-
lively line, beginning al tho coast about latitude
deg. SOUTH and terminating at the northern ond of
Lake Nyassa; ana the fourth Is nero continuation Of
No 8, and IL Intended 10 connect the northern end
Of Lake Nyassa with tho most southern part OF Lake
Tanganyika Zanzibar Will form The starting point OF
No 5, and its course VIII BIO represented by limo
dr.. Wn from that island northwesicrly direction
the south Of the Victoria Nyanza and thence TO the
most northern part OF Lake Taneanyika BY the
sixth, waich TO leave Mombasa tho coast, limo
No. viii BIO cut at right angles Just north of kiman-
gsJo, while tho terminus viii be the southeastern
ner OF the Victoria Niyanza. No. is very like No. O.
Tho expedition would leave Formosa on tho
coast, pass to the south OF Mount Kenia
shore OF Lake Victoria A rough calculation estimates
the expense at thirty shilhngs mile, though II Is
canddiy admitted that IN some cases the expenses will
be lust double Mono OF the distances IN
these several routes In less than 400 than
1000 mios, and the total to DC traversed 1900
in the Of Indian estimates, may pc prudent 10
double this amount and 10 add len per cent Tor
|
not be moro than few thousand pounds wide Of his
mark
This scheme il may he admitted 10 plausibly drawn
up aud II further justified by several considerations
which Will probably receive tho assent oil the pubic
Some tracts 10 DO travorscd arc healthy, and range
from 900 TO 1000 feet IN height above the level
Others so lar hopeful as having been partially
plored. Others, again. possess the attraction with
which the unknown is invested. In most parts, II is
to be hoped the explorers may get quickly out OF tho
region Of malaria, and may not be attacked by
Ia ofprrib 10 v.
made rough tracks and there hopes OF camels
horses, which would render tho travellers less de-
ponden; ON Maynard and cowardly porters. In Short
the programme OF operations. us skctched out,
presents moro attractions and much fewer DIFF
ncultics than an Arctic expedition, aud IS
likely 10 DO attended with solid and valuable
results than dreary winterings In darkness ana leo
petitions designed Africa Its fertile regions
to some profit II shame that, In these times
when hear much Of the comfy Of nations, that
continent should contribute rs little to he worlds
history ms II II belonged to another planet And the
projectors who map out vast mountains or Jungy
tracts ruled by barbarous monarchs seem calm aud
busn like us II they were contemplating of
branch railways IN an English colony, ana were only
waiting for the sanction OF Parliament TO begin
work. IL appears that the Council has intention OF
applying The Chancellor OF the Exchequeitr grant
from Treasury; that tho aust DO betrayed by
voluntary subscriptions from The British public; that
tho proposed Is ut first merely oil inquiry,
poraton and survey and that no ono VII DO sent out
who cannot be to surmount physical obsaces
to concatc suspicious rulers ana To dsarm the prcu-
hostility Of tmid or fcrocious tribes.
DIFFICULTIES IN TfE WAY.
But such pioneers. however energetic and sagacous,
must their chance OF surprises, complications,
xpected reverses, hidden snarcs That all OF
climate DO endured by Engshmen mako
doubt There are indeed, lew parts of the universe
thrive; and score OF our countrymcn would
be long together at any station between
Gondokoro and tho zs'nbosi without lcve'IIng
a space for cricket ground and preparing
a racecoursc for Central African swecpssaKcs A
land where native populations can increase aud Arab
traders carry traffic IN human flesh VIII DO
buried to the adventurous Englishman and the tri-
umphs air ady gained by our countrymcn justify
as 10 concluding that tho brothers spoke may lost
signt tor months, and evon years. Ia the heart OF
Africa, aud then rcappear Ia undlmin vlgor
aud influence extended jealous triDcs
10 collect accurate geographical data; 10 bring
home ivory, skins and feshcrs TO add TO tho botaui
cal Knowledge OF the world; to take the hcghis of
and the depths Of rivers and lakes regis
rain gauges aud Thermometers; 70 photograph ex-
quse bits Of scenery, picturesque groups OF natives
monarchs and waddiing qucensali this, II may
be urged Is perfectly simple. easy aud iesitmate. The
explorers require neither escorts or cavalry SIX
FOUNDERS. they 30 the harbiugors OF peace, and
not the heralds o. aggression, and Will
not. other nations, rapacious, extortionalc
trailckcrs In human flesh; and will thus be the means
OF gradually opening up rich division OF the universe
which untIi lew years ago had been shroudcd
darkness that nad concealed It from tho nquirng
active mind OF Horodotua tr
INCREASING MEANS or COMMUNICATION.
But, as we read It's Intont,ons the council Of the
society will not strictly limit itself exploration
Hopes are already expressed that roads will suppant
tracks There Is vague hut Of future
Railroads; and there Is very clear, com
pots and defined proposal which would
unto Egypt and south Africa, khartoum and
Deagoa Bay by The teegraphc wire 1t Is also stated
that the Geographical Society "wi not conhnc thor
operations TO the furtherancc Of expeditions under
their entire control but evil be wiling consider
the propr'ey OF assigning grant aid good
geographical results IRON any expedition, whether
missionary commerciai.v We confess to be yet
hardly prepared Tor u consignment OF piece goods or
moral pocket bnndKeftnicfs TO Casembes Commons.
IL Is quite cicar however, That these enterprises may
tend In some shape or other TO the permanent
occupation OF part OF the country and, without wish
Ing TO impusn motives 10 damp iorvor, or to dscour
age subscription FOR grand national object, II 10
necessary TO point out some Of the dangers which
South African enterprise may commit individuals,
societies, the nation and the government. tcle-
graphic line prosumos stations at intervals, with res-
dences plots Of land and Engshmep OCCUPY them
To 20 force would cost money and might be mssun-
derstood. 10 leave two or three siguallors az q
lonely post hundred miles tho interior might
bc TO expose them 10 insult or aggression. Not long