The New York herald., 1878-09-26
CENTRAL AFRICA.
From tho London Times, Sept. al

From the London Times, Sept. l4.l
The following interesting letter, showing tho
progress by Colonel Gordon In his mission, has
been received by Sir Samuel Baker from gentleman
IN the Khedive's service:-
kHAETouM August 4, 1878.
DEAR SIR SAMUEL received your KIND letter OF
the goth Oh April. and IT gave me much pleasure as
you still take in everything connected with the Sou
dan and the Equai oria provinces.
Since l last wrote 10 you Colonel Gordon arrived
here, and with him lie came into everything ard
everybody at this otherwise dull place. He IS stiiI
here and II nothing serious happen in other parts or
the Soudan requiring his presence boheve ne wiii
remain here now.
you brought OUT and which, through years OF negii-
gence, had nearly become useless, have now under
gone thorough repair and are IN as good condition
as when they were new The new arsenal, which IS
at tho place where you had two sorehouses built, Is
really hno establish men where they turn out work
that years ago would have believed It would
take Kha:toum nifty years more to accomplish You
gues and boilers, which, If am right, you intended
to be fitted INTO Sund-wood nugsers believe Colonel
Gordon will have two boats built OF the same size
as Bordain, the hull OF iron plates. Plenty OF mate
rial Is here ana better workmen tnan the Arabs and
negroes, the best OF whom have been trained by your
men al Gondokoro could not be found for the work.
Tho Khedive you put together AT Gondokoro was
last year taken to pieces again, transported up
Duff, put together again. and is now at the Albert
Lake. The ilttle steamer Nyanza has proved ell
cicnt enough, though II Is very useful tor the commu
nication between Duff and Magargo.
The most Interesting piece or news since ! last
to you is the safe arrival OF SIX elephants
Dua, Some years ago the Khedve had been made u
present of Ave elephants from India and. as they
nearly eating their heads of IN ideness at Cairo,
Colonel Gordon suggested having them taken up TO the
Equator, together with one smaller African elephant,
IRON the Gizerch Gardens. They went in charge OF
some Indians up to Assuan, whore Mr.. Rosset took
them on 10 kharLoum, Halta Dougola and
Bayuda desert. AT Mudurman they swan ncross the
White Nne and have there been employed Tor some
months IN amusing the people OF Khartoum. When
Colonel Gordon here las. time ho commissioned
Mr. Marco, Dalmatan. who mad already proved
himself very active and uSef ul at the So
bat. where was stationed for some time, to
take than TO Lado Mr. Marco returned here
lew days ago anu gave very interesting descrip-
lud ians anu some negro soldiers, who had already
been trained here to attend to the elephants in the
middle OF February. The expedition went along the
eastern banks OF the White Nile until they came op-
poste helist Kuko, where they swan across the river
without more trouble than IL would take 10 row
boat across, the men being on top of the elephants.
From Hcet kaka they went on TO Fashoda, where
they remained tor twentyseven days. as the Indians
had had enough OF the White Nile. When the negro
soldiers had received thor finishing touches in at
tend,ng to their charges the expedition went along
The western banks through the Snilock country until
they opposite the SobaI There they swain the
more, landing little TO tho south OF the
junction oil the Scbat with the White Me.
Now the great march across tho country from the
Sobat 10 Bahr commenced, piece Of ground not
yet traversed by anybody, Arab or European. 1t
took them ,hirty-ono days TO reach Bahr, and they
suffered much on this route. They only took provs-
tons TOR twenty days, depending on the natives on
the way. This was however, q mistake, as the
people all away when they saw men riding on
elephants, beeving, suppose the oeVIt himself mad
appeared IN their country. Tney swan many chors
and lakes, and reached at last Bahr whore they got
fresh supplies. From Bahr TO Lado they took ten
days more where they remained on the eastern
banks, They went alter some time 10 Duff where
the elephants employed In carrying all kinds
OF heavy goode.
The whole affair is really, besides very Interesting
also very impoi tant, and ought to find due apprcca
ton III African geographical circles ana pray make
any OF THIS letter think proper. Three points
arc certain now--the Indian elephant can live
Africa; IL need not be led in the luxurious manner
that Is thought Indispensable IN lndia and Indian
attendants not required.
The chief obstacle to African explorers s procuring
porters who would these II he had fifteen
or twcDtv oiephnntsY may be little 100 cnthusi-
astic about the matter, but from all hear from Mr.
Marco really think Africa might have been explored
hundred years ago with the AID OF Indian elephants
Al least AS to say that ID expeditions
where money not so much the object for instance,
expeditions Ike Lucas, Stancy's, &c.-eiephanis
ought in future to be employed.
kmir Efondi (Dr. SchwitZer) bss boon appointed by
Colonel G0rion Governor oil the Equatorial vince
This OF the best moves OF Colonel Gordon, os
Emr Eiendt Is now thoroughly acquainted with the
country he has govern and Is in every respect n
ted for bis position.
Some OF Mtess,'s people hcre at present to see
Colonel Gordon, ana when they return again
TO their country, M'tess ought 10 be
friendly disposition OF the Egyptian government tok
put all kinds OF nonsense into Mtessis head about
tho designs OF Egypt Tho missionaries their
way to Uganda VIA tho Nile will arrive hero from
Bahr day or two. They will be Joined by Mr..
Buchter, German photographer, and all OF them
will leave with Mtessi's people In about week Tor
Lado.
Gessis and Malencts expedition TO discover the
Marquis Antpori at Katfa mas miserabIy tailed, as,
indeed, anybody might have predicted.
There are u; present lour young hppopotam hero;
they were caught together with four Others In the
Bahr Ut Gazail -Four have died on the way down for
Of mix, but the Others arc quite well jolly