The New York herald., 1879-07-15
The Expeditions Now IN the
Dark Continent.
NEWS FROM THE EXPLORERS.
German Belgian. French, Italian Eng
Ish, Portuguese, American.
COMMODORE SHUFELDr ON The LOWER CONGO.

Probably never before in the history OF African
exploration have many different expeditions been
simultaneously engaged in penetrating the in
terror of the dark Continent at the present
time and if the success OF the explorers prove at
all equal their exertions the last white spot will
soon disappear from the map of Africa. summary
of the various expeditions now on the march must
therefore be OF interest all readers concerned with
the geographical research Of our globe.
GERHARD RoHLFs.
The only expedition which has taken the Mediter-
ranean coast for starting point is the sent out
by the African Society Berlin, under the command
OF the well known Gerhard Rohfs, full account OF
which appeared in the HERALD, of April II last.
The latest news from this explorer is follows:-
The expedition left Trpo!is on December 1s.
1878. consisting of three Europeans. two Ger
man servants. thirteen native followers and
twenty-five camels, and arrived the oasis
of Sokna which lies 600 kilometers southeast
from Tripos, at the foot OF the Black Mountains on
January "a. After six weeks stay in camp wait
ing for the German Emperors presents for the Sui
tan of Wada Rohlfs continued the march due east
to Jao, distant eighty German miles, where he
arrived in the first week OF April. He travelled to
this place by route and visited the way two
new oases, which were previously unknown. He will
now have to cross tract of sandhills, eight days
across in order to reach the oasis of Kufarah which
lies seven camels marches eighty kilometers due
south of Jalo. and has before been visited by
European. He had not yet succeeded in obtaining
guides, willing to enter the service of
Christians and he have to buy slaves acquainted
with the road. From Kufarah he intends to push
south to Wada and thence to the great bend of the
Congo.
EXPEDITIONS FROM THE COAST.
Ever since the days Of Burton, Speke and Grant
the east coast Of Africa and especially the island OF
Zanzibar has been the favorable starting point of
exploring expeditions tor the interior Cameron
and Stanley both commenced their memorable
journeys there At present there also several
petitions which have chosen Zanzibar their base.
The Belgian expedition. sent out by the Interna-
tional African Association under the presidency
the King of Belgium. has thus far been conspicuous
for the i'll luck that has attended its march. Two of
its members Captains Creepel and Macs. died
after arriving at Zanzibar Lieutenant Gambler and
Marno, the Italian traveller, then made q prelim
nary expedition far Mpwapwa. on the road to
Lake Tangsnyika. They left Saadani. January 81.
and returned to the coast March s. Marno then
turned to Egypt account Of some disagreement
and Gambler took command. On July last year
he left Bagamoyo for the interior accompanied by
DR.. Dutrieux. who has resided Cairo
for fve years physician. and 500 native
porters. On the 23d the expedition reached Mwo-
nero, when 325 of the porters deserted with great
amount Of baggage. Gambler went on with the
rest to Mpwapwa which he reached August s. and
there waited till Lieutenant wanthier. another
Der, arrived from the coast with $50 new porters.
Gambler then pushed ahead to Tabora the Arab cap
ital Of Unyanyembe. while his associates followed
slowly through Ugogo. On December 10. however.
Wanthier died of dysentery ut Hekungu. near Lake
Chaya. but DR.. Dutrieux succeeded in joining Cam
bier Tabora where the last advices report the
petition to be waiting for the end OF the rainy
season before going Oh to Lake Tanganyika Mean
while Captain Popeltn, or the Belgian general stan.
and DIR. Van Heneel have let Brussels in April
last to join and reinforce this unfortunate expe-
in the interest Of the Belgian International Asso
cation that he will either organize expedi-
ton for this society accompany the same leader
or interpreter. The general opinion. however is
that his ultimate destination will again be the Congo
He has brought with him steam launch and large
cutter well great quantity of pierced
pats for the protection of the boats while passing
through hostile regions.
third explorer who has started from Zanzibar is
the French Abbe Michel Alexandra Debaize who has
been sent out by the French government with
appropriation of $50 000 In contrast the Begians
the Able has far been highly successful. He left
Marseles April II and organized his ex oedtion
Zanzibar in less than two months. On July 25 he
left the coast and after passing the Bel
October ., without losing any baggage or a single
one OF his 400 men. On The 10th he passed through
Lake Tapganyika. $50 days from the coast Stanley,
however when searching for Livingstone. made the
same distance. with detour. IN 235 days. Debaize
now intends to establish station the rorth end
OF the lake. which he leaves i'll charge of reliable
wants lie he on to the Congo in order to found
a second station, with his remaining goods. at the
mouth OF the Aruwinli. With these two bases of
supplies he then proposes TO explore the great
ganyka. the Congo. the Aruwimi and the south end
OF the Muta Nzige Lake, which now form white
THE ENGLISH EXPEDITION
Keith Johnston, the son Of the eminent English
by the Royal Geosraphcai Society With the African
exploration fund: Having left England IN Nove7n-
ber last he reached Zanzibar January s. He irst
made short expedition to the Usambara Noun
tains north Of tho kingain River and visited Fuga.
the capital OF that country He returned to Zanzi-
bar in April. but was prevented from beginning his
expedition by exceptionally heavy rains and swollen
streams. On May Is. however. he started with l3s
followers and crossed over to Dares-SaLaafn. on the
mainland. in the Sultans steamer Star. The object
of his expedition is to roach the north end of Lake
Nyassa by and direct route from the coast, and
then explore the unknown tract between that lake ana
the souIh end of Tanganyika He started the 10Th
and intends to follow the road through Uzaramo
far ~ the Luhji and then ascend the latter by its
main branch. the Urranga. Tins route will take him
through totally unknown regions. Ho is accom-
panied by Mr.. Thomson geologi-t. and Chuma.
Livngs,ones favorte companion. is also among his
SEVERAL MISSIONARY EXPEDITIONS
have also started from the east coast The London
Messrs. Thomson and Hutley. with Mr.. Hore
scientific member. TO Lake Tangnnyika. They sue
ccedcd in reaching Ujlii on August 23, and estab-
hshed n station ON kigoma Bay three miles distant.
In October however. Rev. Thomson died of
stroke and the Rev. Penrosc. OF the church Mission
AIRY Society. while the way TO the TaEganyika,
attacked by native robbers in Ugogo slain with
sixtythrce followers. Since then the Rev. Mullins
has left England In order reorganize the Tangan-
yika station and then penetrate from the south end
of the lake to Lake Nyassa At the same time some
French Catholic missionaries. from Agers. have left
Zanzibar for the interior in order to establish sta
tions the banks of the Tanganyika and the Vic
toria Nyanza
UPPER REGIONS
have also been chosen fields of action by several
missionary and exploring expeditions. The Rev.
Wilson is still at Rubags. King Mtesa's capital of
Uganda on the Victoria Nyanza. In last August he
travelled along the west and south lake shores to
Kagahig-staniey's old canp-wherc he Mackay.
who had from Zanzibar through Unyany-
embe. The little missionary steamer. DAISY, Is now
afoat the waters of the Victoria I<ke. The other
! three members OF the Church Missionary Expedition
have by last accounts. reached Bigaf on their way
to Uganda by way OF the Nile. This place Is above
Gondokoro. and the cataracts. Tie extraordin-