The daily gazette., 1880-02-24
The Dark Continent.
ITALIAN ExPLoRERs PASS TERbUGH
Il. EGYPT ON THEIR WAY TO AIaxfCA.

| h0LET VG lhnA6 W N ~ NAAshNAs
CAIRO, Feb. 90, 1sS0.-Professor
Matteucci and Prince John Borghese
have arrived here on their voyage of
African exploration. AS far as Alex
andria they came on q vessel belong
ing to the Italian government, which
has subventioned the expedition at the
request of the Geographical Society
They are accompanied by Lieutenant
Alfonso Massari, who has been furn-
ished by the Italian Minister of Ma
rine with q set Of novel instruments
for meteorological and astronomical
observations. The first steps have
been taken toward establishing way
side stations for travellers at Ousaga-
ra, a mountainous country to the north
of the Roubeho hills, leading out Of
the Desert Of Bitter Water. They are
the idea Of the French Committee Of
the International African Association,
who desire that travellers may have
some place to recruit their caravans,
engage porters, and seek information
about the locality, and it is hoped that
in a little time they win be self-sus-
tanning and will so far clear the roads
of robbers and marauders as to give a
new impetus to African exploration
The German committee of the same
association is also building a station
between Zanzibar and Lake Tangany-
ka. Many of the transport difficulties
which Speke, Grant and Stanley en-
countered will thus be obviated, and
substantial assistance will be rendered
to the second Belgian expedition,
which is now on the march under the
leadership of M. Poplin.
THE ROYAL BELGIAN ELEPHANT Ex
PEDITION.
News of the Royal Belgium Ele-
phant Expedition has been received,
dated from Unyanyembe, November,
1879. II reports the steady, but not
rapid, progress of the caravan toward
its destination on the Lake Tangan-
yika. The elephant expedition has
been greatly retarded in its progress
since its amalgamation with the expe-
dition under M. Poplin at Mpwapwa,
and the march Of the elephants
from Dar-es-Salaam to Mpwapwa,
through hilly and unknown country,
was far more rapid than that along the
regular route from Mpwapwa, to UNI
yanyembe since they Joined the other
party. The news Of the elephants has
spread far and wide, and has done
more to impress the native mind in
favor of the white race than anything
previously undertaken. They feel the
utmost veneration and awe for people
who have mot only tanned the ele
phant, but taught him to speak r.
The chiefs of the villages passed
through set aside their accustomed
dignity and rush out with the vulgar
herd tosee the last sensation, and while
yet great way off messengers come
running into the camp of the weary
travellers with request from the i'm.
patient monarch of some village ahead
that they will "hurry up" as he has
heard of their coming a long while
5 nee, and cannot wait longer. Mo,
rombo, the great robber chief, has senl
his good will and congratulations tt
the expedition, with some substantial
presents. On the new lake Tangan
yika station a grand elephant captur-
ing hunt will be undertaken. aided by
a neighboring chief and some thret
hundred experienced elephant slayers
whose knowledge and pluck are to b,
turned in this instance to more usefu
| account. 80
| IL Is suggested on the best authority
that in all PROBABILITY wild elephant
would be met with much nearer the coas
than l. Ike Tanganyika and in the CALI
lAmd, but some exploring would b,
necessary, in the first case, of the coun
try inlaEd f ON Dar-es-Salaam or Kilwa
and the permission Of tue Galla's chief.
in the other. In a recent walk FRI n
Dar-es-Salaam to Beho- Beho, about ons
hundred miles from the coast, whore Mr.
Keith Johnston died, large herds o.
game were seen, numbering many thou
sands, including one wild elephant, twf
lions and an aggressive leopard that al
midday seized small dog, aud bad u
be shot in the face with small shot-al
that was handy-to make him retire
The country between Dar-es-Salaam ant
Niyassi is spoken of as a waterless trac
In the dry season and spongy march II
the wet, intersected by steep and stony
hills, very sparsely inhabited, thougl
Beho-Beho is large village pleasant,
situated. Mr.. Thomson's successful
march from Dar-es-Salaam to LAX
Tanganyika is a matter for congratula
tion, as giving information regarding
portion of the country hitherto unknown
No doubt the success that has ATTENDED
Mr.. Thomson's march from Dar-es-Sa
laam to the Lake Tanganyika Is In
great measure due to the invaluable ser
vices rendered to the expedition b
"Chuma," the old and faithful servant @
DR.. Livingston, who was with him at hl
death and brought his body to England
anil who is acting as guide and inter
l 4 ha ,xarfu