The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-25
Compiled for The CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR SCIENCE NOTES.

Compiled for THE CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR SCIENCE NOTES.
A new race of Aborigines, supposed to
be from Malay stock, has been discovered
on an island called Botcl Tobago, some eighty
miles east of the cape OF Formosa. A wri-
ter from that region speaks of them as
peaceful and timid race Of people, who know
nothing Of money, rum or tobacco, but who
gave goats and pigs for tin pots and brass
buttons, and would hang around the ships
all day in their canoes, waiting for chance
to dive for something thrown overheard.
They live mainly on taro and yams,
and wear only clouts. Their dwelling
places are low thatch houses, the walls
Of which are built of heavy stones for pro-
lection from monsoons. They wear their
hair naturally, the men partly clipping
theirs, and adorn their uecks with goats
boards and small shells. Their canoes are
without nails and rather handsome in APP
peorance. They keep goats, pigs and chick
ems but make little use Of them, and alto
gether arc an ignorant, indolent and appar-
emily worthless people.
number of scientists are puzzling their
brains over the question whether or not the
South American Continent is sinking, and
naturally enough a considerable difference
of opinion exists among them. From the
barometric observations of The principal
mountains in that region Of territory, which
have been continued through more than a
hundred years, evidence is afforded Of a
gradual sinking, and this opinion is said to
prevail extensively. There are some how
ever, who, founding their theory on a com
parison of observations made at the mouth
of rivers, are equally enthusiastic in the be-
lief that the land is rising. Be it as 1t may,
the world will doubtless move onward as
usual, and its inhabitants lose but little
sleep in anxiety, in waiting for these sages
of wisdom to arrive at definite and salts
factory opinion in the matter-one in which
ali of them can concur.
| One Of the more recent uses Of the micro
with view to determine its authorship, its
genuineness, its age, and whether or not it
has been altered from its original form and
intent. The applicability Of the instrument
for this purpose can only be realized by a
trial, when it will be found that writing
can scarcely be changed, after its original
execution, so adrotly that the microscope
cannot detect the Justification. Thus in
this particular has the instrument been
found most valuable article.
WHAT is supposed to have been the first
successful attempt to ascend to the summit
of Mount Chimborazo, was accomplished
recently by a Mr.. Whymper, who reports
its height to be near 81 900 feet Three at
tempts were made by Mr.. Whymper, the
last proving successful.
Some very extensive glaciers have recent
ly been found by Mr. Whymper, on the
mountains Cayambo, Sorauscu, Cotaohchi
Chimborazo and Sincholaqua, many Of them
being as large as the largest Alpine ones
, lie states that the upper four thousand fee
of Cayambe, An'isana and Chimboraza are
almost completely enveloped by them. The
result of Mr.. Whymper's travels shows th'
5 inaccuracv of the last edition Of the Ency
{ clop@dia Britannica, which mentions thu
glacier of the mountain Altar as the only
real glacier known to exist in the Ecuador
2 ian Andes.
S The largest trees in the world are in Cali
4 fornia; the tallest in Australia. An ofiicia
+ of the forest department in Victoria, Aus
E tralia, measured not long sinceh a fallen ell
calyptus in Gippsland and found that it wa
! four hundred and thirtY-ive feet long from
the root to the highest point of the branches
But even this is exceeded by another euca
4 lyptus still standing in the Dandenong dis
r trict in Victoria, which is estimated 10 b
c four hundred and fifty feet from the grount
I TO the top.
f A report recently made to the Frencl
Academy of Scientists, by gentleman VIII
has been experimenting during the pas
i three years, shows that the application q
u sulphide of Carbon as a cure fer the philox
y era has proved thoroughly successful, beside
being highly beneficial to the vines, and nc
damaging to the productiveness of soil. Th
n discovery is considered most valuable on,
g An exchange says that house built i
n 1889 still stands in, Dedham, Mass, and
l. the Oldest in New England. 1t is beaut
g fully situated under heavily branching elm
a with a moss covered roof Much of III
/ original furniture, two hundred and fort
e. years Of age, still remains aud has oeen i
d the possession Of one family, named Fai
y banks, during all of that time.
I During the past few years, the productio
y Of nickle in Norway has assumed great in
5 portance, there being already some twent,
|" five extensive mines in successful operation
VI The largest par. OF the yield is exported
ID the crude ore to all parts of the civiliz,
az world, while the rest Is reduced on the spC
The efficiency oI the electric light in nav
Z operations was put to It practical test, reeen
10 ly, on board two vessels Of the British nav
~ at Gibraltar, with gratifying success.
"A ---
m Our Washington letter.