New-York tribune., 1881-08-25
A CRUISE ROUND THE WORLD.


FLAG INTO UNFAMILIAR WATERS.
The arrival in this port on Monday of the Uniteu
States soop- Of TicOnderoga completed cruise
of more than ordinary length and Importance Inc
Ticonderoga, flying the flag OF Commodore Schu-
feldt sailed from Hampton Roads on December z,
1878 for voyage around the world and into waters
where the American flag is seldom or seen.
The Commodore was intrusted by the Government
with diplomatic powers. and was appointed umpire
in the Commission of English and Liberians which
was irving to settle the question of the Northern
boundary of Liberia The vessel has been com
manded during the cruise by Commander Bartlett
!. Cromwell. In conversation with TRIBUNE
porter yesterday, the Commander said:
"On leaving Hampton Roads went directly to
ths African coast. After short stop at the
Madeira and Cape Verd Islands, we
proceeded to Sierra Leone and thence to
Solyma, where the Boundary Commission held
its meetings. The boundary question is as follows:
About thirty years ago the English established
trading post the coast in close proximity to the
the Liberian boundary line, if not, as the Liberians
assert within it. An Englishman named Harris
took charge of the place and converted it into
an almost independent principality, of which
he is the head. He conciliated the
tive chiefs who owned the neghboring
land by marrying their female relatives
by the dozen and receiving the chiefs with
royal honors whenever they visited his settle
ment By these means he soon gained an ascendency
over them and purchased for nominal price all
the surrounding country, which Immediately passed
under the British protection. Harris established
the port of Solyma and the British steamers plying
up and down the coast made it port of entry,
stopping there for oil and other exports of the
country and entirely ignoring Monrovia This
caused all the trade to flow toward Solyma. The
Liber1au Government claimed the land on whichthe
port Of SOlyma was located and demanded that reVe-
nueshould be paid to it, They even seized some mer-
chantmen in the harbor and took them to Monro-
via Two British gunboats proceeded to Monrovia.
and not only compelled the return of the vessels,
but exacted an indemnity for their seizure. Then
the Liberian Government made demand on Great
Britain for the land occupied by Harris and the
turn of the indemnity money mixed commission
was appointed. and Commodore Schufeldt ap-
pointed umpire by the United States Government.
When the commission met at Solyma Harris
moned all theneighboriug chiefs to swear that they
had decided the land to the English and gathered to-
gether three thousand of his followers completely
over-awiug the Liberians. We were detained three
months by the business of the Commission. and it
amounted to nothing after ALL the British Com
missioners would not yield iota, and the British
fac still floats at Solyma.
"We went down the coast after leaving Soyma
and visited all the principal trading stations.
At Saint Paul de Loanda the officers
and began to snffer from the
African fever, and set sail for ST. Helena On the
board. Only one resulted fatally, however. and
that was in the case of hoy who was already sick
from other causes. As soon as the health of the
of Africa. Arriving at Madagascar found a
splendid harhor on the southeastern shore, EXTEND
@ tgral breakwate!re renders it perfectly safe;
Indies and Mauritus westward, furnishing safe
and accessible shelter in case of storm accident.
havHR Rriti hayp Iahn
several points and almost completely control the
stamwood, who has been there for twenty-five
years. He is the only American resident
hard 'ns Sruree Island with ana the mas French had and
English residents, who have tried to crowd him ont.
house all the Time and by the force of his character
has maintained an ascendency over the natives
shake. The TIconderoga is the first United States
war vessel that ever visited those waters, and the
big ship; more big than English shipr
A treaty OF peace and commerce was
island they agreeing to furnish American Vessels sis
with supplies and stores whenever called upon to
The Commander described the reception of the
Amercams by the Sultan Of Zanzibar as a perfect
the waters edge TO the palace stairs, and behind
them thousands of dusky faces looked with wonder
cups of solid gold and alto iced sherbets from dishes
of fabulous cost. When the Sultan visited the
IlcOnleroga ne was received with royal salute,
and all other honors We're paid him which are usu'
ally rendered to royal personages Although
the Sultan is an independent monarch,
the English have studiously refrained from
treating him as such, and the conduct
of the Americans, therefore, gave him great
pleasure. The English have done all in their power
to gain a foothold in Zanzibar, and the Sultan
has been. obliged to give way to them in
many points Even his army is largely oflicered
by Englishmen. He is jealous and afraid of this
British influence and earnestly desires that it may
be replaced by American.
The Sultan of the Conora Islands, which were
visited alter leaving Zanzibar, received the Ameri-
in royal style. He looks with great dstrust
upon the British and expressed himself as desiring
These islands very productive and great quanti-
ties of sugar and cloves raised Several Amerl-
cans were found here engaged III the cultivation of
sugaI
found Things in a deplorabe condition. The Sultan
brother OF the Sultan OF Zanzibar, is poor health
and completely under the thumb of the British.
The fortTesses diSmantled ana what little busi-
ness thoTe is is entirely carried by the English The
United states were not represented there at ALL but
n Consul has now been sent out Commodore
Schufeldts recommendation"
The voyage up the Persian Gulf described as
1raught with danger and entaillug much hard work
the IIcOnderoga the first American flag which
ever Heated above those seas. Everywhere the
Persians received the visitors with manifestations of
regard. The extensive pearl fisheries were found TO
be IN the hands of the British who contemplate
building railroad across Arabia to them At
Bassorah, the port from which Sinbad the
ages. the executive officer of the shin
Lieutenant Commander Neil was taken sick with %
fever, which, on reaching Bombay developed into
smallpox lie returned home In steamer and sub
sequently died of pneumonia. This officer dis
unguishcd himself at the battle of Mobile Bay by
picking up the officers and men of the Iecumseh
when she was destroyed by torpedo.
Many other islands and countries were visited
and everyWhere treaties OF peace and commerce