The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-21
InhOspitable Peoples.

Uncivilized tribes as rule do not throw
insurmOuntable obstacles In the way Of ex-
plOrers. A few fanatical countries, however.
still look upon all foreigners as enemies, are
not on speaking terms with their neighbors,
and shut their doors In the face Of the world.
No white man ever set foot in the fine
country north OF India known as Kahristan
until little over year ago. Mr.. w. w.
MCNAIR, by shaving his head and staining
his skin with a solution Of caustic and wal
nut juioa. contrived to got into Kanristan In
the guise Of an Indian doctor. He spent
nearly two months In the country, and
learned many interesting facts about the
people. supposed to number 200, 900 souls, who
inhabit its beautiful valleys. He was at last
suspected OF being an agent Of the Indian
Government, and was compelled to retreat
before he had completed half tho explora-
tory work he wished to accomplish.
The only accounts we possess OF large
part OF the countries contiguous to India on
the north have been obtained from Orlentals
themselves. White explorers have tried in
vain to visit these lands and determine the
value OF the statements We have heard about
them. Nepaul. the long narrow country
only three hundred miles from Calcutta, Is q
sealed book to the Indian Government, ex-
cept 80 far as native explorers have made 1t
known. In Thibet PRFJEvALsKY, the Russian
explorer, was stopped last year 40 miles
away from Lassa, the capital, which no Eu-
ropean has ever been permitted to visit.
It 10 possible for explorers now to pepe-
trate into nearly every part OF Africa with
comparative cheapnese and CELEBRITY. There
10 one largo district, however, naturally
among the most accessible parts Of Africa,
where the duplicity Of the chiefs and the plum
dering propensities Of the tribes have defeat
ed every traveller who has ventured into 1t.
This lie Somsli and Gala Land, ON tho Indian
Ocean, south Of the Red Sea, great region
stretching 1900 miles inland. We are &C.
quainted as yet with hardly more than It's
fringe. though the boldest explorers have
tried to penetrate 1t, and tho jealous persist
ence Of KINzLEBACH, SACCoNI, Baron Won
DER DEcKEN, and others cost them their
lives. The last Of them, NJ. GEORGES REVOLT,
who landed on the Somali coast year ago,
has recently returned to Zanzibar, having
failed entirely to accomplish his mission.
The five explorers to whom We are in
debted for our information about Timbuktu
escaped death at the hands OF the fanatlcal
tribes In that region only by Disgusting
themselves % Mussulmans. France while
| ago seriously contemplated building o rail-
road from its Mediterranean provinces
across Sahara to the rich country south. II
is still believed that such an enterprise
would be OF great political and commercial
importance. but the project has been aban.
doned for the present because 1t was found
| that 1t would meet with enormous opposition
from the desert tribes, who employ 10000
camels In the carrying trade between the
chief towns Of the Sahara.
These tribes believe that railroads would
destroy the usefulness Of their camels, and
they are, therefore, hostile to them. They
and their southern neighbors also exclude
the white rscee, because they are the most
bigoted Of Mohammedans, and deem 1t a re.
ligious duty to kill infdels. Gala Land and
SOmali are also permeated with the NOLAN
medan influences that are constantly spread
Ing In Africa. Explorers who were believed
to be sincere Mussulmans would be permit
ted to travel there In peace. The Katiristans
on the other hand, have an undyin9 feuC
with all Mohammedsns, and have NO faith II
any people who can be at peace with them
Nepaul and Thibet exclude Europeans, sim
ply because, like most Of the central AsiaI
khanates they are suspicious Of all outsiders
and want to be let alone.
All these barriers will some day be broker
down by the persistency OF civilizing infiu
ences. The most significant fact In recen
explorations is the progress that Ia making
In the opening Of hitherto forbidden lands t
travellers aud trade. Corea has abandoned
her policy Of exclusion. Parts Of China tina
no traveller dared to visit have recently beel
trsversed by solitary Europeans. Mr.. Col
QUHoUN last year travelled 1850 mile