The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-12
TWO FRENCH EXPEDITIONS.
News of Much Interest From Explorers
in the Depths OF Africa.

News Of Much Interest From Explorers
in the Depths OF Africa.
New York Sun.
News has been received from two French
exploring expeditions in Africa that have
been long beyond reach of the mails and
have now some interesting facts to report.
The announcement of the success Of
Commandant MonteiPs expedition comes
by way of Tripoli. A year had elapsed
since news had been received from
Monteil. Since then he has pushed
his way eastward across the Niger and
through the populous empire of Sokoto to
Kano, the second largest city in Sokoto.
The city is the famous metropolis of the
Soudan. which has been described by
Barth, Clapperton and others. 1t is go
miles east of the city of Sokoto and 800
miles west of kuka, the capital of the sui
tanate of Bornu, on Lake Tchad, whittier
the explorer was to go few days after he
wrote his letter.
The walls arounk Kano are fifteen miles
long. The population in Barth's time was
only about il, 600, but Matteuci, the Ital-
Ian explor, who was there few years ago,
estimated that the city then contained
$4,000 people. The inhabitants are most
industrious and are very actively EN-.
ployed in commerce and manufactures.
The cotton cloth woven and dyed in Kano
is famous. and the people export large
quantities OF sandals, shoes and leather.
1t was the intention of Monteil to ex-
plore the western shore of Lake Tchad
from the northwest corner at Barrua. 1t
is certain that he will endeavor to make q
trading treaty with the sultan of Bornu,
and the world will be curious to hear
whether he meets with better success than
the British did two years ago when the
sultan refused to enter into any relations
with them.
More interesting news comes from
Lieutenant Mizon's expedition. Mizons
purpose was to reach Lake Tchad, but
when he arrived at Yola, the capital of
Adamawa, on the Upper Beuue river, he
found himself unable TO proceed further
toward the north, and therefore turned to
the south. Word comes now that on
April he met De Brazza at place called
Conasa, on the banks of the river Sangha.
He had made the entire Journey of ABS
miles between Yola and Conasa through
an unknown country in four months and
without firing shot, although his escort
consisted of only eight natives. He was
able to solve several interesting problems
relating to the separation of the Niger and
the Congo basins, and he arranged sew
eral treaties with native chiefs, complet-
ing the work begun in the Sangha basin
by De Brazza and several other French
explorers. That was the very work Cram
pei was engaged in further east when he
met his tragic death.
The most interesting feature of this
brief announcement is that the country
south of the Benue, west of Cram pel's
route. is peaceful. and can be penetrated
easily by white men. France is certainly
making very rapid strides in extending
her influence over her African possessions.
The full reports of the two expedit ions
will be awaited with much interest, as
they will throw good deal of light on
regions little known, which. in Mlzon's
case. have never been visited before by
white men.