Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09

at 4 o'clock in the morning, headed north
west, July 10, 1872. The equipment of the
expedition is set forth in detail, the in
for the determination of posi-
ton, twenty-four pounds of bareback, guns
and ammunition, pickles and jam, and six
bottles of brandy.
From this point onward the narrative is
a convincing tale in every line. Little of
the days march, the mature of the coun-
try traversed, the difficulties Of the way,
the incidents of the camp by night. Strange
things he saw in the jungle, but no matter
how strange he set them down with wealth
of v~ersislmiltude. Strange were the plants
upon the wandering course, yet he docketed
them in his narrative for the information
of botanists. Strange insects there were, not
a record is lost. not even Of the little green
fly that doomed like a drum in the OBJ
Acurity Of the primeval forest.
TIL same 'attentionk to precise detail is
shown in the map. THE graphic presenta-
tion Of the reconnaissance. He does not
pretend to a a Topographic map of the
country. Far more honest in appearance,
his map is the mere tracing of the spider
line of the actual march upOn the blank of
the unknown which lay east and west of
his random course. 1t is painfully honest.
When he crosss a stream he sets down
upon his sketch only such details as he
might see at the ford. The cast and future
Of the watercourse are beyond his knowI-
edge because outside his observation. When
he crosses the Papuan Ghauts, his first
great discovery, his instinct for truth
prompts him to record a wider extent upon
tho map, for everybody knows that a chain
of hills can be identified by eyeslght into
the blue distance.
Where all is new, where the land trav-
ersed is such virgin soil. every incident, nc
matter how tnfling. is Of moment. But
setting rigorous faces against the discus.
sion OF the details these may be presented
as the greatest discoveries which Captain
Lawson made in his traverse OF New
Guinea. The first great find was a magnifi-
cent lake, sixty to seventy miles long, or
the north and south axis, fifteen to thirty
miles broad. Astounding in fish, some OF
which were ten to twelve feet long. This
fine sheet OF water he named Lake Alex.
andrina after his queen. Ever loyel, this
explorer, a liberal, too, In his political pro.
fession, that may be determined from hi.
designation OF the River Gladstone, wRicf
Is the chief continent Of the great River
Royal, waterways which he is later to dis
cover.
Mountains are his chief discovery. FRS
comes the Papuan Ghauts. only a few
marches from Houtree. These are but pre-
paratory, mere foothills; he measure,
Mount Misty at 1862 feet and in the dis
lance triangulates the height OF the high
est peak of this range at 2.s45 feet.
After the passage Of the Ghauts h,
comes down TO low savannah once more
II is preparatory to the discovery Of IN.
%loftiest mountain in the world, a mil
higher than Mount Everest. This lie Noun
Hercules. Just before he reaches this mon
ster Of all mountains he measures the Out
post, 1901 feet, and the brilliantly actIv,
volcano Of Mount Vulcan. 1918 feet.
Then comes Mount Hercules. Its SUNNI
altitude above the sea is SASS feet. II /
almost all effective height, for the plain
out OF which It rears its awful form ar
barely 1900 feet above sea level The snoy