The Holbrook news., 1911-05-26

make us acquainted with the geography of Africa than
 during the whole of the 1,70O previous years since Ptolemy taken together With Mungo Park, strictly speaking, commences the era of un- ceasing endeavors to explore the in terior The explorations of the latter half of the nineteenth century, actu- ated as they were by diverse motives, are full of interest and have resulted In giving the world a great if not en- tirely complete knowledge of this vast continent
 After perusing the scores of books on exploration, travel and sport in Africa issued during the last dozen years, for the most part mere shoot ing trips, illustrated by indifferent photographs, 'In the Heart of Africa" !" by Duke Adolphus Frederick of Meek lenburg, is something of relief. It is the record of an expedition under taken during the years 1907-1908 for the purpose of conducting a systemat- ic investigation of the German East African protectorate, the Central Ali rican Rift valley, in its expansion from Lake Kiwu to Lake Albert Ny anza, and finally the northeastern con- fines of the Congo State. The expe- dition was completed by the crossing of Africa to the West Coast. This inn portant undertaking was aided 1nan- cially and in other ways by the Ger man colonial office, the German Co lonial company, the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, and the Muse um of Folklore, Berlin. The vast col lections gathered were exhibited pub ncly in Berlin last year, and were afterwards made over to German mu- seums and other scientific institutions.
 The results obtained were astonish- ing in quantity and importance Vast districts were carefully surveyed and mapped, including the wonderful vol canic regions beginning at the north ern point of Lake Kiwu; geological explorations were zealously and scien- tiflcally conducted, and the botanical spells comprised no less than 3,466 specimens, among which hundreds quite new to science were discovered. The geological work was done with the usual German thoroughness; S34 mammals, 800 birds, IFS reptiles, 708 fishes, 204 amphibious animals, 6S6 moIluscs, 1,452 decapods, 7,603 in- sects, 1,1S1 arachidnae-these are only a portion of the amazing cap lures of the expedition. The classifi- cation of these specimens, which in- clude a great number of new forms, will be the work of some years. considerable number of new verte- brates are included in the collection. From the ethnographical-anth ical point of view, Duke Adolf of Mecklenburg's expedition Is one of the most important that has ever con ducted an exploration in Africa No less than 1,017 skulls and about 1000 ethnographica were collected; 4,500 natives were measured; among the i've thousand-odd photographs taken, 700 are of curious and important races of savages. Eighty-seven phono- grams and 37 languages were also re- corded.
 It is an extraordinary record, abounding in picturesque incident and many dangers, and frightened here
  cessful chase of elephants, lions, buff faloes, leopards and many other spe- cies of big game. One of the finest elephants secured by the duke-shot on the Semlih river-carried tusks weighing 98 and 94 pounds apiece. and measuring feet 31s inches and feet 2% inches respectively. This mighty elephant was nearly ending the career of the author and one of his native boys, who were caught by the wound ed beast while stuck fast in some swampy ground. The boy was actual ly twice tossed by the monster, but, thanks to the desperate wounds sus- tained by the beast, managed to es- cape with his life. In the haunts of the okapi the duke and his compan- ions soon discovered that it is almost an impossibility for a European to get within shot of these shy and fur tive creatures, amid the unfathomable tangle of the Semlik forest. Mainly owing to the exertions of the Wam- butti hunters, spurred on by dazzling rewards of baksheesh, the expedition managed to secure the skins, with the skeletons complete. of four examples, which appear to have been the first brought home by any German expe- dition. Some new species of antelope were also secured in this forest re- G10R.