EXPLORATIONS IN AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5497, 30 June 1879, Page 6

EXPLORATIONS IN AFRICA.

M. Savargxan de Brazza and Dr. Ballsy, have just returned to Paris after three yearo' hard work in the exploration of the River Ogowe, in Western Africa. The results of the prolonged expedition are so important, that the Paris Geographical Society resolved to present M. de Brazza with its "greatgold medal for 1879." The presentation was made by Admiral La Ronciere Le Nourry. The expedition, of which Lieutenant de Brazza was the leader, had the eo-operation | at first of M. Marchy, wbo, in company with the late Marquis de Compeigne, had already done much to advance our knowledge of the Ogowe. M. Marohe had, however, an account of his health, to give up the work and return to France. MM. de Brazza and Ballayalso suffered much from fever at first, and were indeed suffering when, in August, 1575, they left Lambarene, the extreme limit of the European factories, to commence the real work of their campaign. For escort they had a dozen Laptnts, indigenous soldiers from the French colony of Senegal. The explorers met with many difficulties and discouragements from the hostility and cupidity of tho natives, and in the end it became almost a regular series of battles. The course of the Ogowe may be divided into three equal parts—the upper, tho middle, and the lower. The middle follows an almost straight east and west course, just south of the Equator; the two others incline about a degree and a-half toward the south —the one toward its source, and the other toward its mouth. The merchandise and baggage of the explorers could only be carried in canoes and by the arms of tbe natives, who made terrible exactions from the expedition, which was almost entirely in their power. The first halt was made at Lope, a large village on the npper course of the Ogowe. M. de Brazza penetrated into tbe country of the Fans—those fine cannibals whose praises are sung by Burton—with whom he was able to enter into friendly relations ; and succeeded in reaching Dume, a position considerably advanced on the upper course of the river. M. de Brazza suffered in this journey, and on his return had to let his companions advance to Dams without him. He was only able to rejoin them in April, 1577. The further progress of the expedition was almost stopped by the Aduma?, who, on the pretext that the whites had introduced the small-pox, wanted to mulct the expedition cf the greater part of the baggage. It was only by a ruse that the explorers were able to get out of the clutches of the Aduma?, and after many : from the numerous rapids, tho party found themselves together again at the fall of Poubara. Above this the Ogowe becomes on insignificant stream. Here the explorationmight have ended, as one object of the expedition had been accomplished, viz., the solution of the question as to whether the Ogowe rose in any great interior lake. It was clear it did not. However, after a few days' rest, the explorers, in spite of their broken-down condition and the exhaustion of their resources, left the basin of the Ogowe in March, IS7S, to penetrate into the interior. So badly did tin; natives treat them here that they were compelled to buy four slaves to carry the baggage. Under these circumstances, they traversed successively the territories of the Oudumlo, the Dmbete, and the Batcke, suffering greatly by the way from both hunger and thirst, for the country was devastated by famine. A stream, the N'Gambo, running ea9t, led the explorers to an important river, the Alima, which they havo made known to geography for the first time. This river, about 500 feet wide and 16 feet deep, to all appearance is an affluent, of the Congo. In attempting to descend this river, the French explorers had to run tho gauntlet between banks lined with hostile savages, and, like Stanley, \rere at last compelled to fire in self-defence. Great villages were seen, filled with enemies, who finally attacked the explorers with canoes filled with men and armed with guns. They quitted the river, and marched northward, crossing many watercourses flowing eastward. They Buffered so much from hunger that the expedition had to be divided, Dr. Ballay and one of tho attendants having been sent back to the Ogowe. M. De Brazza went some distance further to the northward, when he also, from hunger and suffering, was compelled to retreat. He rejoined his companions in September, aud on November 30 the whole party reached tho French settlement at the Gaboon. De Brazza and Ballay reached Paris only a few days ago, and thus has ended one of tho most successful of recent French exploring expeditions. It has added a considerable region hitherto' unknown to our maps, and helped not a little the perplexing problem of African hydography. The gold medal presented is well deserved. — Times.