EXPLOITATION OF AMERICA.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1980, 16 October 1875, Page 4

EXPLOITATION OF AMERICA.

The London Rews publishes an interesting account from Egypt of the progress of the Khedive's officers in exploring and opening up the interior of Africa to civilisation, from which we extract the following : — Colonel Long, a young American^ officer, who made himself famous by his daring and successful expedition to M'tesa, and who has since made other equally successful explorations, has returned to Cario, bringing back five natives of different tribes, together with many curious war weapons and implements, shewing the different^ degrees of civilisation attained. He gives a most graphic account of his adventures, and may be expected soon in Europe to make preparations for other explorations which are to be entrusted to him, to penetrate farther into the heart of Africa under the Khedive's auspices. Seven steamera now ply between Khartoum and Bagaff, above which the rapids render the Nile unnavigable. The distance between Khartoum and Gordon's headquarters is over 1000 miles. He has established lines of posts so as to keep the communication open, and has made peace with the tribes with whom Baker was at war, adVoitly availing himself of Abon Saood, (Baker's bete noir) in the first place, and then dismissing him, thus checking the slave trade most effectually by turniug its instruments to other uses. Gordon has proved a great success, and his occupation of the country has cost the Government nothing, as he has made ib self sustaining by the produce he has .sent to Cairo. Colonel Purdy, an American officer in the Khedive's service, has reached the capital of Durlur, and reports that there is plenty of water in the JNile between that point and the point of his departure, so that the obstacle which baffled Baker seems no longer to exist. Colonel Colston (also an American officer) is pushing on probably into the interior by another route, while Mitchell, the geologist of the Gordon expedition, who is not far from Konnar, between the Nile and the Eed Sea has discovered two goldmines, formerly worked in ancient times, the shaft still open. He reports that with modern appliances, one of these shafts could be profitably worked. In fact the energetic Khedive, seconded by equally energetic officers, is pushing exploration of all kinds into this terra incognita witii n success equal to his efforts. Germany is working along the western coast-of Africa; France is organising an expedition from Senegal; Stanley is pushing on from the eastern coast; and the dream of heroic Livingstone seems at last in process of BDeedy fulfilment.