LIVINGSTONE'S DISCOVERER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1480, 25 November 1872, Page 3

LIVINGSTONE'S DISCOVERER.

(From the G-rapltic") Mr Henry M. Stanley, late commander of the Neiv TorJe Herald Expedition into Central Africa in search of Livingstone, is an American, a native of the city of New York, and was born in tho year 1843. Of a roving disposition, bo commenced his travels early. While yet a boy ho ran away from school, j went to" sea, and deserted his ship in the j harbour of Barcelona. In swimming to land he kst his bundlo of clothes, and was thus obliged to Make his way ashore naked. In this condition he was found by a sentry and taken to tho castle, where he was allowed to sleep the night on some straw. In tho morning a captain took pity on him, gave him some clothes, and bade him adios, after conducting him through the suburb of Barcelonetta. He started to Marseilles without a copper in his pocket, anci though scvgiml times in danger of being imprisoned as a vagabond, continued his journey on foot through Southern Catalonia, and finally arrived at the frontier, sustaining himself by asking alms. In Franco his forlorn appearance attracted tho attention of the police, and at the little town of Narbonne, in tho • department of the Aude, was apprehended, 'but after a short detention was released. Having received means from his friemis upon arriving at Marseilles, he began his travels in a more respectable fashion, visited almost all the ports of Europe, studying as he travelled the histories of the countries through which 3ie passed. Tho War of Secession breaking out ho returned to his own country, enlisting as a volunteer, was present at the battles of Fort Donelson, Port Henry, and Pitsburg landing. His timo being up he engaged as a newspaper correspondent, and thus witnessed several .battles on the Potomac, and the capture of JTort Fisher. Peace having been concluded, Mr Stanley travelled through the western territories, sometimes as a newspaper correspondent, sometimes taking practical lessons in gold mining. After this tour he set out on his return to his home, built a raft, and with a companion of his own age, floated vdown the Platte Ttiver to the Missouri River, .-a distance of ovor 700 miles. Arriving in New York, his restlessness induced him to endeavour to proceed across Asia, via .Smyrna, with two American friends. After penetrating 300 miles into the interior, reaching Afium Kara Hissar, he and his companions \rero robbed of 6000 dollars by the

Koords, and were obliged to go back to Constantinople to get redress, in which they succeeded. Returning again to America, he was engaged by the Missouri Democrat and Ifeiu York Tribune to follow the Indian Peace Commissions and Hancock's military expedition against the Kiowas and Cheyennes. When the Abyssinian campaign began he was engaged by the New York Herald to follow the British army. Having shown considerable aptitude and energy during this campaign, he was requested to proceed to Crete and describe the real state of affairs , there during the rebellion. Thence he went to the Spanish Revolution, and when that was terminated wa3 ordered to Egypt to u.wuit,l)r Livingstone's arrival, who was then reported as coming home. Getting tired of waiting, in December, 1869, he was again son I. to Spain to report progress on the Republican revolutionists, and on his arrival in Madrid from the siege of Valencia, he received that now famous telegram to " come to Pans " to see Mr Beunett, the subsequent circumstances of which we now know well. He had first to attend the inauguration of the Suez Canal, go up the .Nile, then to Jerusalem, then to Damascus, Smyrna, the Constantinople, Crimea, Southern Russia, Ural Mountains, Trebizcnd, Tifers, through the Caucasus to interview Stoletozf at Bakou, across tho Caspian Sea to Krasnavodsk, then through Persia via Teheran, Ispahan, Persepolis, Bushiro, Bagdad, Muscat, India, Mauritius, Seychelle, Zanzibar, and thus to Central Africa, happily reaching Ujiji but twenty-five days after Livingstone arrived. Such is the brief story of a yeb young life, something approaching to 120,000 mile 3of travel, a distance of nearly five times round the globe, having been accomplished by thi3 most energetic traveller.