1G2 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



EXPLORATIONS IN AFRICA. 



An extended exploration of the interior portions of West- 

 ern Africa is in contemplation by Messrs. Buchholz, Liihder, 

 and Reichenow, the first-mentioned gentleman having been a 

 member of the German north polar expedition of 1869-70 on 

 the Hansa. They expect to spend several years in the labor, 

 and to proceed first to Calabar for the purpose of studying 

 its fauna and making collections of all kinds. They do not 

 expect to penetrate far into the interior, but will do what 

 they can in this direction. They intend to have suitable ap- 

 paratus to enable them to fix their route with precision, and 

 to record the physical phenomena that may present them- 

 selves. 17 C, June, 1872, 230. 



RETURN OF DR. SCHWEINFUETH TO GERMANY. 



Dr. Schweinfurth has returned to Europe from Africa, after 

 an arduous exploration, the results of which have been of 

 much interest. Most of our readers have seen his account 

 of his journey to the country of the Niam-Niams of the West- 

 ern Upper Nile. The collections made by him during his 

 visit up to the beginning of December, 1870, together with 

 his scientific equipment, were destroyed by fire, with the ex- 

 ception of a small portion that had been sent to Berlin. His 

 subsequent explorations were made under great disadvan- 

 tages from the loss of his apparatus ; but his experience as 

 a traveler enabled him to prosecute his labors under this 

 embarrassment and obtain important results. His most im- 

 portant geographical determination was the fact that the 

 Baehr el-Arab is the main stream of the basin which emp- 

 ties into the Nile at the Baehr el-Ghazal. 13 A, February 

 15,1872,72. 



THE "LAND OF OPHIR." 



Considerable interest was excited a year or two ago by the 

 announcement that CarlMauch, the well-known German trav- 

 eler, had discovered the land of Ophir of the Bible, whence 

 the Tyro-Israelitish navy of kings Hiram and Solomon " came 

 once in three years, bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, 

 and peacocks." The region referred to by Mauch lies "in 

 Southeastern Africa, north of Natal ; and the country, which 



