GEOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. 333 



intend to make an exploration with their assistance when I shall 

 have completed my arrangements in this station. I shall take 2 

 steamers and 2 diahbeeaks in tow, with 50 or GO men. Should 

 this good news prove to be correct, there will be no difficulty in 

 November next, as I shall return here with an accurate knowledge 

 of the passage. Should there be no navigable passage, I shall 

 cut through the great dam and open up a permanent channel, 

 with a force of 2,000 men. 



"I am thankful that Lady Baker and myself have been free 

 from all ailments. My 6 English mechanics are industrious and 

 well-conducted, and are good representatives of the working- 

 classes of England, in a difficult and trying enterprise, where 

 patience and stability of character are necessary elements. The 

 Egyptian troops are orderly and resigned ; the black soldiers are 

 full of vigor. 



"I regret, my dear Sir Roderick, that I cannot yet give you 

 much geographical information ; but this expedition is not one of 

 simple exploration. There is a grave responsibility with so large 

 a force in Central Africa, far distant from supplies, and much 

 caution is required in the advance. Pray God that we may meet 

 again, my dear friend. With much love from Lady Baker and 

 myself, ever affectionately yours, SAMUEL BAKER." 



Sir Roderick Murchison, at the conclusion of the letter, said that 

 Sir Samuel had given an earnest, by what he had already done, 

 of what he would accomplish. It was gratifying that he was 

 putting into execution that act of the Viceroy, to stop the pillage 

 of villages and the abduction of the women and children. 



STONE IMPLEMENTS OF WESTERN AFRICA. 



Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S., at the meeting of the British 

 Association, delivered some interesting remarks on " Stone Imple- 

 ments from Western Africa." He said that, considering, of all 

 the great continents of the world, Africa was probably the most 

 backward in civilization, it was remarkable how deficient it was 

 in stone weapons. He thought this was no doubt owing to the 

 abundance of sands containing iron, and the facility with which 

 iron was obtained and prepared for use. This infrequency or al- 

 most absence of stone implements in Africa had been alluded to 

 on various occasions by those who had found a difficulty in recon- 

 ciling it with the well-founded theory with respect to stone having 

 preceded metals; but although stone implements were rare, they 

 were not altogether unknown. He (Sir John Lubbock) had 

 brought some which had been sent from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 The spear-heads in the collection had a remarkable similarity to 

 the spear-heads which were found in Europe and elsewhere. He 

 believed that never before from this place had anything been dis- 

 covered that could be called an arrow. Sometimes small articles 

 of stone were called arrows which should not be called so. It 

 might very well be believed that a savage would be very careful 



