Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 361 



Dr. Steudel is of opinion that in case the specimens already ob- 

 tained reached Eurojje in safety, the sale of them will cover all the 

 expenses already incurred ; and as the most difficult part of the un- 

 dertaking may be considered as overcome, the risk which subscribers 

 might have to run is very materially diminished. 



In September 1838, the following additional information was 

 printed in German and circulated among the friends of the Unio Iti- 

 neraria. 



The travels of M. Schimper in Abyssinia are still prosecuted. 

 The collections which he has made in that country, consisting chiefly 

 of dried plants, were deposited at the date of his last letter (April 

 1838) in fifteen chests, and were lying at Adoa, the place of his 

 temporary sojourn. The choice was offered him, whether to proceed 

 to Europe/carrying his collections with him, or to remain in Abyssi- 

 nia with the object of exploring the high mountainous country of 

 Semea and the valleys of Schoho. In the latter case, he must leave 

 the treasures that he had already amassed in Adoa, as the heavy 

 charges attendant on their despatch to Massava on the Red Sea and 

 thence to Egypt would exhaust all his funds, and forbid his prose- 

 cuting the aforesaid researches in Abyssinia. His decision has been 

 to pursue his way to those districts, hitherto unexplored, which lie 

 under the special jurisdiction of Prince Ubie ; and this great chief, 

 mollified by petitions and presents, exempts M. Schimper from the 

 decree of banishment recently passed against all Europeans, and 

 which hastened from Adoa the missionaries Blumhardt and Isenberg, 

 with whom our traveller had been residing there, and who had 

 shown him much kindness. These estimable individuals confirm to 

 the fullest extent the statement that Schimper has sent us respect- 

 ing the value of his collections, and also speak most highly of his 

 exertions. Hitherto, M. Schimper's labours have been confined to 

 the moderately elevated ground that lies about Adoa ; but if he can 

 also investigate the high mountain ranges, a most interesting epoch 

 will take place in the annals of botanical research with respect to 

 Abyssinia. This consideration and the desire to perfect his labours 

 induced M. Schimper to expose himself to new fatigues and dangers, 

 through which we hope that his previous experience and the sound 

 constitution that he possesses will enable him to pass unharmed. 



The most essential requisite is now that the traveller should be 

 furnished with fresh remittances, so that on his return from the 

 journey in hand, he may be enabled to incur the expense of despatch- 

 ing his collections. The removal of these numerous packages and 

 the permission to forward them over a considerable extent of coun- 



Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2. No. 11. Jan, 1839. 2 b 



