1866. | Geography. 409 
cess—maps have been corrected and improved, positions of many 
sites determined astronomically, a great number of important 
photographs prepared, two or three localities excavated, and steps 
taken towards the identification of some disputed sites. At the 
same time that much steady progress has been made, no startling 
discoveries have rewarded the labourers, and though the im- 
portance of all their discoveries cannot as yet be justly determined, 
nothing has yet transpired that would lead us to suppose that any- 
thing very new or very important has been brought to light. For 
some time past a series of papers have appeared in the ‘ Reader,’ 
being translations of a “ Note on the Formation of the Basin of the 
Dead Sea, and on the Changes which have taken place in the 
Level of the Lake,” by M. Louis Lartet, a subject that belongs more 
properly to geology than geography, but which is important enough 
from both points of view to merit attention. Notwithstanding the 
tragical fate of Baron von der Decken, African exploration still 
continues to afford excitement to many travellers of various tastes 
and temperaments. The German Niippel is on a journey to 
Abyssinia, in which undertaking he is assisted by a grant from the 
Senate of Frankfort. The fate of Englishmen, the survivors of the 
wreck of the St. Abbs Indiaman, supposed to be in captivity among 
the Somali, has caused much excitement. Besides the means 
for their recognition mentioned below, the Rev. Mr. Rebmann, a 
missionary stationed at Rabbai Mpia, near Mombaz, has made 
several journeys into the interior, and meditates, if he can obtain 
further support, a more extensive search. Herr Gerhard Roblfs 
intends to penetrate, if possible, to Wadai, with a view to recover- 
ing, if possible, the papers of Edward Vogel, who there met with his 
death. A former servant of Vogel’s, and an eye-witness of his 
death, promises to accompany him. 
Professor Lepsius, too, has gone to the northern coast of Africa, 
and has been fortunate enough to meet with a tablet of the same 
sort as the Rosetta Stone—v7z., an inscription in hieroglyphic and 
demotic characters, accompanied by a Greek translation, which will 
no doubt give additional confirmation and assistance to Augyptolo- 
gists. Besides these travellers, the Roman Catholic missionaries 
have published several works on the languages of Central Africa. 
The latest of these was published at Brixen, on the great pass from 
the Tyrol into Italy, and consists of a grammar and dictionary of 
the Dinka tongue. 
The travellers educated in Africa (if we may so speak of the 
later life of one of these) carry into other continents the research 
and perseverance they have acquired in that remarkable quarter of 
the globe. Captain Burton, whose African exploits have made us 
almost forget his Asiatic deeds, has found a new sphere in South 
America. He has traversed the Rio Iguipe, and having discovered 
pal gee 2 
