410 Chronicles of Science. [ July; 
a volcano in a district (Brazil) hitherto considered devoid of these 
phenomena, he is intending, as soon as the weather will permit 
him, to continue his research. Further north, General Lyon, of 
the Southern States, has discovered one of the ancient cities of 
Mexico, the ruins, just as they were deserted, being surrounded and 
blocked up by trees. ; 
We have to announce the death of Mr. John MacDougal Stuart, 
the explorer of a large portion of the Australian continent. After 
two journeys into the interior, he succeeded in crossing from 
Southern Australia to the north coast, a feat acknowledged by sub- 
stantial grants from the colonial legislature, and Honorary Fellow- 
ships of the Royal Geographical Society of London, and that of 
Berlin. 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE Roya GEOGRAPHICAL Socrery. 
A trustworthy account of the barbarous murder of Baron yon 
der Decken, concerning whose fate we were in doubt when our last 
report was written, has been received through the British Consul 
at Zanzibar, Colonel Playfair. It will be remembered that the 
Baron had left his party in charge of a wrecked steamer, and had 
gone back to Berdera with Dr. Link. The camp in which this 
party remained was attacked by a band of Somali, and Lieutenant 
Schickh, and those under his command, were compelled to descend 
to the coast, whence they hoped to send assistance to the Baron. 
In the meantime the latter lost his boat, and was separated from 
his companion. Both attempted to return to the wreck, in which 
attempt the Doctor was successful; but each was surrounded by 
the natives and barbarously murdered. The murderers are far 
from all European influence, and consequently not amenable to 
justice. The Sultan of Berdera is supposed to have connived at 
this cruelty. In connection with this subject a paper, by Colonel 
Rigby, was read on Englishmen in captivity in Somali land, in 
which it was stated that there was a great probability that some of 
the crew of the St. Abbs Indiaman were still living in bondage 
among this people. It has since been announced that the Political 
Resident at Aden has commissioned a very intelligent Somali, who 
has been interpreter in the police court, to return to his native 
country and determine positively whether any Europeans are there 
or not. } 
‘Travellers’ tales” have become proverbial for their untrust- 
worthiness ; but much as we are apt to distrust the accounts of 
men who have journeyed over ground not hitherto traversed, it is 
seldom that we find a case so glaring as that detected by Sir H. 
Rawlinson, of a lengthy account of a journey that was never 
undertaken. In a paper, entitled “Observations on a Memoir 
