5i6 



NATURE 



[April ^, 1879 



the Oyapok, the second river of the colony, the basin of 

 which was comparatively unknown. On August 2 1 Dr. 

 Crevaux was at the mouth of the river. Crossing a 

 second time the Tumuc-Humac range, which separates 

 the waters of the Oyapok and Maroni from those of the 

 Amazon, he descended the Kou, an affluent of the Yari, 

 the course of which was unknown. Arrived at the Yari, 

 which on a former occasion he had ascended only as far 

 as Yacouman, he followed its course to its sources, which 

 he reached on October 24 last, after a journey of about 

 170 miles on that river. On that date he wrote a note in 

 pencil to Paris, announcing the result of that part of his 

 journey, but predicting for the remainder of his explora- 

 tion considerable difficulties, which, however, he has suc- 

 ceeded in surmounting. A short letter just received by 

 La Nature intimates the return of Dr. Crevaux to Sainte 

 Marie de Belem on January 9 last, and contains a topo- 

 gfraphical sketch of the region explored. After having 

 crossed the secondary chain which separates on the west 

 the Yari from the Parou, another almost unknown affluent 

 of the Amazon, Dr. Crevaux completely explored this 

 considerable watercourse, and afterwards, descending 

 the river, he re-explored the lower course of the Yari. 



A TELEGRAM addressed by Gordon Pasha from Abu- 

 jerad, on the White Nile, to the president of the Italian 

 Geographical Society, announces that Signor Matteucci, 

 the leader of the Italian scientific expedition, having 

 received permission to enter Abyssinia, had started from 

 Adowa and landed at Massowah. 



The French traveller, M. le Comte de SemelM, arrived 

 at Fernando Po on February 13 from the Upper Niger 

 and Binud. He started on his expedition in May of last 

 year, and had been engaged in pursuing his researches up 

 to the time he returned to Fernando Po. He has for- 

 warded to England and France an account of some of 

 his discoveries. 



There seems every likelihood that an attempt will be 

 made to train African elephants as bearers of burdens, 

 and indeed it is stated that an association has been 

 formed for the opening up of African trade by this means. 

 This seems to us a much more sensible and practicable 

 plan than the construction of a railway, which has been 

 so prematurely proposed in some quarters. With the aid 

 at first of Indian trainers we see no reason why the 

 African elephant should not be made as useful as his 

 Indian brother. 



The intended laying of a telegraphic line~from Aden 

 to Zanzibar, and from Zanzibar to Port Natal via Mozam- 

 bique and Delagoa Bay has promoted a project for con- 

 necting the Mascarene Islands either with Zanzibar by the 

 Comoros or with Delagoa Bay through Madagascar by a 

 special line. It is said that the general council of Reunion 

 will take the lead. The aggregate population of the 

 Mauritius and Reunion is more than half a million, and 

 the trade of these two islands with Europe reaches an- 

 nually a large sum. The density of population is very 

 great. 



Mgr. Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers, has informed 

 Les Missions Catholiqties that it is in contemplation to 

 increase the staff of the French Algerian Missionary 

 expedition in Central Africa to ten priests, one of whom 

 is to found a depot in the neighbourhood of Zanzibar for 

 the missions of the interior. 



We gather from the Colonies and India that some inte- 

 resting papers have appeared in the Ceylon press relative 

 to the suitability of that island for the growth of Australian 

 trees. The blue gum-tree does not seem to flourish under 

 an elevation of 3,000 feet. The Casuarina grows freely 

 even by the seashore. The Grevillea robusta, one of the 

 most beautiful and most uSeful of Australian trees, had 

 thriven well in Colombo itself, though it will not stand 

 the full force of the sea breezes. 



The steam traffic in the Indian Archipelago has so 

 largely increased since the opening of the Suez Canal that 

 the roads of Batavia are found insufficient for the accom- 

 modation of the vessels, and the Netherlands Govern- 

 ment have accordingly found it necessary to undertake 

 the construction of a new port. This, we learn from the 

 Manila papers, is situated in Cape Tanjong Priok, to the 

 east of Batavia, and is to have communication with that 

 city by means of a canal and a railway. The work of 

 construction was commenced in 1877, and 3,000 men are 

 at present employed on it. The new port, which is to be 

 named after Prince Henry, will, it is expected, be finished 

 in 1885. 



The last number of Le Globe contains the first instal- M 

 ment of a sketch by M. Veniukof of geographical dis- ■ 

 coveries in Asiatic Russia, translated by M. Metchnikof. 



The French Alpine Club has organised a tour for 

 school boys for the Easter holidays. The excursionists 

 Avill travel on foot in the two departments of Loiret and 

 Loir et Cher, visiting Orleans forest, the banks of the 

 Loire, Chambord Castle, and the forest of Fontainebleau, 

 where the last frosty weather produced such extraordinary 

 disorders. The regulations will be sent on request to 

 the Secretaire-General of the Alpine Club, 31, rue Bona- 

 parte, Paris. No limit of nationality is imposed. The 

 excursion will last for seven days and be conducted by a 

 staff of competent teachers. 



A SPECIAL congress on the means of creating an inter- 

 oceanic canal across the Darien Isthmus will be opened 

 shortly by the Society of Commercial Geography of Paris. 



By a census taken in December last it appears that the 

 population of Japan now numbers 34,338,304 souls. Yedo, 

 which at one time had the reputation of being the most 

 populous city in the world, contains 1,036,771 inhabitants 

 and 236,961 houses. 



NOTES 



The Copernican Society at Thorn has resolved to begin an 

 international collection of funds for the erection of an observa- 

 tory in that town, as a lasting monument to the great reformer 

 of astronomy. 



M. Baillaud, Professor of Astronomy to the Faculty of 

 Sciences of Toulouse, has been appointed director for five years 

 of the observatory of that city. 



The anniversary meeting of the Chemical Society was held 

 on Monday, Dr. Gladstone, F.R.S., president, in the chair. 

 The President presented his Annual Report on the state of the 

 Society, which he characterised as affording ground for con- 

 gratulation, the past year having been one of quiet prosperity. 

 The Society numbers now over 1,000 members. Sixty-eight 

 papers have been read and two lectures delivered by H. C. 

 Sorby and S. H. Vines ; the Faraday Lecture was delivered by 

 Prof. Wurtz. The improved condition of the Society's library 

 and journal was touched upon. In conclusion, the President 

 urged the Fellows not to rest satisfied with the present attain- 

 ments of the Society, but to promote research, and especially a 

 general scientific culture in the workers, a culture which should 

 promote largeness of view and prevent each investigator lookmg 

 on his own subject as one of prime importance, to the 

 exclusion of all others. The Report of the Research Fund 

 Committee was then read, with a brief account of the 

 investigations carried on in connection with the fund. After 

 the customary vote of thanks to the officers, council, &c., the 

 foUowing officers and council were elected for the ensuing 

 year :— President— Warren De La Rue, F.R.S. \ice-pre- 

 sidents-F. A. Abel, C.B., Sir B. C. Brodie, E. Frankland, 



