SCIENCE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 205 



lawyers are dodgy and unsatisfactory ; musicians 

 cannot fix their attention on any thing but music ; 

 artists are better subjects ; clergymen are perfect 

 in the drawing-room, but not in public ; physi- 

 cians are good subjects when they have no theory 

 about thought-reading. Von Moltke was the best 

 and M. Dumas the worst subject. EngHshmen 

 and Germans are perhaps the best races for sub- 

 jects ; while uncivilized races, such as Chinamen 

 and Indians, are bad. Mr. Cumberland's opinion 

 on thought-reading without contact is well worth 

 quoting in full : "Some mystically inclined people 

 claim to be able to read thoughts without contact. 

 For my part, I have never yet seeli experiments 

 of this kind successfully performed, unless there 

 had been opportunities for observing some phase 

 of physical indication expressed by the subject, 

 or unless the operator was enabled to gather in- 

 formation from suggestions unconsciously let fall 

 by somebody around. I have on several occasions 

 managed to accomplish tests without actual con- 

 tact, but I have always been sufficiently near to 

 my ' subject ' to receive from him — and to act 

 upon accordingly — any impressions that he physi- 

 cally might convey." 



The power is doubtless not an uncommon one, 

 and is closely allied to the knack for reading 

 character, which is quite common, and to the 

 usual processes by which we detect lies and sus- 

 picious persons, or avoid being imposed upon. 

 Mr. Cumberland believes that the process might 

 be of actual use in detecting criminals, and once 

 succeeded in doing this himself. The operation of 

 muscle-reading is a very fatiguing one, and the 

 thing is apt to be overdone by amateurs. Mr. 

 Cumberland's experiences are important, be- 

 cause they will aid in divesting these psychic 

 tricks of the mysterious character so commonly 

 ascribed to them, and in directing popular thought 

 into more rational and healthy channels. 



THE PRISONERS OF THE SOUDAN. 

 When General Gordon fell at Khartoom, it was 

 reported that an Egyptian army far up the Nile, 

 commanded by Emin Bey, continued faithful to 

 the khedive. Since then only vague rumors have 

 reached us ; and it was generally believed that 

 Emin Bey and his army had long since been over- 

 come by the mahdi, his followers dispersed, and 

 he himself killed. Within the last month, news 

 has been received that Emin Bey is alive, and, 

 though neglected and forgotten by the khedive 



and his English rulers, is still fighting under the 

 Egyptian flag against the followers of the mahdi. 



About ten years ago, Emin Bey, then Dr. 

 Schwitzler of Silesia in A.ustria, went to Egypt 

 and entered the service of the khedive. He soon 

 acquired the confidence of General Gordon, his 

 commanding officer, and was rapidly promoted, 

 and sent on several important missions into the 

 southern part of Egypt. As a reward for his 

 ability and success, he was made Emin Bey. 

 When General Gordon was sent to the Soudan, 

 Emin Bey was given command of the upper Nile, 

 with headquarters at Lado, near Gondokoro. 

 Here he was stationed when General Gordon was 

 sent the second time to the Soudan. General 

 Gordon was soon after besieged in Khartoom by 

 the mahdi, and his communication both with 

 upper and lower Egypt cut off. Emin Bey grad- 

 ually retreated with his soldiers and their families 

 up the Nile, fighting as he retired, and defeating 

 the mahdi in several battles, until he made a 

 permanent settlement at Wadelai, on the Nile 

 (not far from Lake Albert), at the extreme south- 

 em limit of Egypt. His people are negroes from 

 Nubia and the Soudan. For the last two or three 

 years they have supported themselves by the cul- 

 tivation of the land. " All the stations are busily 

 employed in agricultural work, and at each one 

 considerable cotton plantations are doing well ; 

 this is all the more important for us, as it enables 

 us, to a certain extent, to cover our nakedness. 

 I have also introduced the shoemaker's art, and 

 we now make our own soap," writes Emin Bey. 



Emin Bey has but two Europeans with him, — 

 Dr. Junker and Captain Cassati. Dr. Junker is a 

 Russian scientist, and, like his friend and former 

 companion. Dr. Schweinfurth, is a distinguished 

 botanist. Eight or ten years ago he went to 

 Africa, and continued the explorations com- 

 menced by Dr. Schweinfurth in the valley of the 

 Bahr-el-Gazel, the western branch of the Nile. 

 He also explored the head waters of the Welle, 

 — one of the largest tributaries of the Kongo, — 

 and afterwards traced the course of another large 

 river, which Dr. Junker himself believed to be 

 the Arouhuimi. The troops of the mahdi overran 

 the country, and Dr. Junker was forced to retire. 

 By great good luck he succeeded in joining Emin 

 Bey, and has remained with him. The other 

 European with Emin Bey is Gaetano Cassati, for- 

 merly a captain in the Italian army. He left Italy 

 in 1879, with several other Italians, and landed 

 upon the east coast of Africa. They spent several 

 years in that part of Africa which the Italians 

 have explored, until his companions were killed 

 and he made a prisoner. He finally escaped, and 

 made his way to Emin Bey at Gondokoro. 



