592 General Notes. [July, 
On April tst the French Geographical Society gave a recep- 
tion to Dr. Lenz, on his return from Timbuktu. The suc- 
cessful traveler gave some interesting details on the present 
condition of Timbuktu. Its houses are built of brick, and the 
population is now only 20,000. It has greatly decayed, and the 
inhabited part of the town is surrounded by great spaces covered 
with ruins, There are numerous schools and rich libraries. Dr. 
learned men of the city held with his interpreter. The commen- 
taries on the Koran formed the only subject of conversation. Tim- 
buktu is united with the Niger three miles off by a series of lakes 
formerly canals, Dr. Lenz has also made some interesting ob- 
servations on the Sahara, tending to confirm the conclusions of 
Rohifs and other recent scientific travelers, as to the variety which 
is to be met with in the great desert. It is really a plateau about 
300 meters in altitude, no part of it being below the level of the 
sea. Granite hills, sandy plains, shallow lakes, fertile oases alternate 
over nearly the whole surface, while beasts of prey are rarely to 
be met with. Dr. Lenz does not advocate the construction of a 
railroad from the Niger to Algeria. 
No fewer than seven different languages are spoken on om 
side of Lake Nyassa, which is only 350 miles in length, an 
natives from the southern end cannot understand those at the 
northern. 
tire absence of Arabs. The Wabikari, who live near where “v 
missionaries are settled, have shown themselves well dispose¢, 
though they have the reputation of being thieves and enemies to 
all strangers. They were anxious for the party to settle among 
them on their arrival, but, the Bikari district lying low, it .. 
thought wiser to occupy the right bank of the Murembue, whic 
appeared a healthier site. 
After the completion of seventy or eighty miles, i ie 
from Dar-es-Salaam to Lake Nyassa has been tempornney 
discontinued. Its superintendent is now employed by he ee 
tan of Zanzibar exploring the neighboring region. +45 prs 
has already,had an excellent, even marvelous, effect upo? *~ 
