1206 General Notes. | December, 
The other German annexations in the Pacific are New Ireland, 
3398.8 square miles, New Britain, 9348.8 square miles, and the 
Bismarck archipelago 15,261.6 square miles, in all about 65,512 
English geographical square miles. The same authority gives 
twice the size of Ireland. Arminius Vambery contributes to 
the September issue of the Proc. Roy. Geog. Society a list of 
the names of towns, rivers, etc., in the disputed country between 
Merv and Herat. Russian geographical exploration of the 
Caucasus has begun. MM. Iljin and Dimick have traveled 
among its glaciers, climbed its passes and given an account of 
their travels in Petermann’s Mittheilungen. Ushba is estimated 
at 16,500 feet, Tetuuld at15,500 or thereabouts. The Swanetians, 
to whose brutality Russian officers fell victims a few years ago, 
are now quiet. M. Dimick has explored the glaciers of Elbruz. 
From the resumé of these explorations given by D. W. Freshfield, 
it does not appear that they add greatly to the work done by 
Mr. Grove, Captain Telfer, Mr. Phillips-Wolley and Mr. Fresh- 
field. 
Arrica.—African News,—Notwithstanding the comparative fail- 
ure of M. Giraud’s expedition, he has added much to our knowl- 
edge of Lake Bangweolo and its neighborhood. The form of the 
lake, as given by him, differs widely from that given by Living- 
stone, and the Luapula head of the Congo issues from its south- 
ern prolongation. M. Giraud has traced it as far as Lake Mcero. 
or Mero Mkata. It may yet be proven that the Lualuba, may 
be the true head-stream of the Congo, as, where it issues from 
Lake Upembe, it has, according to Herr Reichard, a width of © 
1000 to 1500 feet. Mr. Grenfell reports that Tippo Tib, the 
well-known Arab slaver, is evidently preparing for a permanent 
occupation of Stanley falls. He is making large plantations and 
is expecting 2000 more men. From the collections made by 
M. Humblot during a stay of several months on Great Comoro, 
it appears that no indigenous mammal is found there. Thirty- 
four species of birds were found. After an examination of the 
collections MM. Milne-Edwards and Oustalet came to the con- 
clusion that the fauna has no relation with that of Madagascar, 
but has been imported from neighboring regions, 
_ AMERiIcA—American News—Mr. Glaisher has ascended the 
Berbice river and Wieroonie creek from Georgetown. The banks 
e thickly populated. After passing someislands the river opens 
into wide lake-like expanses of water, the land becoming high. 
e the first rapids Mr. Glaisher left the river for its tributary, 
leroonie creek, which he ascended to within a day’s journey 
ra river——M. Violet d’ Aouest has discovered in 
flanks of the most elevated mountains, argilla- 
