416 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
the death of our fellow-explorer, the Naval Officer Mr. Scoouw 
SANTVvoorRT; in these lines I find occasion to record the death 
of another of our fellow-travellers, that of my highly esteemed 
and beloved friend Mr. D. D. Vern, Civil Engineer, who died 
the 19th of May, 1885, near the Kalahanla River, near Ben- 
guella, S. W. Coast of Africa.” 
‘Some time after his return home from Senin he resolved 
on exploring another part of the world, and he chose the 
Cunene River as the object for his researches.”’ 
“ Being a man of great character, who to much learning 
joined a firm will and the power both mental and physical to 
execute what he undertook, Mr. Vern, once resolved, had his 
expedition entirely got up and fully equipped in less than a 
year’s time.”’ 
“The 7th of December, 1884, he arrived at Mossamedes, 
where his travelling companions, Messrs. P. J. vaN DeR KELLEN 
and Ll. J. Gopprrrot, had arrived some short time previous to 
himself.’’ 
“It has not been permitted to this valiant explorer to 
achieve what he had begun. The climate was fatal to him, 
his bodily strength soon gave way, and he died, as a man of 
his character and of his uncommon zeal might die, in the 
midst of his labours, engaged in the fulfilment of the task he 
had undertaken.” 
“T lost in Mr. Veru a noble and dear friend, Holland an 
explorer of rare learning and valour, who, had he been spared, 
might yet have rendered great services to his country,” 
NATIONALITIES OF THE INDO-CHINESE REGION: 
The following sketch of the distribution of the Indo- 
Chinese races and of the nature and extent of Indian influence 
