458 



Progress of Geography in 1836-7. 



[ApRit 



fvhicii so generously conveyed Captain Allen up the river, in order to 

 examine it, has remained at Feniando Po, and in her Mr. Becroft has 

 again ascended the Quorra, and also the old Calabar river of our maps, 

 which he believes to be a branch of the deltoidal mouth of the Quorra. 

 This seems to require confirmation. 



South -Here the spirit of exploration has been latterly very 



active. The roving habits acquired by the boors near the Karroo, the 

 commercial relations of the colony with the nations of the interior, and 

 the nature of the country, all tend to throw the enterprise of the colo- 

 nists into a channel favourable to geographical discovery. Br. Andrew 

 Smith, the leader of the expedition which left Cape Town on discovery 

 two years since, has recently arrived in London, bringing with him a 

 large collection in various departments of natural history. He has 

 visited the sources of the Caledon and the Maputa ; has ascended the 

 heights of the CafFrarian Mountains, and advanced as far as the 

 southern tropic in the tracks of the traders. As yet, however, there 

 is but little known of the geographical results of his journey, which 

 cannot fail to be highly important, as his party was well provided with 

 instruments. In the spring of last year two traders from the colony, 

 Messrs. Mehem and Jones, reached Delagoa Bay with loaded waggons, 

 being the first to beat a path which we dare say will soon be much fre- 

 quented. Captain Gardner, while seeking a pass practicable for wag- 

 gons through the Quathlamba Mountains from Natal to the Orange 

 River, arrived within a few mfles of the sources of this great stream. 

 It is to be lamented that his hasty search proved unsuccessful. 

 The country round and immediately north of the sources of the Orange 

 River has been narrowly examined by the French Protestant Mis- 

 sionaries. 



On the western coast the Wesleyan Missionaries have resumed their 

 labours in Great Namaqua ; and it is to them that we must look for a 

 better knowledge of the natives, and for the spread of civilization 

 and Christianity, the most worthy object of geographical discovery. 



In this direction also Captain Alexander departed in September last 

 from Cape Town, on his way to the Damaras country and to Walvisch 

 Bay, which he hoped to reach by last March. His route has been by 

 Clan William, and the Kamiesberg, across the Orange River ; and by 

 the latest accounts, dated January 1, 1837, he was at Africaaner's 

 Kraal, in latitude 28" south, longitude about 19<» east. All his 

 party well, and only waiting for a few showers of rain to continue his 

 journey to the northward. 



