and Carthaginians are becoming very rare. The ruins of Carthage can now scarcely be called such, for only a lively fancy can discover them. But learned investigation, incited by the finding of these numerous inscriptions, will turn with renewed interest to this scene of a wonderful history. The indications of Roman rule are very abundant, and the joy that is experienced in wandering among these relics, and reveling successively with the remains of the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, and Byzantines, as well as those of the followers of the Prophet from Mecca, fully repays the traveler for the indignities received from the native Moslems.

one.

The comparison between the past and the present is a sad Islamism has stripped these regions of every bloom, and has turned into a desert what was once a fertile garden. The inhabitants have lost all sense of the past; the ruins of the ancient Carthaginians and Romans are for them nothing but old stones which they at least do not destroy as a matter of principle. In one respect there is not the least difference between Tunis and Tripoli: they are both suffering under the most exhausting Turkish despotism. The whole system of government seems reduced to robbery, which Turkish officials understand how to practice with incredible cunning. Even the judges are said to regard their positions as facilities for extortion; he who can offer the most, obtains the judgment in his favor. The people, therefore, seem to care to do but little more than live from hand to mouth, for the fruits of their labor would be literally expressed from them by their rulers. They thus succumb to poverty as to fatalism.

Tripoli is at the present time more favored than Tunis in having a ruler more considerate toward his people, and at the same time more efficient in the art of ruling. This arises partly from the fact that he is not a Turk but an Algerian Arab, and is thus in closer communion with the population than his predecessors, and he has succeeded in making the thought of the Turkish yoke at least bearable to his people. He was educated in France, and has thereby acquired some ideas of humanity, and has consequently taken quite an interest in various efforts at reform. But they have unfortunately all failed, because undertaken without any connection with each other, and without any adequate preparation for their exe

cution or continuance. But personally he is a humane ruler, with a great aversion to pompous Oriental extravagance, and with quite a desire and capacity to harmonize and co-operate with Europeans. And of late he has had ample opportunity to do this on account of the European expeditions fitted out in this port to penetrate into Central Africa.

Nearly all the German expeditions of late years to these mysterious regions, under the control of Barth, Vogel, Overweg, Beurmann, Rohlfs, and the unfortunate one of the singular Alexandrine Tinné, have made Tripoli their objective point. The limits of our article will permit us to make nothing more than incidental mention of these, as we find it necessary, in view of space and system, to confine ourselves to the northern coast of Africa. It is well known, however, that several of these expeditions were very successful in making their way from Tripoli across Fezzan via Mourzook, its capital, and over the desert of Sahara at its narrowest point, to Lake Tsad and the kingdom of Bornou, in Central Africa. These explorers sometimes undertook their dangerous task almost single-handed; and again, under the auspices of geographical associations or the patronage of the Government. But they were all greatly gratified at finding an unexpectedly warm and generous welcome at the hands of the sable Sultan of Bornou. There thus gradually grew up a feeling of friendship between the negro ruler and his German visitors; and finally he felt inclined to send a few characteristic presents to the Prussian King with words of amity. These were, of course, graciously received, and King William could do no less than reciprocate these courtesies. This it was resolved to carry out in a style that would impress the Sultan by the magnificence and beauty of the presents sent; and it was consequently resolved to organize a new expedition to bear them to Bornou, with a view of impressing the principal ruler of Soudan with the power and generosity of his friend.

The charge of organizing this expedition was intrusted to Rohlfs, as the man who, by his practical character and experience, would be most likely to put it successfully under way. And for this purpose he proceeded to Tripoli, as a government agent, and presented his credentials to the ruling Pasha to whom we have already alluded. The latter heartily

sympathized in the enterprise, and seemed proud to have relations with the agents of the German Government, and so Rohlfs had a fair field for his labor, which was quite a responsible one, in view of the dangerous journeying over the desert with his valuable gifts. These consisted of a throne, needleguns, a telescope, a chronometer, watches, portraits of the royal family, essence of roses, genuine corals, silks, cloths, and velvets.

We need hardly say that these would be sore temptations to the wandering, thieving Arabs and vagabonds of the desert, and that it would be quite impossible to hide their value from them-indeed, they would be more than likely greatly to exaggerate this. It would consequently be absolutely necessary to have a most determined leader and band to protect these treasures, and convey them to their destination. But to obtain these was no easy task. Rohlfs, on his way to Tripoli, had resolved to seek out and engage a loyal Arab chief and traveler of extensive experience for this enterprise. But on his arrival he learned that Mohammed Gatroni had disappeared on some expedition, and was not to be found in all Fezzan. In this dilemma, Rohlfs, by the advice of Maltzan, who was then in Tripoli in the interest of his inscriptions, resolved, with the consent of the Prussian Government, to appoint Dr. Nachtigal leader of the expedition, as Rohlfs himself had explored. the entire country and preferred making some new explorations to undertaking a mere diplomatic service. This Doctor Nachtigal was a Prussian subject in the service of the Bey of Tunis as his court physician, and just the man in this capacity to make a pleasant impression on the Sultan of Bornou.

Nachtigal, however, was unwilling to undertake the enterprise unless he could fit out an expedition which, under the patronage that he hoped to obtain from the monarch of Soudan, would enable him to penetrate into Southern or Central Africa, and learn something more about these regions, in the interest of the government that employed him. This caused a delay of several months for preparation, during which time Rohlfs was obliged patiently to wait. But he took advantage of this delay to equip himself for another expedition along the northern coast as far as Alexandria, which we shall presently give in detail. When Nachtigal was nearly ready to start,

Rohlfs was one day surprised to see Gatroni riding grandly into Tripoli high on his charger, and proud of the task that he heard was awaiting him, proving by his presence that the story of his disappearance was an error. Rohlfs immediately resolved to put the expedition under charge of both of them, Nachtigal as diplomatic agent, and Gatroni as military leader.

Finally Nachtigal arrived at Tripoli with his stately caravan, whose ostentation impressed the natives and set the Europeans in a fever of delight at the sight of an official German act on the shores of Africa. The whole colony was in a state of lively excitement at the event, and looked on with astonishment as the North German flag was raised above a caravan that was to bear it officially into the heart of Africa, plant it on the residence of a Christian in the capital of Bornou, and probably transport it in triumph through Central Africa to the Indian or the Atlantic Ocean. It was thought that this significant act should not be initiated without a solemn ceremony that would impress the natives. On the day of the departure of the caravan, therefore, Rohlfs invited all the consuls and the principal officials and families of the city to be present at a farewell festival. The guests appeared punctually at the border of a forest of palms, where Nachtigal had pitched his tent and the camels were resting beside the baggage. Here a festive pic-nic, consisting of sheep roasted whole in Arabian style, and many other delicacies of the season and the country, was bountifully served. The Consul of the Netherlands offered a toast to the health of King William, others drank to the success of the expedition, and all were in a jubilant state, when Rohlfs started off an impromptu dance on the green in European style. The merry capering so delighted the sober Moslems that Gatroni vowed by the head of the Prophet that on his return from Bornou he would without delay proceed direct to Prussia.

On the next morning the caravan began its march, and Rohlfs, in the happy consciousness of having intrusted the royal presents to safe hands, returned to Tripoli to prepare for his own departure. But the experience of the expedition was by no means all smooth. In passing through Fezzan it was so annoyed by the wandering hordes of this great oasis that it was finally obliged to halt at its capital, Mourzook. Here it was

besieged for a time until it obtained reinforcements from some loyal tribes; and the matter of sending a company of Prussians with needle-guns was even seriously mooted in Germany, for the fame of these warriors and their weapons in the campaign of 1866 had even reached the interior of Africa, and a few of them would have put ten thousand of the enemy to flight. Arrangements were finally made that justified them in starting, and after a difficult and perilous journey they at last arrived safely at Kuka, the capital of Bornou. Some months ago the German geographers in solemn session had a grand time over the accounts sent to them by Nachtigal of his reception by the Sultan. He approached the royal residence in company with a Turkish embassador, and the Sultan's oldest son came out to meet him with a princely retinue, adorned with the colors of the rainbow, and armed with every weapon that they could command. Nachtigal's presentation to the negro prince was a perfect triumph, and his gilded throne and needle-guns were regarded with admiration and wonder; the famous guns receiving the most distinguished place in the royal arsenal.

With this episode we return to Rohlfs, to follow him on a deeply interesting journey from Tripoli along the northern coast to Alexandria, with a view to spy out the land for colonization under the impulses of the Suez Canal and the resurrection of the German empire, and the remarkable foothold that the latter power by these peaceful and scientific expeditions is likely to acquire.

His first objective point was the region around Cyrene, a district east of Tripoli, which the Turkish Government in vain endeavored to colonize by force, with a view to profit by the opening of the Canal of Suez. The way thither lies over Bengasi, and around the great Gulf of Sidra, which at this point approaches very near the desert. After the rainy season this route is almost impassable and sometimes absolutely dangerous. It seems as if the sea extended its watery arm far into the interior, and was desirous of reaching the desert itself. Rohlfs maintains that comparatively slight excavations and canaling would give the sea ready access to the Great Desert, and turn it into one mighty inland sea; and he was obliged to cross the gulf in a vessel, and thus reach Bengasi, on account of the inundation of the sea into the land.