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[Kxtkrkd at tub Pint Ofkick, in Atlanta, (1 Knit'll a, roit tbanhtoutation tiikocoh tux Unitkd Htatb PUBLISHED 1 -r rr , T T TWICE A MOUTH, f V ULi. 1. ATLANTA, GA., FEBRUARY 1, 188 THE KINGDOM OF THE BAMBABAH. Exploration!) in Central Africa have been a subject of unfailing interest, not only to scientists ami geographers but to the gener al public, for some years past; and no small share of the attention drawn to these enter prises has been given to the expedition led by Captain Gallieni to the upper portions of the valleys of the Senegal and the Niger. The party under Capt. Gallieni’s command were attacked by the Bambaras at Dio, and upon their subsequent return to Saint Lou is of Senegal, the details of their arduous undertaking became known to the public. The object of this expedition was in gen eral to explore the valley of the Niger, and in particular to make surveys and prepara tions for military and trading establish ments along the commercial route projected by the French government in that section of Soudan. The persons to whom this mis sion was intrusted were, in addition to Capt. Gallieni of the marine infantry, already named, Lieutenant Pietri of the marine rounded by more than 1,600 lijinhuras, in Ba-Oule pass, and made heroic efforts to break through the circle which imprisoned it and re-unite with the main body. Capt. Gallfcni, having arrived, after a desperute struggle in which he lost nearly all of his escort and the greater part of his effects, found Dr. Tautain hemmed in by a force of the enemy numbering fifty times ids own. The assailants having at length beaten off, the march was resumed toward the Niger, whither all the wounded were carried, and Bammako was finally reached. Here the party found Lieutcnnnt Pietri, who had preceded them, and Lieut. Valliere, who had arrived, almost alone from the Southern field of exploration. After these disasters, the party found it self without either ammunition to fight with or presents to offer, so that to pro ceed either by force or diplomacy seemed no longer possible. A consultation was held, and although to go forward was appa rently to invite certain death, there was no suggestion of retreat, and the march was at and a treaty was finally consummated by which the expedition was enabled to set out on its return march. On the 12th of May, 1881, the exploring purty disembarked at Saint Louis of Sene gal, where it met with an enthusiastic re ception. A short time afterwards, at Bor deaux in France, its arrival was greeted with manifestations of welcome, in which the press throughout Europe cordially joined. At Toulouse, at Rochefort, and at the headquarters of the Paris Geographical Society, similar honors were bestowed on Capt. Gallieni and his three companions, and the Society extended to the chief of the expedition a request tojdeliver a lecture at tlieSorbonne upon the history and results of his undertaking. Our illustration gives an example of one of the primitive yet not altogether barba rous industries of the Upper Niger, a region peopled by the Bambnra race. The weavers compose a ssparate tribe among them, their occupation being to manufacture the strips of cotton cloth, about sixteen inches in If I were in danger of becoming skeptical, says T. Starr King, I believe that a vivid apprehension of the revelations concerning our globe would appall me into faith. To think of this ball whirling and spinning about the sun, and be an atheist! To feel that we are at the mercy of the forces that lash us like a top around the ecliptic and of the raving flames that heave and beat for vent; not more than an eighth of its sur face inhabitable by man; seas roaring around him; tropic heats smiting his brain; polar frosts threateninghisblood; hurricanes hov ering in the sky; earthquakes slumbering under our feet; the conditions of life de- pend on the most delicate powers, over which the wisest man is helpless—to think of these, and not to have confidence in a power superior to these pitiless forces, not to have a faith that the land is sheltered by a ceaseless lave from the hunger of the ele ments! Go, learn that you_are houseless, without A BAMBARA WEAVER, VALLEY OF THE UPPER NIGER. artillery, Lieutenant Valliere of the marine infantry, and Drs. Tautain and Bayol, naval physicians. The intention was that Dr. Bayol should remain at B nmnmko on the Niger, as resident representative of French interests on that great river. The escort comprised about 30 sharp-shooters arad native Sene gal spies, the baggage, and the presents in tended for the chiefs with whom the party would be compelled to negotiate, being car ried by 200 asses and 20 mules. Since the early part of March. 1880, Capt. Gallieni lias been exploring this unknown country. He divided his officers so as to comprise in the execution of his plan nt once the Northern, Southern and Central sections. On the 20th of April he was at Kita, about 200 kilometers from the Niger. The further the expedition advanced the more the suspicions of the natives increased. At Dio, active hostilities broke out. A portion of the exploring party, sepa- • ated from the rest, was surprised and sur- once resumed. The men nourished them selves on such food as could bo obtained, and the sick and wounded crawled painfully along. In this manner the expedition at length arrived within a few leagues of Se- gou-Sikoro, the headquarters of the Sultan Ahmadou, with whom it was necessary to negotiate. Huving halted here, with their clothes blood-stained and tattered, their baggage gone and destitute both of arms and of the means for propitiating an un friendly court with gifts, the explorers foud themselves regarded by the Sultan’s people with a distrust amounting to hostili ty. As a result, Capt. Gallieni and his men were obliged to remain at Nango, a distance of several kilometers from Segou, through ten dreary months, comprising the rainy season, also the season of fevers, without medicines or resources of any kind, and un able to obtain direct communication with the Sultan. Patience and resolute spirit, however, at length overcome all obstacles, width which, when sewed together consti tutes the dress-goods of that unsophisticated community. The cotton, which is a pro duct of the Bambara soil, is spun by the women, and in weaving the fabric the coarse combs shown in our engraving are the principal mechanism. Considering the rude social condition of the tribe, the pro cess and implements used display a sur prising degree of ingenuity, and it must be added that the head of the family, while engaged in the businessof the establishment, is very actively employed, hands and feet alike being kept in diligent operation. The garment of the male Bambara con sists of a species of a shirt, provided with a hole through which to pass the head. Short, trousers of Arabian shape complete the’’ costume. The dress of tha women generally consists of a plain cloth, bound around'tbe loins. The simplicity of the Bambara fashion-plates must, we judge, be painfully monotonous to a civilized taste. the sense of God os overarching you by his power, twisting the furious forces of im mensity into a protecting tent for your spirit home. Edward Eggleston, in Scribner’s Monthly, makes the following criticism on Sunday School work: Too much attention to dog matic questions and too little to questions of conduct; too much bondage to Biblo teachings and too little devotions to the production of Christian character; too much superficial revivalistic work and too little broad philanthropic endeavor; too much preparatory lesson hearing and too little of the affectionate, long life attachment of ‘god-child; too much'system and too little common sense; too much memory and too little sympathy." Os* of the most useful and valuable presents to a young man, is a chest of good •ools.