MISCELLANEOUS.

Southland Times, Issue 1571, 30 April 1872, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

I Sir Samuel Baker's African Expedition. — An interesting letter from Sir Samuel Baker, addressed to the Prince of Wales, has been published. It is dated as far back as 26th August, at which time Sir S. Baker was at Gondokoro, which place he had claimed in the name of his master, the Viceroy of Egypt. It may be as well to mention that the object .of this expedition started by the Viceroy is, to put down the slave trade, which is carried on to a frightful extent in Upper Egypt and Nubia ; and, at the same time, to open these countries to legitimate trading. The difficulties of nature and human nature against which Sir Samuel Baker has had to contend, have been well-nigh insuperable. The distance from Khartoun to Gondokoro is not more than 700 miles, but it took the expedition 175 days to make the journey. The river vegetation is so luxuriant, that it is necessary to cut a way for the boats, whilst the. passive hostility of the officials — moat of whom, draw large private revenues from the slave traffic — -added fresh difficulties to be overcome. Sir Samuel Baker will establish his head- quarters at Gondokoro, and commence by reducing to obedience the Bavis, a war-like tribe closely allied to the slave-catchers. He can write only once a year, so that plenty of room is left for speculation as to what may be the tenor of his next despatch. Lincoln Sheep. — As a great deal of attention is now being paid in New Zealand to the breeding of large-framed, long-woolled sheep, the following account of what has been realised, and may therefore be realised again, from a Lincoln ewe, may prove of interest to those engaged in pastoral pursuits. The sheep waß killed at Deptford, England, at the age of 4 years and 9 months. The dead weight per quarter was 671b5., the total live weight 36_lbs. The length ol wool was 12 inches, and during its lifetime four fleeces had been clipped from it, of the aggregate weight of 601ba., the wool fetching 2s. per lb. Tbe total money as realised from the four fleeces, five lambs, and carcase, was estimated at £23 10s.— Nelson Evening Mail. The population of Great Britain and Ireland in round numbers is 31 millions; the acreage 78 millions, or 2^ acres for each person. The population of Australasia (including Tasmania and New Zealand,) is a little under 2 millions ; the acreage 1600 millions, or 800 acres for each person. In Great Britain and Ireland there are 9 millions of cattle, and 33 millions of sheep. In Australasia there are 4 millions of cattle, and 49 millions of sheep. The 33 millions of sheep in Great Britain produce nearly as much wool as the 49 millions in Australasia. - A Young Positivist. — Parson --- What's a miracle ? Boy —Dun no. Parson — Well, if the sun were to shine in the middle of the night, what should you say it was ? Boy— The moon. Parson —But if you were told it was the sun, what should you say it was ? Boy — A lie. Parson — I don't tell lies. Suppose I told you it was the sun, what should you say then ? Boy — That yer wasn't sober ! — Punch. Antidote to Strychnine. — W. M. Moore, Homceopathist, of Sydney, communicates the following to a paper in that city : — " An antidote to strychnine is common smoking tobacco. Two cases are selected to convey some idea of its power— one, alarge pointer dog, which had eaten poisoned meat, and showed strong symptoms of poisoning by strychnine. I first gave ten grains of camphor in liquid form, in spite of which the dog had several violent spasms, and ultimately went»s stiff as an iceberg. I then gave him a decoction of tobacco, which, as the spasm relapsed, slowly passed down his throat • the muscles again became so perfectly rigid

for full five minutes that the only sign of life remaining was a slight action ot the heart ; the spasm gradually gave way, the animal got on its feet, vomited the contents of bis stomach, and in fifteen minutes was as well as ever, and has so continued ever since. From this and several other experiments I deem tobacco a perfect antidote to strychnine, and, should occasion offer, I would without hesitation administer a decoction of our common smoking tobacco. The meihod hitherto adopted was to cut up half an ounce fig tobacco, saturate it in a pint of hot water, press it out, and administer from one-fourth to' the lot as a dose according to the circumstances of the case."