THE SOUDAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 84, 13 April 1904, Page 3

THE SOUDAN.

CAB.TAIX L'ERFANT'S EXPEDITION. (Received April 12, 11.16 p.m.) PARIS, April 12. Captain l'Enfant, who lias niada an important discovery of a waterway to Lake Tchad, in Central Soudan, rendering it accessible by boat from the sea, met with some thrilling experiences. ITe was accompanied by a small party, and in traversing the Central African districts encountered savage races of people. The parly had to make its way through almost impenetrable vegetation. The explorer discovered' a maze ot cataracts along the waterway connecting the basin of the Shari River, which flows into Lake Tchad with that of the Binue, the principal eastern affluent of the Niger. A wonderfully rich cotton and rubber growing and pastoral country was traversed in tire vicinity of Lagone.

The result of Captain l'Enfant's mission is regarded by the French as of considerable importance, as it will bo possilric for them to send goods to their Central African colonies l<y way of the in much less time and at much cheaper rates than by way of the Congo. Captain l'Enfant's mission though approved by the Government, was in reality due to the French Geographical Society, who had been much struck by the officer's reports that the natives at Lolcoja had often told him of big canoes which descended the Ilinue from a "river which had no banks." This convinced the ollicer that there was a navigiibile route to the lake, and this he set out to find, starting from Lokoja on the Uth August. A specially built steel flatbottomed lA)at, weigfiirg four tons, and capable of carrying 20 tons, was sent out from Fiance to Torcados, and in it the officer ami his friends were towed by a British steamer up to Garna, in the upper Cameroons. Then began the unknown part of the journey, which has resulted according to the above message,in the discovery of a continuous communication between the Atlantic and Lake Tchad, which lies some 800 miles inalnd. Capt. l'Enfant, who lias the co-opera-tion of SIM. Delevoye and Lahure, was to execute a careful survey, and it was anticipated the party would possibly return by way of the Nile. Whether the latter achievement was accomplished or not, is not stated, but the general sucress of the expedition appears to Ue beyond question.