slaves, and thought it possible
to obtain from them information of the unknown parts of the African
continent. I soon discovered that the Mohammedan natives of Soudan were
much farther advanced in mind, than the idolatrous inhabitants of the
coast.--Several blacks of Haoussa and Adamawah related to me that they
had taken part in expeditions against a nation called _Niam Niams_, who
had _tails_. They traced their route, on which they encountered tigers,
giraffes, elephants, and _wild camels_. Nine days were consumed in
traversing an immense forest. They reached at length a numerous people
of the same complexion and frame as themselves, but with tails from
twelve to fifteen inches long, &c., &c."

* * * * *

The Paris journals announce that M. Vallee, one of the officials of the
Jardin des Plantes, has succeeded in hatching a turtle by artificial
means. On the 14th of July last, he found some turtles' eggs on the sand
in the inclosure reserved for the turtles, and placed three of them
under his apparatus in the reptile department. On the 14th of this month
he examined the eggs, and found a turtle, about as big as a walnut, in
full life. He hopes to be able to rear it. This is the first case on
record of one of these creatures having been produced artificially.

Recent Deaths.

The _Brussels Herald_ announces that the aged naturalist, Savigny, has
lately died in Paris. Little has been heard of him for some time in the
scientific world. He was for thirty years a member of the Academy of
Sciences, and was among the _savants_ who accompanied Bonaparte to
Egypt.

* * * * *

We noticed in the last _International_, the decease of Professor
Pattison and Dr. Kearney Rodgers, two of the most eminent physicians and
surgeons of New-York. Their deaths were succeeded in a few days by those
of Dr. J. E. DE KAY (a brother of the late Commodore De Kay), and Dr.
MANLEY. Dr. De Kay was eminent as a naturalist and as an author. He
wrote a brace of volumes about Turkey, many years ago, which were
published by the Harpers, and two of the quarto volumes of the Natural
History of the State of New-York, published by the Government. He was
intimate with Cooper, Irving, Halleck, Paulding, Dr. Francis, and all
the old set of _litterateurs_ in the city. Dr. Manley (father of the
distinguished authoress, Mrs. Emma C. Embury), was known at the
beginning of this century, for ce