question whether it was an outlet or an schemes sometimes broached by speculaaffluent of the lake, a question which tors for opening up the African interior. one would think could be easily solved, From the Chimboya Mountains to the but on which Stanley and Cameron pub- south-east of Tanganyika Mr. Thomson lished diametrically opposite statements. found numerous streamlets flowing southAfter visiting the missionary station near wards, doubtless to join the Chambeze, the mouth of the river, and running across which, after passing through many a lake to Ujiji, Mr. Thomson returned to the and levying tribute from a region one Lukuga and traced it for some miles of million square miles in extent, pours its its downward course. After barely escap- almost Amazonian volume, as the Congo, ing from the murderous Warua with their three thousand miles below, into the bolives, the party sailed down the lake, and som of the broad Atlantic. The muchrejoining their companions made the re- debated Lukuga he found, as Mr. Hore turn journey to Zanzibar along the usual had found shortly before him, to be a caravan route with unprecedented rapid- broad and rapid river, flowing westwards ity, in about a year after the expedition from the Tanganyika Lake to the Luaset out under their late chief. Mr. Thom. laba, as the Congo here is called; and son declared with just pride that all this Lake Hikwa he saw was a fine sheet of was accomplished without the shedding water with no outlet, lying among the of a drop of blood for either offensive or lofty mountains, which stretch away east defensive purposes; with one exception from southern Tanganyika. What may he brought all his men back "in the best be the extent and value of the purely geoof health and condition; " he has collected graphical observations obtained by Mr. certain information about a considerable Thomson we have no means of knowing; region which no white man had previously doubtless in this respect the expedition visited; he has solved one of the few suffered in the death of Mr. Johnston, remaining great problems of African who was a trained geographer. But in geography; and he has located with certainty a great salt lake (Hikwa) whose existence previously had only been based on native rumor. Mr. Thomson is a trained geologist, and as such he has doubtless seen more than almost any previous explorer. He tells us of the metamorphic schists and gneiss which compose the mountains of the great central plateau; of the many extinct volcanic cones that lie around the north-west end of Lake Nyassa, and of the metamorphic clay slates, felspathic rocks and volcanic porphyries and tuffs that look down on the lake from the north and north-east. His further geological insight may dispel some of the illusions that seem to be abroad as to the abounding wealth of the African interior. Much of the country between the coast and Nyassa is barren waste; and the chief characteristic of the region between Nyassa and Tanganyika PERHAPS it is impossible for Mr. Rushe found to be "utter barrenness and the kin to do anything commonplace. In his absence of anything worth trading for." most whimsical moods his mastery over Instead of the mountains of iron and the form and framework of language is the miles of surface coal, nowhere did he complete, and he never lapses into dulsee a single metal in a form which a white ness or mediocrity. Whatever subject he man would for a moment look at as a touches he illuminates by the beauty of profitable or workable speculation; there his style, and makes interesting by his is very little more iron, he maintains, than wide grasp and analytic power. His love is sufficient to supply the simple wants of for the quiet processes of nature, and his the natives. Coal he saw none, and he lifelong study of natural objects, fit him does not believe that such a thing exists admirably to expound the science of botover the wide area embraced in his route. any, and vivify the old teachings from a This may be discouraging, but it is whole- new standpoint. His own account of the some, and may prove a check to the wild | origin and aim of "Proserpina" is "that

other respects, in information as to the structure of the country, the nature of its products, and the character of its varied peoples, the expedition under Mr. Thomson has been fruitful to a high degree; altogether it is one of the best pieces of original work which our not too energetic Geographical Society has ever done. Mr. Thomson's well-written and well-read paper was received with enthusiasm by an unusually distinguished audience. We trust to be able very shortly to give details concerning both the geography and geology of the central plateau from Mr. Thomson's own hands.

From Hardwicke's Science-Gossip.

A NEW DEPARTURE IN BOTANY.

it was undertaken to put, if it might be, | perfectly pretty and perfectly good (Lucia, some elements of the science of botany Viola, Margarita, Clarissa). Names ter into a form more tenable by ordinary minating in a, which are not also accepted human and childish faculties; or for I names of girls, may sometimes be none can scarcely say I have any tenure of it the less honorable (Primula, Campamyself to make the paths of approach nula), but for the most part will signify to it more pleasant. In fact, I only know either plants that are only good and of it the pleasant distant effects, which it worthy in a nursery sort of way (Salvia), bears to simple eyes; and some pretty or that are good without being pretty mists and mysteries, which I invite my (Lavandula), or pretty without being good young readers to pierce, as they may, for (Kalmia). But no name terminating in a themselves, my power of guiding them will be attached to a plant that is neither being only for a little way." The first good nor pretty." "The neuter names step Mr. Ruskin takes is to reform the terminating in um will always indicate nomenclature at present in vogue, and his some power either of active or suggestive chief reason for this is very characteristic, evil (Conium, Solanum, Satyrium), or a namely, that the current names of many relation more or less definite to death; flowers are founded on unclean and de- but this relation to death may sometimes basing associations, of the devil's own be noble or pathetic-'which to-day is contriving, and he assures his readers and to-morrow is cast into the oventhat he is always quite serious when he (Lilium). Names terminating in is and e, speaks of the devil. He gives a very if definite names of women (Iris, Ama amusing account of the existing confu- ryllis, Alcestis, Daphne), will always sig sion of names, and tells us, with a touch nify flowers of great beauty, and noble of comic seriousness, that the Hemdro-historic association. If not definitely callis is now to be called Funkia, in honor of Mr. Funk, a Prussian apothecary! As might be expected, through the whole system of plant names proposed by Mr. Ruskin, there runs a distinct didactic no less than an æsthetic purpose. The terminations of the Latin family names will be for the most part of the masculine, feminine, and neuter forms. "Those terminating in us will indicate real masculine strength (Quercus, Laurus), or conditions of dominant majesty (Cedrus), of stubbornness and enduring force (Cratagus), or of peasant-like commonalty and hardship (Funcus), softened, as it may sometimes happen, into gentleness and beneficence (Thymus). The occasional forms in er and i will have similar power (Acer, Basil). Names with the feminine termination a, if they are real names of girls, will always mean flowers that are

names of women they will yet indicate some specialty of sensitiveness or association of legend (Berberis, Clematis)." These extracts will show the sort of ethical botany which Mr. Ruskin proposes. It will very likely appear to many to be more eccentric than useful, more fanciful than practical, yet it seems to me to be a sound principle that there should be a correspondence between the word and the thing, the nature, the essence of any thing, and the word which labels it and fixes it in the storehouse of our language and literature. The literature of flowers

very extensive, and the highest ranges of poetry are adorned with flowers and floral emblems; it is fit, therefore, that every grace of language and idea should group round the bright tribes, "the stars which in earth's firmament do shine."

INDIAN IDEAS OF LIGHTNING.-The In- | accompany this animal. The ancient tribes dians of America have some curious ideas of the Mississippi valley worshipped thunder in about thunder and lightning. Recently two Indian women were struck by lightning in the neighborhood of Fort Bufford as they were carrying provisions to the garrison. The Indians could not be induced to stay near the bodies, which they thought to have become the habitation of an evil spirit. The catastrophe was attributed to the presence of whites. Nearly all the Indians of the United States imagine thunder to be caused by the flapping of the wings of a gigantic bird, while the flashes are iron serpents which everywhere

the form of a god, who was to be propitiated with sacrifices; they offered him a dog whenever it thundered, or a child fell ill. This god was believed to produce fires. The natives of Honduras burn cotton-seeds on the altar of the gods whenever it thunders. More southern tribes do not offer sacrifices, but prostrate themselves abjectly on the ground on approach of a thunderstorm (which naturally diminishes their chance of being struck). In Mexico, sites for temples are supposed to be indicated by the Deity, where lightning strikes.

English Mechanic.

For EIGHT DOLLARS, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded for a year, free of postage.

An extra copy of THE LIVING AGE is sent gratis to any one getting up a club of Five New Subscribers. Remittances should be made by bank draft or check, or by post-office money-order, if possible. If neither of these can be procured, the money should be sent in a registered letter. All postmasters are obliged to register letters when requested to do so. Drafts, checks and money-orders should be made payable to the order of LITTELL & Co.

Single Numbers of THE LIVING AGE, 18 cents.

66

From The Modern Review.
NATURE AND LAW.

The

affirmed, as the doctrine of evolution has now established itself in the minds of an competent judges as an indisputable ver. "THE laws of light and gravitation," ity, science which formerly attacked and wrote Mr. Atkinson to Harriet Martineau mastered only the outworks of theology thirty years ago, "extend over the uni--will be assuredly no less successful in verse, and explain whole classes of phe- its assault on the citadel itself. nomena; " and this "explanation," accord-"creation" of the old revelation will fall ing to the same writer, is all-sufficient, before the "evolution" of the new; the 'philosophy finding no God in nature, notion of power will be superseded by nor seeing the want of any." The "ad- that of law; the evidences of "design' vanced" philosophy of the present time will be disposed of by the fact of "natural goes still further; asserting that as the selection;" and the "potencies" of matprogress of science now places it beyond ter will henceforth be the only subjects doubt that all the phenomena of nature about which sensible men will concern physical, biological, and mental― are but themselves. manifestations of certain fundamental "properties of matter," acting in accordance with fixed laws, "there is no room for a God in nature." And scientific thinkers who do not accept this as the conclusion obviously deducible from their recognition of the universality of the reign of law," are branded as either illogical thinkers, or as cowardly adherents of a bygone superstition men who are either deficient in the power to reason out the conclusions to which their own premises necessarily lead, or have not the courage to face them.

Now I fully accept it as the highest work of the man of science, whatever his department of study, to seek out those "laws" which express the order of nature. But I affirm that even supposing him to have so completely succeeded in his search, as to be able to formulate a general statement in which they could be all embodied, and from which all the phenomena of the universe could be traced out deductively, the question of the cause of those phenomena would be left just where it was; the "law" simply expressing the order and physical conditions of their occurrence, and giving no real"

There can be no question of the influence that is being exerted by the reit-planation" of them. eration of these assertions on the intelligent thought of the younger generation. Over and over again has it been pointed out with truth, that whenever science and theology have come into conflict, theology has had in the end to go to the wall. The Copernican system of astronomy has established itself in spite of the thunders of the Vatican. The geological interpretation of the history of the earth has taken the place of the Mosaic cosmogony in the current belief of educated men, notwithstanding all the denunciations of theological orthodoxy. Any one who should now maintain the universality of the Noachian deluge, to doubt which was once to peril one's salvation, would be laughed at as an ignoramus. The antiquity of man, which no more than twenty years ago was repudiated as a dangerous heresy, has already passed beyond the region of discussion. And so, it is

ex

Much of what seems to me a prevalent confusion of thought on this subject— nothing being more common than to speak of laws as "governing" or "regulating " phenomena, and to affirm that phenomena are sufficiently "accounted for" when they can be shown to be " consequences" of a law seems to me to be traceable to the double sense in which the word "law" is habitually used. And the purpose of my present paper will be to help my readers to "think themselves clear " upon this matter, by showing the fundamental difference between the legal and the strictly scientific conception of law, and by examining into the theological bearing of each. And if, in so doing, I go over ground which has been trodden until it seems perfectly familiar, and use illustrations that may be thought to have been worn to triteness, it is because I believe that the best lessons are often to be drawn from