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stated his plans and hopes , and received an invitation to accompany the hunter on his next journey to Matabililand . A couple of months later in the same year ( 1866 ) the expedition set out on its journey northwards , Mauch having as his sole means of geographical observation a pocket compass

, while his little outfit of clothing and writing materials were packed in a small chest in the Avagon . This occupation seemed inexplicable to the Matabili : his researches on jthe geology , the vegetation , and the natural history of their country aroused

their suspicions , and , like all Avilcl tribes , they looked upon the man who travelled with no ostensible and reasonable hope of profit , either from traffic or the chase , as either a spy Avith evil intentions towards their nation , or a lunatic who mi ght be alloAved " fool's liberty " so long as he kept out of active mischief .

The history of these journeys is somewhat too hurriedly passed OA'er in notice before us , and Ave may therefore supply a feAv dates to enable our readers to understand Avhat the energy and determination of the explorer enabled him to accomplish ,

Avith such imperfect means , and in the face of so many difficulties . On the 3 rd of August , 1866 , the party had halted on the Umvuli river , and there , between that river and a little tributary , probably the Simbo rivulethe had discoA'ered and

, marked down gold ; this he placed by estimation in latitude 17 ° 40 ' , or about 30 miles too far north . A small error , indeed , considering that he had no instrument for astronomical obsen'ation ; and in July , 1867 , he had gained a point about

20 miles further on the Imbula River ; during this journey he found gold in one place on the Umshezwie River , and no feAver than four on the Sebaque ; and he had also discovered the precious metal on the Tati and the Impagne Rivers . He had mapped with a very close

approximation to correctness the river and geographical features of this region , and had probably indicated its geology and the probability of finding the precious metal in the various parts of it . In his own Avords , he sums up the results

of the two journeys thus : — " I gh'e you short notice that I have been A'ery successful in finding gold ; not in small scarcely visible specks , but in great quartz ; i . e ., goldfields , one of them more

The Palace Of The Queen Of Sheba.

than 60 miles long , the other about 20 miles broad ( length not then ascertained ) , besides numerous small parallel veins . " The letter was dated Potehefsfcroom , 2 nd December , 1867 , and on the 3 rd he again writes : — "Ivory , ostrich-feathersand gold have

, always been considered the main products of Africa . The two first now form the chief remittances from here , but gold—aye , precious gold , has been hitherto been hid . But I speak now of days past , for Mr . Hartley , the elephant huntermay count

, among the results of his last hunt the discovery of two goldfields of enormous extent ; the first of which has been traced and seen in different latitudes to be more

than 80 miles in length by 2 or 3 in breath ; the other is 22 miles broad , and promises to be most valuable ; in fact , rivalling the diamonds recently discovered near llopetown—of the jmrest AV—No . gold . Many smaller and so-called veins of the precious metal haA'e likewise been

discovered . The A'ast extent and beauty of these goldfields are such that at a particular spot I stood as it Avere transfixed to the place , struck Avith amazement at the sight , and for a few moments Avas unable to use

the hammer . Thousands of persons might here find ample room to Avork without interfering with one another . I vouch for these facts , and specimens in my possession will prove them truth . —Signed C . MAUCH , Naturalist . " To be continued .

A Chinese Solomon.

A CHINESE SOLOMON .

How he decides which of two men loved a woman best . An unusual case , showing the fertility of resource and quickness of thought of the better class of the Chinese is reported by the North China Herald from Nankin .

During the Taeping rebellion a married Chinaman resident in that city , joined a regiment Avhich was ordered for service against the rebels . Ho did not return at the close of the struggle , and nothing being heard of him for several years afterwards

, his wife believing herself a AVICIOAV , listened to the advances of another man AVIIO professed love for her , and who pressed his suit so ardently that she consented to join