The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-04 00:00:00

THE SOURCE OF THE NILE.

[rhe following letters have been sent to us for
publication, and our readers, we aro assured, will
thank us for inserting them, seeing that they are
the very original comments upon an enthralling
theme penned by that veteran Traveller and Natu-
ralist, Charles Waterton, the veteran Squire of Walton
Hall, better known to the world at large out of
Yorkshire as the celebrated author of the " Wan-
derings.''—ED, SUN.]

(1)
Walton-hall, March, 1864.

• -
The roar of Lord Nelson's cannon has long ago informed
the world whereabouts this useful river terminates its
course. But its source has not been so satisfactorily de-
fined.

No doubt in its own native land the fountain-head of tls„
Nile, be it large or small, is as well known to thos% Rho
inhabit its vicinity, as the source of the river ;,alder is
to us industrious people who cultivate lands the West
Riding of Yorkshire,
The comforts of home have but little
mold on the mind of
the explorer; thus, the missionary fr
dr the love of God, the
merchant for the love of gold, thr., soldier for glory, and the
adventurer for fame, will d,:fy_ difficulties and resolutely
enter countries where doP:ch in all the horrors of fever,
starvation, and ill-tr
-vitment is everlastingly staring them
in the face.
Great minds,
Will unflinchingly contend with great diffi-
culties--d'"Acuities apparently unconquerable. On some
day, r.ot far off, when winter's cold blasts shall howl dis-
triatly around us, we may in the social chimney-corner take
a comfortable view of old father Nile, and see what those
brave souls have done when engaged in long pursuits of
him, in his mysterious windings to the threshold of his
distant hiding-place. CHARLES WATERTON.

(2)
Walton Hall, March, Mt
" Niins in extremum fugit perterritus orbem
Occubuitque caput, quod adhue latet."
We have before us on the page of history four separate
accounts of good old Father Nile.
Ovid, some 2,003 years ago, has informed us that during
the awful conflagration of the world (caused, we are told,
by the follies of a brainless cabman), Father Nile was scared
out of his wits, and took himself off into Mother Earth's
extremest boundary. There he hid his head, which still
lies concealed ; so far the poet.
For some centuries after this no one knew what had be-
come of the terrified fugitive, until one day some adventu-
rous and holy sons of St. Ignatius d 3 Loyola stumbled on
him in Abyssinia, whilst they were engaged in preaching
Christ crucified to the surrounding Gentiles.

Things went on gingerly in these distant wilds of Africa,
when a well• known native of Caledonia travelled into these
regions in quest of Father Nile's dark cavern. He fancied
that he had succeeded in his investigations ; and he then
informed the scientific world of his success, congratulating
himself that ho alone was the discoverer of the long-hidden
sourca o f the Nile.

And now, in our own days, twa hardy explorers, dissa-
tisfied with former accounts, sallied forth from home, and
stopped not until they had reached the very spot where the
scorched king of the Nile had hidden himself at the time
when the world was on fire.

Should these accounts still ba unsatisfactory, let us hopo
that some experienced investigator may speedily go on his
travels; and that (avoiding, however, the track of the go-
rilla, in which science has lately cut so sad a figure) his
discoveries may content all parties, and prove to the world
at large that the source of the Nile no longer remains a
doubt. Whilst talking of the River Nile, we wish to hear
no more that " Adhue sub jutlice Hs est."

CHARLES WATERTON.

(3)
Walton Hall, March, 1861.
" Sodas ocius sors:axitura."

Leaving to the Roman poet his river and his river's
mysterious hiding-place, let us see what lights the labours
of investigators have thrown upon the wonderful Nile
during these our later times of scientific research and useful
exploration.
-

There appeared towards the close of the 15th century a
Bascayan gentleman, whose genius, piety, and zeal have
placed science at a surprising altitude, and procured the
blessings of domestic happiness to the most barbarous
nations of the then known world. This was Don Ignatius
of Loyola, an officer in the Spanish army, and the illuatri •
ous founder of the Society of Jesus.

Its members became such intrepid and staunch apostles
of the Catholic creed that Voltaire, the sworn enemy of our
Redeemer, was often heard to say he could not destroy
Christianity until he had destroyed the Jesuits. A most
merited compliment indeed 1 . .

These indefatigable missionaries soon penetrated into
Abyssinia, where their labours and their successes asto •
niched the surrounding multitudes. In order to form s
correct notion of what these intrepid men effected, I refer
the reader to a work called " Lettres Edifiantes et Curl-
suns," of which I shall translate an extract in my fourth
letter on the Nile.

There will be seen what is said of the river Nilo in the
new edition of " Memoires du Levant." Tome troisieme
5. Paris Chez' G. Merigol (le jeune) libraire, Quai des
♦ugustine, au coin de la Rue Paro, M.D., cc. Luz., aveo
approbation et privilege du Roi, p. 331.
CHARLES WATERTON,

(4)
(Translated from the French.)

There are only about 60 French leagues from Teemba to
the source of the Nile. I had intended to see these famous
sources, of which so much had been said in Europe, and
the Emperor had the goodness to give me a company of
cavalry to conduct me thither, and thus serve as an escort ;
but I could not avail myself of so favourable an opportunity,
having found myself at the time much incommoded by a
disease of the chest.

I besought Mourat, one of the Prime Ministers of the
Emperor, and uncle of the ambassador, concerning whom I
have already spoken, to give me information about the
Nile. Mourat is a venerable old man aged 104 years, who
has been employed during more than 60 of these in most
important negotiations with the Mogul, and in all the
Courts of the Indies, The Emperor has so much conside-
ration for him that he commonly calls him Baba-Mourat,
or Father Mourat. See what this Minister, who has been
often at the sources of the Nile, and who has inspected
them with care, reports to me concerning them.
There is in the kingdom of Goyame a very lofty moun-
tain, at the summit of which are two strong springs of
water, one to the east, the other to the west. From these
proceed two streams which precipitate themselves In a
headlong course towards the centre of the mountain, into
a spongy and boggy soil, producing canes and rushes.
These waters only appear ten or a dozen leagues from this
spot, whole, winding, they form the river Nile, which in a
short time increases in size, as it receives the water of many
streams. It is remarkable that the Nile flows through the
middle of a lake without mixing its own waters with those
of the lake. This lake is so extensive that it is called
Bahal Dembea, i.e., the sea of Dembea.
The surrounding country is of the most enchanting de •
scription. On every side are to be seen hamlets and fine
groves of laurels. It is about 100 leagues in length, and
from 35 to 40 in breadth. The water is soft and pleasant,
and much lighter than that of the Nile. About the middle
of the Lake there is an island in which the Emperor has a
palace in no degree inferior to that of Gondar for the beauty
and magnificence of its architecture, although it is not
quite so large.

CUAULES WITILILTON

(5)
Walton Hall, April, 186

Rome, during her days of Pagan splendour, dealt largely
in fables. But, after her acceptance of Christianity, her
chimeras gave way to truth, and in due course of time, the
sable sons of Ethiopia received from her hands a plentiful
supply of heavenly grace. It is impossible to read that
valuable work, the Leans Edifiinte4," and not be con•
vinced that the sources of the Nile were well known to
Europe about the close of the 15th century, through the
incessant exertions of Loyola's faithful and enterprising
sons.

YV
On pernsmg, long ago, the travels of the Caledonian ex-
plorer, in six volumes, from the year 1768 to 1773, I felt
sorry to find them replete with venom against those valu-
able missionaries ; although ha does not seem to have been
personally acquainted with a single individual of that
learned band.

Indeed, I concluded that their labours were a fatal ob-
stacle to his own claims as the discoverer of the 1 rue source
of the Nile, and that, in order to obtain this desired end,
he must absolutely destroy the credit of the Jesuits with
the public by defaming their character for veracity.
Thus did Lierod, in Judea, cause to be slain the Ara born

in every family, lest, one day or other, a claimant might
arise from amongst them and dispute his right to the crown.
Not that I would wish to subtract a single iota from the
merit due to his well-earned trophies. Certainly, without
aly title to the discovery of the source of the Nile, his
labours were tremendous. Far distant from the comforts
of an hereditary home, he bore privations with a heart as
strong as that of Hercules himself. Giant dangers dwindled
down to dwarfish obstacles as he fearlessly approached them,
while sickness never once subdued his manly soul.
Pity indeed it was that some time after his safe return to
his native land death struck him suddenly, and at the very
time when there was every appearance of his reaping a
well-merited reward for the many troubles, anxieties, dan-
gers, and disappointments he must have undergone in his
wanderings through the trackless wilds of distant Ethiopia,
" Ye gentlemen of England
Who dwell at home in easP,
Oh I little do you think upon
The dangers of the seas ; "
In a word, methinks that everything in the way of reward
is due to him, saving the fame of being the first discoverer
of the source of the wonderful Nile.

CIIARVtS WITERTMC

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, 14
-ALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

THE PRI!ACIPALITIES.

BUCHAREST, APRIL 1.

The bill on rural law has been presented to the
Chambers. A vote of want, of confidence in the
Ministry was rejected by i 3 large majority.

THIRD EDITION

•SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

TATTERSALLS".-1 nis DAY.
CITY AND SUBURBAN HANDICAP.
6to 1 agst Gordian Knot (taken and offered),
7to 1 agst Veterinarian (taken)
11 to 1 agst Jarnicoton (taken)
14 to 1 agst Brindisi (offered)
20 to 1 agst Flying Fish (taken)
20 to 1 agst Voluptas (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Lord Barleigh (offered)
25 to 1 agst Stockinger (taken and offered)
25 to 1 agst Marigold (taken)
30 to 1 agst Mail Train (offered)
65 to 1 agst Vivid (offered)

METROPOLITAN STARES.
sto 1 agst Lord Zetlan.d (taken)
20 to 1 agst Joco (taken)

THE DERBY.
15 to 2 agst Saottish Chief (taken)
14 to 1 agst Coast Guard Oaken)
16 to 1 agst Forager (taken)
1S to 1 agst Birch Broom (taken)
22 to 1 agst Blair Athol (taken)
25 to 1 agst First Flight (taken)
25 to 1 agst Historian (taken)
100 to 1 agst Laomedan (taken)
100 to 1 agst Veterinarian (taken)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Evening.

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. TRERERNE took the oaths and his seat on his elec.
ion for Coventry.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
North Eastern, Lancashire and Yorksnire, and West
Yorkshire Railway Companies—South Yorkshire Railway
—and West Norfolk Junction Railway.
The order for the second reading of the Walthamstow,
Clopton, and City Railway Bill was discharged, and tho
bill was withdrawn.
THE LISBURN ELECTION COMMITTEE.

Mr. ADAIR brought up the report cf the committee',
which was to the effect that Mr. Stirling was unable from
indisposition to attend the committee on the 22d ult., and
the sitting was adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.
Dr. Maul's was examined at the bar of the house, and
said that he attended Mr. Stirling, who was physically un-
able to leave his residence.

Mr. ADAIR then moved that Mr. Stifling should bo
exempted from further attendance.
Mr., HUNT contended that the motion was irregular, as
the committee, by the rules of the house, could not be
adjourned during the recess beyond the first day of the
reassembly. The hon. member cited the authority of Mr.
Clerk, the barrister,who had written a work on the proceed-
ings in Parliament, in support of the argument. He con-
sidered the subject should be referred to a select cam-
.
133,1 ttee.
Mr. ADAIR said that if the committee adjourned until
to-day they could not, according to the 75th section and
proviso of the act relating to committees, transact any busi-
ness, or even adjourn to another day.
Sir U. GREY admitted that the matter was very im-
portant, and he submitted that the proper course would be
to have the report printed, and brought up for
consideration to-morrow, when hon. members would under-
stand the nature of the subject they would have to decide.

This suggestion was adopted, the original motion having
been withdrawn after a few words from Mr. WALPOLE.
ENLISTMENT FOR T'IIE_FEDERAL STATES IN

IRELAND, &c.

Colonel DICKSON gave notice that he would ask cer-
tain questions relative to the militia in Ireland, and also as
to the inducements held out_for enlistment for the Federal
States in that country.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY IN REGARD TO
THE DANISH QUESTION.

Mr• PEACOCKE gave notice that he would move that
this house approves the policy of the Government to
adhere to the treaty of 1852, though he might object to the
mode in which that policy was carried out. (Laughter.)
He expressed a hope that the Danish Government would
not depart from the promises given in 1851 and 1852.