The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-05 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIE7Y.

The probable fate of Dr. Livingstone and the
watershed of the Nile formed the subjects brought
before the Geographical Society at their meeting on
Monday evening. The first paper read, contributed
by Mr. Finlay, was an elaborate collection of the
observations of recent African travellers on the re-
spective levels of the Lakes Victoria Nyanza, Albert
and Nyazza,-and on the pro-
communication between
baiii
ty Nyanza,
of Tanganyika,
there
being a
the two latter and the two former. It was stated
to have been proved by Dr. Livingstone in his ex-
ploration of Lake Nyazza that there is no river flow-
ing from it northwards, but that two small rivers
enter it in that direction ; and he was pursuing a
course from the north of that lake in a north wes-
terly direction, towards Lake Tanganyika, and had
arrived at only a short distance from it when, ac-
cording to the account given by his runaway fol-
lowers, he was attacked and killed. Mr. Finlay
showed by a comparison of the statements of Capt.
Burton, Speke, Grant, and Sir S. Baker, in their
various expeditions that there was a mean difference
of I,oooft. in their estimated levels, as determined
by the boiling point of water, and that the level of
Lake Tanganyika is probably nearly 200 ft. higher
than that of the Albert Nyanza, discovered by Sir
S. Baker. The inference he drew from that assump-
tion was, that the waters of the Lake Tanganyika
flow into the Albert Nyanza, and, therefore, the
ultimate watershed of the Nile. Ile was con-
firmed in this opinion by the fact that the water
of the Tanganyika Lake is fresh, which, if it were
an inland sea, having no outlet, like the Caspian or
the Dead Sea, would not be the case ; and as it was
known that no great river flowed from it towards
the cast or south, and as it was very improbable
such an outlet could exist towards the west, there
seemed every reason to believe that there must be an
outflow northwards towards the Albert Nyanza.

At the =elusion of the reading of Mr. Fittlay's
paper, Sir Roderick Murchison, who was in the chair,
m tile some remarks on the expedition which is about
to start to ascertain the fate of Dr. Livingstone,
whom he still confidently hoped
is alive, and he in-
troduced to the meeting Ur. Young, the officer ap-
pointed to take command of the expedition, and a
gentleman who has volunteered to accompany him.

Mr. YOUNG explained briefly the nature of the
expedition and the course he intended to pursue. The
boat made of steel plates by order of Government
was so constructed that it could be taken to pieces
when they came to the rapids, and carried higher
up to a navigable part of the river that flows from
the Lake Nyazza into the Zambesi. Ile had had
the command of the boat in a former expedition of
Dr. Livingstone, and was acquainted with the man
Moosa who had brought the account of Dr. Living-
stone's murder. That man, he said, was not worthy
of the least trust, and nothing he said could be be-
lieved. Mr. Young expressed great confidence that
the result of the expedition-would be to prove that
Dr. Livingstone is sti"
Mr. PETHERICK considered the expedition in search
of Dr. Livingstone to be inadequate for its purpose.
Ile said that, assuming him to be alive, lie would
be in great want of help, deserted, as he had been,
by his followers, and the expedition should have
been on a scale sufficient to supply him with provi-
sions and assistance to prosecute his researches.
Mr. Petherick discredited altogether the account
given by Moosa of the murder of Dr. Livingstone ;
its very circumstantiality, in his opinion, tending to
prove that it was false.
Sir R. MURCHISON said that it was only a tenta-
tive expedition, and that it would be supplied with
everything that was requisite.* lie had no fear for
Dr. Livingstone if he had succeeded in passing
through the tribe of Meziti or Zulu Caffres, for Dr.
Livingstoneon
am
fformer
ewa c beloved by the negroes ; and he had
r
io across Africa with
no more assistance than he would have when de-
serted by the Johanna men. Sir Roderick expressed
o se
absclon traveled
his satisfaction at finding that the opinion which at
one time he was almost alone in maintaining of the
safety of Dr. Livingstone was becoming more gene-
ral. All the accounts recently received from Zanzi-
bar agreed in representing the report of Moosa not
togi
lent
contradictoryhi
\ei.lk least relied rtehl ieead r on,e it was known he had
reportsread
to different persons.
I\i d a
paper on "The Disco-
and
c
Disco-
veries of Portuguese Travellers in Africa 300 Years
large rwh the sources
the worke
rources of the
o
ghe map
Nile were traced to two large lakes in the centre of
Africa.
a fgo on"e and
of thoseh e exhibited
travellersa i
Sir R. MuncinsoN stated that he had received a
letter from Sir Samuel Baker, in which he suggested
that the Pasha of Egypt might be induced to assist
in the exploration of Central Africa and the sources
of the Nile by the prospect of the annexation of that
portion of Africa to his dominions. Sir S. Baker
thought that the Pasha might, with that object in
view, fit out a small army for conquest and occupa-
tion, and expressed his wilhagneS3 to take the com-
mand.

After some observations from Mr. Baines and Mr,
Wailer, the meeting adjourned.

THE PRACTICAL JOKING ON BOARD
THE 1)11(E13E.

rbYMOUTII, Tuesday Night.
When the Port Admiral last week inspected the
Phcobe he observed some slight scratches on the
nose of a young midshipman, who, on being ques-
tioned, answered good-temperedly it was the
" Government mark." Captain Bythesea was
then requested to report, and, his letter having
been sent to Whitehall, two officers of the ship—
viz., Mr. Baynham, master's assistant, and Mr.
Reddie, midshipman,
were yesterday dismissed from
her. In the afternoon Captain Preely made a se-
cond inquiry on board the Phcebo, and his report
is now under the consideration of the Lords of the
Admiralty. It appears that tho midshipman was a
consenting party to the scratching of the broad ar-
row on his nose with the point of a penknife, and
that the mark is nearly obliterated.
The statement about lashing to the gun, tattoo-
ing, and rubbing in gunpowder is totally unfounded

• - •
Lord Strathnairn bas isc,ued a prohibition of a
custom which "has of late prevailed to a certain extent in
his command,' of officers of regiments making verbal ora-
tions to their men when relinquishing the command ; these
demonstrations must not occur in future, as being " not
only in direct opposition to the spirit and meaning of the
army regulations," but also "a medium through which it
is not considered prudent to express regret at leaving ' the
comrades they had known so long and esteemed so much,'
or to receive the applause of those whom it is necessary, in
the interest of the service at large, to keep in their proper
place and at a proper distance." Officers giving up com-
mands must take leave through the medium of a regimental
order. _

MACKEREL—The quantity of mackerel caught on
the Cornish coast during the past week was not nearly so
large as in the preceding week; still tho Mount's bay and
St. Ives' boats managed to got about 100 tons of fine fish fur
the London market, in addition to a fair supply for Devon
and Cornwall. Good prices wore realised, the figure for
numerous lots being 455. per six score. Two large new boats
were launched during the week, and four others are nearly
completed.