Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-19
THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, SC.

| received with your paper the No. 18th instant)
of the North American and United States Gazette,
for which favor am grateful the more as it con-
tanned an article prefaced by the following epi-
graph: g Source of the Nile. A recent number of
Bells Weekly Messenger contains a communica-
lion from DIR. James Macqueen, the geographer,
noting what he deems the discovery of the true
source Of the Ne-the Bahr ell Abiad, or White
Nile the principal branch of this most interesting
and most venerable of rivers. II is with ord-
nary degree of satisfaction, he says, that can
state that the grea. question is solved beyond the
power Of cavil or dispute
II is certainly amongst the most curious of all
unsettled problems that the photography Of the Nile
should remain A. D. 1850 matter of controversy The
Abysnian branch Of this great river visited in l77O BY
James Bruce, Scochmsn, whose authority the geoga-
ply Of the Nile has principally depended until far within this
century Brucs's Travels published about 1880. This
book amongst the earliest part my reading but in lat
years have become convinced sha, though Bruce did
really yist a. Abysgian capital Goadar, h geography o
the country founded map taken with him from Lon-
don copy d that map, that Of Sensx, published sbout
l7ia, and founded the authority Of Christian Missionaries,
most Of them Portuguese, Of the previous three centuries rs
my table, Senexs map published eighteen years
before the birth OF Bruce in $780, Thus may be seen
that though Bruce concealed his authorities he gave the best
or Abyssnian Nile OF the real Nile, western branch
though is existence was known its not and is
the subject Of intense interest," may share by read
ing the following from the paper alluded to above
"The dscoyerer as learn from the communication is
the Rev. Dr. Krspf missionary from the Church Mission
ary Society," long stationed in Eastern Africa and some ten
years more since resident in Southern Abyssnia. His
latest station at Rabbay lmpey, near Momba IN the
Zanguebar couny whence towards the close last year. DC
made journey into the interior towards the NV. He
reached Gays Dr. M, 'as find going over with him the
map had constructed with the sources of the Nile laid down.
deg. s. at and about IS 80 e. long, Kiui the cap
tai of Umbekan, 6ne and friendly people There be saw
to the N. W., distant about six days journey the Mount OF
kena, rising far above the limits Of perpetual snow, he
Chimborazo Of Africa and under the EQUATOR from the north
base and side Of which springs the river Dana Dsena
running the Bay Of Formosa and to the north Of ne was
told rose river running to the NORTH down which people
the country Of the white people Dr. Mscqueen adds
that Dr. Krapf is in London, about to publish his journal
which is be given to The public in few days and which
renders it. therefore, the former thinks as unnecessary as
would be unfair for him to state any further particulars OBJ
taned from Dr.. X. @
"It to be regretted that Dr. Macquesns decacv did not
allow him inform Of further fact namely: whether
Dr. Krspf extended his isexporaons further than Kui whe
her be made that sx days journey to the African Chimbo
razo Mount Kena, merely gazed far distant snowy
peaks from the capital Of Umbekan and whether having
made it he proceeded further to the north Of it, the rather
vaguely defined region where the river running the
noh down which people went to the country Of the white
people, that being the supposed White Nile. One would
infer all this from the exceedingly emphatic in which
Dr. Macqueen speaks. Dr. Krapfs exeons and abos, he
says have conferred upon the noble and einently useful
society Of which be is worthy ssrvantindebe
honor and upon himself impershabe He has fixed
surely the source OF the White Nile he real Ne and en-
abled clearly and correctly deneae the Of
river the renowned in history, sacred and proane and
which the greatest monachs and counes in this world have
during period Of three thousand years. sought in vain to
certain The glory and honor-and great these are-of
efecing this is due to the Church Missionary Society and
their weseleced to the perseverance, Judgment
and discretion of both, who, from their with
aid from Goveinments have accomplished this great
achievement the results from which will long astonsh the
world and be felt by generations yet unborn
Taking the two extremes of authority the subject
Senex, l7l2, and Blacks Atlas, S4land comparing them
with each other have most interesting coincidence
regards the western and far most important branch Of the
Ne BY Senex the two branches unite at N. lat leo 33,
loog 800 1V; by Black N. lat. 2l3o long. 324o By
Senex the source of the Western Nile at N lat go and
at long $50 E. On Black the source n lat. go long
$50 E. On both maps the river derived from group Of
mountains, called by Senex Ganca, and by Black Gonga
Mountains-evdenty mutlaed expressions Of the
tive pay due attention to the history of the
subject and reflect that the discrepancies nseparbe from
the nature of the subject must regard the condolences
offering very valuable proof that the BARR Ell ABIAD was
thus high explored in no small degree correctly deneaed
Puis VI SCcHCo century ouu naH
Senex, but traced downwards along the eastern side the
following Herse-aroh or Bahr ell Abad or White
Rirer."
I" This is all very strong and doubtless well deserved
euogum yet would feel better disposed admit its
JUSTICE if satisfied that Dr. Krapf had actually in person and
for HIMSELF made and verified the discovery spoken Of which
does not altogether appear be the from the story
told by Dr. Macqueen II would have been thing had
Dr. X crossed the of Mount Kena and reached the
river running to the north, and traced it downwads the
point visited by previous explorers ascending the Bahr ell
Abad but the discovery merely upon DR. Krspf hav
ing heard Of such river from the people Of Kui while still
many days journey removed from it must indulge the
apprehension that be made discovery ALL and that the
honor of solving the of the cGp M which has
excited the curiosity Of geographes for many thousand
years. remains yet be achieved by perseverng
and more fortunate traveller
"It will be remembered that the White Nile explored
by the Egyptian expedition Of 1910 up point situated in
deg % min NJ lat, and 81 deg 40 min E. long, where
found be than 300 feet wide, and from three
six feet deep, coming from the southeast The distance
from that point Ku embraces than four degrees of
latitude and many degrees Of longitude"
have carefully compared the maps in my hands, and have
strong conviction that the discovery made by Dr. Kpf real
From the authority Of the Egyptian expedition find thsat
N. lat. 80 a. long. SO 40 E., "he White river
1900 feet (433S ysrds) wide andfom three six feet Deep
coming from the southeast"
The geographical point above stated is about hundred
miles from the of the Indian ocean, Zansbar-
Melinda coast. river with the stated depth and BREADTH
may very safely be regarded three hundred miles from its
source Uniting these elements and the Of the Nile
~ e IN the south of the EQUATOR ard abou 400 mes north