The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-08-05
S,,scoveries on the Eastern side Of Afri-
q. bv Captains Burton aud spcke.

Tbese intrepid and scientific ,rav
elers, conquering a thousand dithcul
ties. succeeded in penetrating the
continent between lstitudes four de-
prees North and eight degl ees South,
70 the depth Of six hundred miles
over land that foot of European new
er trod before. The most remarka'
tie OF the discoveries made, consists
al two tresh water lakes, those OF
Uiiii and Nyauza, the bare existence
of the first OF which only had been
known, while that Of tho latter. by
far the largest, had not even been
suspected.
We shall confine our notice to the
lake Nyanza, as the most important;
II was found to lie three thousand
seven hundred feet above the level
OF the sea, and hence above three
times higher than the lakc OF Gene
va. Its read,h was estimated from
forty to ninety miles, and it's length
cop;ectured at three hundred, which
would give it an area equal to that
of oftwo-thirds Of ireland. This mighty
inland sea 80 conjectured by Captain
Spekc to oe the true and long sought
source Of the Nile, q question which
has puzzled civilized men for two
Thousand years, and is s,ill unsettled
In our own Judgment, the qnes..,.'",,"'
is more one Of words than s,'Se'a''eo'
Every great river has r-"nY sourceH'
and it desccnds op 'nc nol'env'a.u'e ',.: :
TO which of tbs several contributing
streams bo,nsy give the name which
practice has assigned.
We have, however, no doubt hut
that tho water of the lake Nyanz
does contribute largely toward feed
ing the classic stream, the inunda.
ti0n Of which is the source OF tho fer
tility Of that Egyptian valley which,
for thousands Of years, has exercised
80 large all influence on the civiliza'
tion OF man.
or the country and people seen by
our enterprising travellers. we have
but few words to cay. The land
is evidently less favored by nature
than that OF the Western side OF 'h,
continent, and negroes arc physical
ly, and perhaps even mentally, inie'
rior. The Eastern side possesses NJ
navigaLle rivers leading to the sea
as does the Western, nor has it thu
gold or the valuable palm oil OF The
latter. lts corns consist OF mllle
and Of maize, the last received iron
America through India. With ap
parently abundant facilities for irri
cation, not a grain OF rice, the msiI
cereal OF the tropics, lie grown by ,h'
rudo and stupid inhabitants. Tn,
only valuable product is coffee. still
however, in the wild state only
This 10 q peculiar indigenous plan
OF this part CT Africa, although w
call it Arabian, because We first dc
rived it in its cultivated state iron
that country.
The common fowl and oxen, th'
latter used only for their flesh ant
small milk, but not for labor, are th'
only animals that have been domcs
ticated. The horse is unknown, an'
60 is tho hardy ass, unless to a iev
Arabian settlers. Man, then, ha
here no help in his toll, withon
which any respectable progress to
ward civilization is impossible. 4
hardy, coarse cotton is grown, ant
the art OF weaving a fabric OF CORES
ponding quality is understood. s.
is the art OF making malleable iron
the highest stretch OF negro civlliza
ton in this part Of Africa. Letter.
are unknown to the negroes OF TN
Eastern coast, as indeed they are t.
all African negroes. The staple ex
ports consist OF the bodies OF the in
habitants in bondage and Of thu
tueks OF slaughtered elephants. Tho
imports correspond in value. i
would be but to deceive the public
TO promise a beneficial commerce
with such country and such peo
ple.-l London Eraminer.