The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-18
DISCOVERIES ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF
AFRICA, BY CAPTAINS BURTON AMI


AFRICA, BY CAPTAINS BURTON AND
SPEKE.
These intrepid travellers, conquering a thousand
difficulties succeeded in penetrating the continent
between latitudes four degrees and eight degrees
south, and to the depth of six hundred miles, over
land that the foot of an European never trod be-
fore. The most remarkable discoveries they made
| consisted of two vast fresh water lakes, those of
''Ujji" and "Nyanza"-the bare existence of the
| first of which only had been known, while that of
the latter which is by far the largest had not even
been suspected.
We shall confine notice to the lake Nyanza,
as the most important. 1t found to lie ZOO feet
above the level of the sea, and hence above three
times higher than the lake of Geneva. Its breadth
was estimated from forty to ninety miles, and its
| length conjectured at 300, which would give an
area equal to that of two thirds of Ireland. This
mighty island conjectured by captain Speke to
be the true and long sought for of the Nile
a question which has puzzled civilized men for
1000 years, and is still unsettled In our own iudg-
ment, the question is more one of words than sub
stance.
Every great river has many sources and it de-
ponds on the nomenclature to which of the several
contributing streams he may give the name which
practice has assigned. We have, however, no
doubt but that the water of the Lake NyanZa does
contribute largely toward feeding the classic stream
the inundaon of which is the source of the fertility
of that Egyptian valley, which for thousands of
years has exercised so large an influence on the
civilization of men.
of the country and people seen by our enterpris-
ing travellers, have but few words to say. The
land is evidently less favored by nature than that
of the western side of the continent and the negroes
are physically, and perhaps even mentally inferior
The eastern side possesses navigable rivers lead
ing to the sea, does the western nor has it the
gold nor the valuable palm oil of the latter. Its
crops consist of mlet and of maize, the latter re-.
ceived from America through India.
With apparently abundant facilities for irrga-
ton, not a grain of rice, the main cereal of the
tropics, is grown by the rude and stupid inhab-
tants. The only valuable product is coffee; STILL
however, in wild state only. This is peculiar
indigenous plant in this part of Africa, although
call it Arabian, because first derived it in its
cultivated state from that country.
I TIE common fowl and oxen the latter used only
for their flesh and small milk, but not for labor are
the only animals which have been domestcated
The horse is unknown, so is the hardy ass, unless
| to a few Arabian settlers. Man, then, has no help
in his toll, without which any respectable progress
towards civilization is impossible. hardy, coarse
cotton is grown, and the art of weaving fabric of
corresponding quality is understood. So is the
art OF making maeabe iron, the highest stretch
| of negro civilization in this part of Africa.
| Letters unknown to the negroes of the East
ern coast, indeed they to all African negroes
The staple exports consists of the bodies of the in
habitants in bondage, and of the tusks of the
slaughtered elephants. The imports correspond in
value. 1t would be but to deceive the public to
promise beneficial commerce with such a country
| nd Such n nannIa -TonHon ETnujuor