Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-07-25
The Nile Explorers Telling flic
story of tt,cit. yYan.icringr'


Nile. The Prince of Wales was present,
attended by General Knollys, Sir Rodcricll
Murchison and numerous suite. The
Prince was accompanied by the Comtc de
Paris and several other members of the late
| royal family OF France.
Before commencing his lecture Captain
| Spoke introduced to the audience two httle
| black boys who were brought to England
| for education. He also desired publicly to
thank Sir Rodcrick Murchison and the
Fellows of the Geographical Society for the
assistance they had afforded him in proving
the correctness of the conclusion at which
he had arrived in 1853, that Lake Victoria
Nyanza was the source of some great river
and that that river was the Nile. Time
would not permit him to describe the Whole
of the incidents of his journey from Zanzibar
to Egypt, which occupied two years and
half, and extended over distance of more
than three thousand miles. lie chose rather
to give some account of the Wahuma and
some of the other tribes inhabiting the
shores of Lake Nyanza.
Judging from the physical characteristics
of those tribes, he considered them to be
descended from the ancient Ahyssinians-
m idea confirmed by the traditions OF the
people, who, when questioned about their
origin, always replied that they came from
the north Captain Spoke gave long and
interesting account OF the history OF the
people of Unyoro, tracing their kings down
to the present monarch. On the most fertile
part of the shores of Lake Nyanza, he said,
! is the kingdom of Uganda, which is the
most interesting of all the nations OF cqua-
toral Africa, being better cultivated and
better governed than any other. The Gus
toms of Uganda are many OF them most
irregular. The Princes having large har@ms
of women, their progeny Is, OF course most
! numerous When King dies all hls sons
| are burnt except his successor and two
others, who are kept, in case OF accident,
until the coronation, after which one is pen
stoned of and the other banishcd to Cnyoro,
Untidincss in dress is Il capital crime, except
the offender possesses sufficient riches to pay
an enormous fine. Ingratitudc, or even
ncglecting to thank a person for benefit
! conferred, is punishable.
The court customs are also curious. No
one is allowed to stand before the King,
and to touch him or look at one of his
women is death. They believe implicitly
| in magic and the evil eye, and the kings
are always attended by certain number OF
women crowned with dead lizards, and
bearing bcwls of plantain wine in their
/ hands. The King of Karatiwc is the most
civilized of all these native chiefs; before
! entering Uganda Captain Spekc spent many
| days with him. In manners, civility and
enlightenment he might be compared with
many Europeans. lie owes much OF tins
to the influence of an Indian merchan named
MousSa Mzouri, who helped him by ms
| advice to conquer his brother, with whom
| he was at war. Captain Spekc was much
entertained with many of his questions as
to what became Of the old suns Gfd Why the
moon made faces at the earth He also
wanted to know whether England, Ofwmch
| he had heard from the ivory traders, coulC
| blow mp the whole Of Africa with gunrow-
der. The moment the King heard that he
was dcsirous of going north he sent mes
scngcrs to the King of Uganda to prepare
the way for him. The King was most
anxious to afford him every possible III
formation about the country.
While at the palace the King took him
yachting on Murchison Creek for several
days, and he frequently went shooring with
the princes OF the court who, when he had
shot anything. would rush up to shake HIM
heartily by the hand--a custom little known
in that part of Africa. Before leaving they
heard from the King Karasi that body OF
white men had been seen to the north, who
had killed numbers Of the natives with
wonderful gun. This made Captain Speke
most anxious to push on, rs he supposed
the party of white men to be that OF Mr..
Petherick, who had appointed to meet him.
lie then started for Uganda with n numerous
retinue Before leaving King Rumanlkas
palace at Karagwc he had noticed on several
occasions three or four lofty mountain peaks,
more than ten thousand feet high. The
king of Uganda sent an armed body of men
I 70 i'm bp pnninptpl tIrDnull
the kingdom. Everywhere they went the
people left their huts, leaving thcirproyisionr
behind them. The fertility OF this part Is
very great, and the scenery on the shores ol
the lake most beautiful.
/. On arriving at the King of Cganda's
capital Captain Spoke found it necessary tc
wrap up all his presents i'll chintz before
sending them to the King, as nothing bare
or naked could be looked at by his Majesty
lie found the palace to consist OF hundred:
of cunical tents, spread over the spur OF q
hill. Thousands ofCOurticrs and attendants
were to be seen engaged in every conceivable
occupation, from playing on musical instru
ments to feeding the royal chickens. On
sending word to the King that he wished
for am interview, that monarch sent back
n sharp message that lac WAS to sit on tho
ground and wait until he was ut liberty
Captain Spoke, however, sent back wor,
that he was a prince, and not accustomc,
either to sit on the gronnd or 10 wait. \
couticr followed him, prophcsying all k'nd'
of evil from his presumption.
Captain Spckc, however, terrified Tho
whole court, King and all into submission
by merely opening his umbrella, which they
took TO he deadly weapon, killing b,
magic 4 chair was consequently ollowc,
To Captain Spoke, who was received hy I'M
King, surrounded by his court, and having
by his side the women crowned with deaC
lizards, to ward of the effects OF the eyi
+ eye. The King stared az him for about al
, hour, nj the end of which time his Majcs,.
said, "llayc You seen mC'i and retired e
another tent, where the same process O
staring was followed boy similar inquiry
The King went into third tent, and Captain
/, Spoke followed. This time, however, th
monarch deigued 20 examine Captain SpcLe'
Mhitwouh rifle Captain Spoke told Inn
that II was the custom of the Inhabitants %
: the country of which ho Was prince q
A make presents Of everything that they pos
:. sossed Ia any king into whose country the
d entered lie accordingly lctt him scycra
/ rifles and watches, aud a quantity at guu
I powder. lie ondeayurod 10 engage hi
4 Majesty Ia conversation about fcthrrick
. party, and the possibility OF opening trad
I through the north, Il was long um'
IA however before he gained his cnnhdenc'
IA On leaving the King presented him vii