Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-06-10

From the Boston Advertiser.)
Captains Speke and Grant have discov-
cred the answer to a question which has
perplexed the world since the time OF
Herodotus. with regard to the sources
of the Nile," said the Father of History,
more than Two thousand three hundred
years ago. Il have found no one among
all those with whom | have conversed
whether Egyptians, Libyians or Greeks,
who professed to have any knowledge,
except single person." whose story was
untrustworthy. Ceser is reported ia
pursuits if he might have certain hopes
of seeing the sources OF the Nile. Hor-
ace alludes to
"Fontium qui eelat Origines
Nius."
and Tibullius, still fourteen hundred
years ago, asks;
Nile pater quanam tie deere eausa?
Aut quibus in terris accolOuisse caput
1t was long since ascertained by travel
ers ascending the stream of the Nile, that
near Khartum, in north latitude 10 de-
gress 81 minutes, its waters divide into
two branches, called respectively the
White Nile and the Blue Nile. Below
this confluence the Nile flows one thou
sand five hundred miles and empties into
the Mediterranean, and with the excep-
ton of a single unimportant tributary, }
it receives nowhere single drop of wat
er, while it is a fruitful source of supply
to numerous works of artificial irriga-
ton.
The sources of the Blue Nile, three
springs in North latitude 10 degrees. were
ascertained by the Portuguese Jesuit, Faith
er Lobo, and afterwards by Bruce; but
those of the White Nile have hitherto
defed discovery. Brown penetrated to
far north as latitude I derees Linant
Bey, in 1897, not quite so far Mr.. Hos
kins and Colonel Lake, baffled in their
efforts, declared that an armed force
would be necessary to subdue the great
extent of country through which the riv-
er passes. Verne went as far as four de-
grees of north latitude, and Mr.. Brun
Rollet nearly as high. The former was
obliged to return by reaching shoals that
could not be crossed by his boats, and he
dared not leave them. The river, where
the explorations ceased, was three hun
dred and twenty-three feet broad, sur
rounded by high reeds ;" the banks, he
says, ''seem to be of a soft green color,
formed by pale green aquatic plants-li-
| lac convOlvulous, moss, water thlstles, and
kind of hemp-in which the yellow
smbac tree fourishes, hung round with
luxuriant deep yellow creepers. The riv-
er seemed to stretch SSW.
The latest expedition in this direction
to discover the source of the Nile is that
of Captain Petherick, as a volunteer of
whose party our fellow citizen, DR.. Brow
ell, of Connecticut, lost his life last year
In the manner heretofore recorded in
these columns. DIR. Brownell's death oc-
cured in north latitude Is degrees. The
fate of Petherick and his companions is
unknown.
Meanwhile Captains Speke add Grant
entered the interior of Africa from the
Eastern coast, and left Zanzibar Septem-
ger %, 1860, to prosecute discoveries in
the interior On the 18th inst. we pub
lished an account derived from Mr. Good
hue, U. S. Vice-Consul at Zanzibar. stat
ing that they had last been heard from
April IL, 1852, Ia year ago that is) in lati-
tude / degree 80 minutes south that
they had been thwarted in their progress
down a river which they had discovered
and which they believed TO be the first
Oh the Nlle-
We now hear of them at the other end
of their journey which has been crowned
with complete success. 1t appears that
the adventurous travellers have indeed
penetrated to the source of the White
Nile, which they find to be large lake
and to this they have Loyalty given the
name of Victoria" Having made this
discovery, the little band explorers, re-
dueed from seventy to seventeen, have
sailed down the river-the grandest voy
age ever known to geographer-and their
approach to Khartum is reported in the
letter which we print in another column.
There is some obscurity in the account in
regard to the position of the lake; ; the
strict sense of the original (which our
translation faithfully follows would place
it as far north as 10 degrees north lati-
tud; but as previous discoveries have fol-
lowed the river at least six degrees fur
ther south, we suspect that there has
been some inaccuracy in the report in
this respect.
1t has been given to the present age to
solve this interesting geographical prob
lem, as also that of the northwest pass
age; and, although in neither case do the
discoveries which have been made prom
ise much practical advantage to mankind,
we cannot but felicitate ourselves that
the domain of knowledge has been en-
larged by persistent and intelligent eff
fort.
Our attentive correspondent in Egypt
has forwarded to us an extra Tor Bulleti-
no StraordinarioJ of the Spettatore Egizi-
ano, published at Alexandria, under date
of the 9TH inst, containing more full par
ticulars than have elsewhere been pub
lished, of the discovery of the sources OF
the White Nile, by Messrs. Speke and
Grant. The fact that such a discovery
had been made was telegraphed from AL
exandria to London, at the same time
that this extra appeared in the London
journals; but we are gratified to be able
to lay before our readers this more par
ticular account, in the characteristic
phrase of the original tidings.
The letter containing this news, as
shown by the postmarks, reached Boston
in only nineteen days from Alexandra,
although, by an unfortunate mistake in
to us until yesterday, two days after its
arrival. We believe, however, that the
intelligence has not been anticieated by
any OlhcI puOIlCdllOH-
From the Egyptian Spectator. Extra. CTranslation)
I'VE are indepted to the courtesy of
Doctor Ori for the following communica-
ton which we hasten to lay before our
readers and the public generally to an
nOunce the great discovery of the source
of the Nile, for which we are beholden
to two courageous English travellers.
1--WE promise to lay before our readers
more detailed information as soon as we
are able to obtain it.
"KHARTUM, March 90.
''Here is great news. Speke and Grant
the intrepid English travellers, overcom-
ing all obstacles, crossing "under" the
line reached Kondogoro, and thence are
now approaching this place. 1t seems
almost dream. Their Portfolios un-
doubtedly contain the solution of the
great nrohlem that has Duzzled us from