The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-06-24
AGreat secret Revealed.

Another of the great geographical puzzles Is
solved. The sources OF the sacred Me- IN
known but inquired after for thousands Of years
and an object Of curiosity TO the intelligent iron
the DAYS when Herodotus could get no sstisiac-
tory account TO the present, are at last revealed
BY an adventurous Engbshmsn. Captain Spoke
IL letter to Sir Roderiek MuFchison, print
cd in toe English Journals, the fortunate di-cov-
erer writes:
al said would do it, and I have done it.
The Victoria Nyaaza j. toe great reservoir OF
the sacred Bahr el Abiad. lW its Nile)"
Sir Rhoderick Murchson adds
"This discovery BY Spoke and Gi art, by which
the southernm0-t limit u the basin o. the Nile Il
determined 70 be four degrees sogtgOf tue sq1a-
tor, Is the most k4ble geographical leaf OF
our age. and i, indeed. al achievement Of which
all our c0untfymen NAV veil be proud
The lake Victoria Nyanza, which these two
Enclisnfnen have z-ceftained 10 be the true
source, or hesd~stsfs OF the White Nile, vas
discoges ed by captain spoke, on the 81 u Au
gust. 1858. H. set out with Captain Burton,
but leiG Ine Latter at the Lake Tangsuyika, and
pushed on AlUne al be reached the Victoria
he reported this water u be extensive, the
Aoutbefu extremity hing about one hundred aud
Fifty miles south Of the equator, AID the north
ern reaching At least degree north OF tas equa
tor, in l0Dgrude 81 deg, or 81 deg.
Capt Spoke returned 10 England convinced
that this lake he had discovered was the tue
source OF The White Nile. Capt Burton ridi
euled the supp0slIion. aud it was received ~ltt
doubt BY tie geographical public. Persuaded
that he vas right aud determined 70 prove u
Spoke returned % the African coast, organized
a new expedition, and lett Zanzbar with Il, sep
TENDER 25tn, 1860.
About yea ago, on the llth Of April, 1862
they we're reported 10 lat. deg. 80 DiD. south
having Discovered river which they believed
20 be the FIST certain branch OF the Nile Abou
the end VI March ass he aud tue small remAan
Of bis party arrived at KhartuR, having FOL
lowed the stream IRON lake Victoria Nyanz
down OF seventy men shO formed bis retinu
on leaving Zinzlbar, only seventeen renamed
with him.
Il was happy accident for Captain Spoke
that the fret letter be opened on emerging iron
the darkness Of al unknown land communicate
70 bin that he bad. during bis absence, receive
the highest ward that the Royal Geographic
Society can be-tOw, for hrs discovery OF CD
lake ia 1888. lie writss:-
" taink may safely say that I never felt s
rejoiced a. I did wheu Petherck delivered {
NE your letter, notifying me that the Royal &c
Ographical Society had adj Idcated 10 NE tbei
Founders Medal, for the scovery Of the Las
Victoria Nyarzt. the more the kind eI
pre.sions IN your letter reached me JUST as IN
trials we're over"
In another letter, written March SCth, fror
Khartun, be says
We left Petherck, wife and doctor all We
at Gondokoro- Baker, Who was the 6rsL Eu
glisnman We met with, gave US assistance il
boats stores and money"
The doctor" mentioned can scarcely be ID
BrOwneil, an American, whose death vas report
ed some months ago. But il also reporte
that Nc. P-therck had been killed, aud this a.
pears 70 nave ben error.
Thus geographical problem as Interesting a
that OF the Northwest passage, and longer tina
that the subject OF intelligent speculatIons an
research, - al last solved The stubborn cart
ha- gwen up anofher of its secrets, and there r,
mains nO~ no n a. prize for gsographera an
explorers 10 strive TOR. Bayard Taylor srots
some yeafs ago Since Columbus looked up0
San salvador. tie earth has but one emotion
triumph left ia her oesowa aud that she ?,
served tor him Who shall drink from the fout
taius Of the White Nile. York Eve,,in
Post