American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-23
The New Nile Discovery.

very interesting and important discovery
of Mr.. Baker; H57s"
"The result of Mr. Bakers voyage up
the Nile is not Gf we understand HIM
the discovery of new source. What
Mr.. Baker has done in his adventurous
journey is remarkable; still it is only a
matter of detail-the partial exploration
of great basin in the Nile course, far
below the Victoria Nyanza, at which
Speke has already laid down in his map
under its native name of Lula Nzige. -
This lake, which Mr. Baker proposes to
CALI future the Albert Nyanza-a change
of name for which we can see no reason
appears to be a part of the Nile, as
Speke described it, and not an ihdepend-
ent feeder Of that river
"Speke marked it in his map as con
nected with the Nile, at lower elevation;
the difference of level being. caused by
the Karuma Falls, equal, perhaps, in
grandeur, to those of Niagara. The name
of these falls Mr.. Baker also proposes to
change, submitting for the native name
of Karuma that of private English gen
tleman--a suggestion in which it is inns
possible that any geographers will be found
to concur. The Luta Nzgie has the same
sort of relation to the Victoria Nyanza as
Biehne has to oNeufchatel, Thun to Brienze,
and Ontario to Erie.
"Mr. Bakers account of his travels is
interesting, and we give the principal par
agraphs in his own words:
"' After eighteen days march | reach
ed the long-wished-for lake, about one
hundred miles of M'rooli, at Vacovia, in
north latitude l deg. II seconds. In re-
spect for the memory of our lamented
prince, | named it Subject to her Majes-
ty's permission) the Albert Nyanza, as
the second great source of the Nile-sec
ond not in importance, but only in order
of discovery to the Victoria Nile head
The Victoria and the Albert lakes are
the indubitable parents of the river.
"'The capital of Nnyoro (M'roolD is
situated at the junction of the Nile and
Kafoor rivers, at an attitude of 1902 feet
above the sea level. | followed the Ka-
foor to latitude l deg. II min north to
avoid an impossible morass that runs from
north to south upon rounding this | con-
tinued direct westerly course to the
lake. The route throughout is wooded,
interspersed with glades, thinly popula-
ted. with no game My route lay over
high ground to the north of swampy
valley running west; the greatest eleya-
ton was three thousand six hundred and
eighty six feet. The rocks were all gne-
iss, granite, and masses of iron ore, APP
parently fused into conglomerate with
rounded quartz pebbles.
"'The Albert lake is vast basin, ly-
ing in an abrupt depression, the cliffs,
which | descended by difficult pass. be-
ing one thousand four hundred and sew
enty feet above its Lowell The lake level
is two thousand one hundred and thirty
two feet lower than the Nile or M'rooll
accordingly the drainage Of the country
tends from east to west. From the high
ground above the lake no ground is visi-
BILE to the south and southwest; but north
west and west is large range of noun
tains, rising to about seven thousand. feet
above the lake level, forming the western
shore, and running southwest parallel to
the course of the lake. Both King Kan
raft and the natives assured me that the
lake is known to extend into Rumanka' s
country to the west of Karagwe, butfrom
that point, in about l deg. 30 min south
latitude, it turns suddenly to the west in
which direction its extent is unknown
In north latitude deg. Ia min, where
reached the lake, it is about sixty miles
wide, but the width increases southwark.
The water is deep, sweet, and transpar-
ent; the shores are generally clean and
free from reeds, forming sandy beach.
"'Lake Albert Nyanza forms an i'm
mense basin far below the level of the
adjacent country, and receives the entire
drainage of extensive mountain ranges ON
the west, and of the Utumbi, Uganda
and Unyoro countries on the east. Even
tually receiving the Nile itself, 1t adds its
accumulated waters and forms the second
source of that mighty river. The voyage
down the lake is extremely beautiful, the
mountains frequently rising abruptly from
the water, while numerous cataracts rush
down their furrowed sides. The cliffs on
the east shore are granite, frequently mix
ed with the large masses of quartz.
"'The actual length of the Albert Ny
anza, from south to north, is about two
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