The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-21

tion.
The London Quarterly Reoiew pronounces
them "without question the most wonderful
waterfalls in the world.n We do not, however,
yield the crown which has fer centuries set on
Mag sra's brow The native name is Mosi-oa-
tunya, or "smoke sounding" It's fame had been
far difused in Africa, for when DR.. Livingstone
was on an excursion in the interior, in 1851,
chief who resided two hundred miles from
the Falls, asked, "Have you any smoke
soundings in your country2" When the river is
IN hood, the columns Of vapor, resplendent
In the morning sun vita double and some
times triple rainbows, are visible for distance
Of ten miles. They are caused by a sudden COM
preston of the water falling into a narrow
wedge.like fssure. The Fall must have origi-
mated in an earthquake which produced deep
transverse crack across the rivers bed-a mass
of hard basaltc rock-and which is prolonged
from the left bank for thirty or forty miles. The
description of this magnificent cascade, so
unique in its character, will be read with inte-
rest:-
at is rather hopeless task to endeavor to convey
an IDEA Of 1t IN words, since, remarked the
spot, an accomplished panIer even by O number of
views, could but imDart a FAINT impression of the
glorious scene The probable mode of its formation
may perhaps help to the conception of its peculiar
shape, Niagara has been formed by a wearing back
OF the rock over whIcn the nver alls; and during
long course of ages 1t has gradually receded and
lett a broad, deep and pretty straight trough in
front 1t goes on wearing back daily, and may yet
discharge the lakes from which its river-the st.
Lawrence-fows. But the Victoria Falls have been
formed by a crack right across the r,ver, in the
hard black basaltc rock which there formed the bed
of the Zameesi. The lips OF The crack still quite
sharp about three eet OF the edge which the
river rolls. The walls 30 sheer down from the lips
without any projecting crag or symptom OF stratth-
cation or dslocation When the mighty rift occurred
level took place the two parts of the bed
NlNora a ar f.an
down the river to Garuen S and, the water suddenly
disappears and the opposite side of the cleft
with grass and trees gro wing where once tue river
ran on the same level that part Of its beo
which we sail The first crack is, in length, Il few
yards more than the breadth of the Zambesi, which
/ Oy measurement we found to be a 'lJte over 1860
| yards, but this number we resolved TO retain as
| indicating the year in which the Fal was for the
| first time carefully examined. The main stream
here rams nearly north and south, ana the cleft
across 1t is nearly east and west The-depth OF tho
rift was measured by lowering lne to the end OF
which a few bullets and foot OF white cotton cloth
were tied; one OF us lay with his head over pro-
jecting and watched the DESCENDING Calico till,
after his companions had paid out $40 feet, the
weight rested on sl9ping protection, probably fifty
still further down The white cloth now appeared
the size OF crown piece; on measuring the " dth
o. ol this elelt BY sextant, II was ISund at Garden
| its broadest somewhat more Into this chasm, of
twice the depth OF Niagara Falls the river, luIl
mile wide, rolls with deaienng roar; and this Is
| Mosi-os-tunyG, or the Victoria Falls.
"Looking from Garden Island, down to the bottom
ofthe abyss, nearly halt mile OF water, which has
fallen ever that portion of the Falls To right
west of our point OF view, collected in
narrow channel twenty or thrty yards wide, and
flowing at exactly right angles 10 ITS previous course,
| TO our lett; while the other hall or that which fell
over the eastern portion of the Falls, Is seen in the
| left Of the narrow channel relow coming towards
| our right Both waters unite midwry in fearful
| boiling whirlpool, and find an outlet by crack
THIS outlet is about ITO yards from the western end
OF the chasm and some 600 from its eastern end the
whirlpool is at its commencement. lhe ZamDesi,
Nyg n n
WIDE, rusbes and surges south, through the narrow
escape channel, Tor 130 yards; then enters second
the first Abandoning the bottom Of the eastern
half OF this second chasm to the growth of large
trees, it turns sharply and comm 5nces q gigantic
serpentlne course"
Future investigation may solve the question
Of rivalry between these two great evidences
of natures freaks; but until after thorough in
vestigatlon, and wel-conpared examination, we
are 10th to believe that even the fabulous mys-
teries of unknown Africa can surpass the
authenticated wonders of our own land, But
we must hasten over the wonders which his
tale reveals, and come to the other great fruit
of his inyestigatlons-the question Of slavery.
We should he glad to avoid any reflection on
the conduct OF power calling iteclf Christian
and Boosting ior its monarch the title of servant
OF Christ; but the testimony given is of interest
|
DIR. Livingstone accuses the Portuguese Gov
ernment of a gross neglect of its duty in omit
ting to put in force the laws which have beer
enacted for the suppression of the slavetrade in
its African possessions, if not of direct com
pcity with its colonial officers in the ubiquitous
traffic. 1t is carried on, ne says, in connection
with the trade in ivory, and from fifteen to twenty
canoes have been seen on the Upper Zambes
freishted with slaves for the Portuguese settle
ments. DIR. Livingstone asserts that he wa
not only the first to see slavery in its origiI
in this part of Africa, but TO trace j
through all its revolving phases. He had no
only seen tribe arrayed against tribe for tht
capture of slaves, out he had been in place
where family was arrayed against family, anC
} every house was protected by a stockade
Tribes the highest in intelligence we're founC
) morally the most degraded, the men freely sell
ing their own wives and grown-up daughters
. On the shores OF Lake Nyassa the slave mer
chants were at the time of his visit paying TIVE
yards of calico, worth one shilling, for boy
and four yards for a good-looktng girl. Barba
q rism must be the inevitable condition of Ian,
where such practices exist. or this revelation
the British Quarterly well says:-
"If the statements which Dr. Livingstone has m ad
A IN the face OF the world are incapable, we Tea
they are, of being Denied a AsaYy responsibility
rest upon the Portuguese Government il u shouI
10 fan TO lnterpose in the most summary manner cal
its otheers TO stIict account and put an end 1oI
= ever IN Eastern Africa to system which IS q dis
l., grace 10 the Portuguese nams. These decayed sci
Elements on the remote sh0res OF tho indian Ocean