Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-27

vel at the violence of the process by
which Nature has transformed the face
of the land. For here the perennial
springs and rivulets begin to unite and
form rivers, after collecting and alb
sorbing the moisture from the water
shed; and these rivers, though but gen.
tie streams during the dry season, be-
come formidable during the rains. It
is In Central Urimi that the Nile first
begins to levy tribute upon Equatorial
Africa, and if you look upon the map
and draw line east from the latitude
Of Ujiji to longitude thirty five degrees
you will strike upon the sources of the
Leewumbu, which is the extreme
southern feeder Of the Victoria Niyanza.
In lramba, between Mgongo Tembo
and Momblti we came upon what must
have been, in former times, an arm of
the Victoria Niyanzi. It lis called the
Lumamberri Plain, after a river of that
name, and is about forty miles in
width. It's altitude is 3, IT'S feet above
the sea, and but few feet above the
Victoria Niyanzi. We were fortunate
in crossing the broad, shallow stream in
the dry season, for during the naosiko,
or rain season, the plain is converted
into wide lake.
The Leewumbu River, after a course
of ITO miles, becomes known in Usu-
kuma as the Monangah River. After
another run of 100 miles it is converted
into Shimeeyu, under which name it
enters the Victoria east of this port
Kagehyi Roughly the Shimeeyu may
be said to have a length of $50 miles.
| UsUKUMA ENTERED.
| After penetrating the forest and Jun
gle west of the Lumanberri we enter
Usukuma-a country thickly peopled
and rich in cattle. It is series of roll
ing plains, with here and there, far
apart, a chain of jagged hills. The de-
scent to the lake is SO gradual that ex-
pect to find upon sounding it, as in
tend to do, that, though it covers vast
area, it is very shallow.
Now, after our long journey, the Ex-
pedition is halted hundred yards from
the lake, and as I look upon its dancing
waters long to launch the Lady Alice
and venture out to explore its mysteries.
Though ON it's shore, I am as ignorant of
It's configuratlon and extent as any man
In England or America. [ have cues
toned the natives of Uchambi closely
upon the subject at issue, but no one
can tell me positively whether the lake
is one or more. l hear multitude of
strange names, but whether they are of
countries or lakes 1t is impossible to
divine, their knowledge being very SUI
pericial. Ny impression, however, is
that Spoke, 10 his bold sketch and
imagined outline, is nearer the
truth than Livingstone, who re-
ported of it upon hearsay at great
distance from its shores; but as soon as
| can fni b my letters to you and my
friends the sections Of the Lady Alice
will be screwed together, and the first
English boat that ever sailed on the
African lakes shall venture upon her
mission of thoroughly exploring every
nook and Granny of the shores of the
| Victoria. It is with great pride and
pleasure I think of our success in con-
veying such large boat safely through
the hundreds of miles of jungle which
we traversed, and now I feel as though
the entire wealth of the universe could
not bride me to turn back from my
work. Indeed, it is with the utmost
Impotence that think of the task of
writing my letters before starting upon
the more pleasant work OF exploring,
but remember the precept, ''Duty
before pleasure"
STRANGE TALES.
[ hear of strange tales about the
countries on the shores of this lake,
which make me still more eager to start.
One man reports country peopled with
dwarfs, another with giants, and anoth-
| al 10 RI IF oh
large dogs that even my mastiffs are
said to have been small compared to
them. All these may be idle romance,
and I lay no stress on anything reported
to me, as hope to be enabled to see
with my own eyes all the wonders of
these unknown countries.
| MASTERING THE EXPEDITION.
[ mustered the men of the expedition
yesterday and ascertained it to consist
of three white men and 166 Wanguana
soldiers and carriers, twenty-eight hav-
ing died since leaving Ituru thirty days
ago. Over one-half of our force has
thus been lost by desertion and deaths.
This is terrible, but hope that their
long rest here will revive the weak and
strengthen the strong The dreadful
| scourge of the expedition has been
| dysentery and can boast of but few
men cured of it by medicine, though it
was freely given. as we were possessed
of abundance of medical stores.
A great drawback to their cure has
been the necessity of moving on, where
as few days rest, In a country blessed
with good water and food, would have
restored many of them to health; but
good water and good food could not be
procured anywhere together except
! here. The Arabs would have taken nine
months or year to march this long dis
lance, while we have performed it in
only 103 days, including halts. AS I
vaccinated every member of the ezpedi-
ton on the coast, / am happy to say
that no one fell victim to smallpox.
HENRY NJ. STANLEY.
An Accommodating Town.
AS an lnnOcont-lOokinr old man was