The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-16
What Stanley Has Discovered in Africa.

What Stanley Has Discovered in Africa.
The two letters which have been received
by the New York Herald and the London
Dahl Telegraph from Mr.. Henry NJ. STAN
lev, the commander of the Angola
can expedition organized by those news
papers for the exploration of the Nile
sources, are interesting contributions to
geographical science. Their value is great
ly impaired, however, by Mr.. Stanley's
obvious lack of literary talent and skill as
q reporter, which seems to render neces-
sary some clearer statement Of his achieve
ments.
In central Africa, Immediately under
the equator, lie two immense lakes, side
by side, known to geographers as the
Victoria and Albert N'yanzas, and dis
covered respectively by Capt. John Han
ming Spoke and SIR Samuel Baker. The
term Nyanza is an African word, signify
ing lake or expanse of water. These
lakes are connected by a westward flowing
river, called the Somerset or Victoria
Nile, running out of the Victoria N yanza,
into the more western Albert N'yanza,
whose northern outlet is positively known
to be the White Nile ITSELF What STAN
ley has discovered Is the fact that the
~ JauLdy Ju0 IlOcL ICuuUJc 6OuECC
of the Nile actually known to be such, is
in reality an inland sea instead of an aggre-
CATION of small lakes, as some explorers
have supposed, or mere marshy tract,
as has been conjectured by few geogra-
piers.
The first successful attempt at the ex-
ploration of this region was made in 1857,
when Capt. Spoke and Capt. Richard +.
purkor sak o,.k &c., Uonn.Io- Al .
interior. They made their way to Lake
Tanganyika, where Burton remained,
while Spoke proceeded on an excursion to
the northeast, in the course of which he
discovered the Victoria N'yanza, first
catching sight of its waters from the south
ern extremity, in July, 1858, close to the
spot where Stanley's letters are dated.
He subsequently explored its western
shores, being accompanied by Capt. J. A.
Grant Of the British army, with whom be
discovered its outlet, the Victoria Nile,
which, however, they did not trace down to
the Albert lake,
The success of Spoke in finding this
sheet OF water which he described as SC
extensive, and boldly assumed to be the
true source of the Nile, aroused the jeal
ousy of his former companion. Capt. Bur.
lOu W du dSJOuLoIlAuk uckEc6s DuTLOL
is an experienced trav eler. of excep
tional attainments as linguist and man
of letters, but hard-headed, rough, and
unrefned. He attacked Speke's geogra
ply and ridiculed his lake; but the cor.
rectness Of the one and the existence Of
the other were indicated 10 series oil
able articles contributed to BLack,oooFs
Magazine by Mr., Laurence Oliphant,
At this time, however, Buttons conduc
toward his old associate had become al
most brutal. Capt Spoke was killed b.
the accidental discharge of his gun Will,
out shooting, after his return to England
This melancholy occurrence took plac
near Bath during the meeting of the Bri
fish Association at that city in 1864, whe
Speke's geographical views were expecte,
to excite vigorous hostile criticism; an
Burton did not hesitate to suggest that
was in fact the suicide of disappointe,
explorer. 1t is just to add that OF lat
years Capt. Burton has manifested som
sense of shame for his infamous attack O
one of the purest and best of African tray
ellers.
If we may believe Mr.. Stanley, the trut
sustains Speke's assertions and even b
suggestions founded on native inform;
llOu1 III CNSIy i
present expedition marched from the cas-
of about seven hundred and fifty miles, i
one hundred and three days, with loss
one hundred and eighty-one men frol
fever and hghtlng on the route. A ced;
boat called the Lady Alice was carrie
the Victoria N'yanZa. Leaving the larg
~ 10 kka
Kagehyi, near the southern end, Stanle
embarked on boat voyage OF thousar
miles, and from the map sent home a
ference of the lake, with the exception
the southwestern coast, the locality
which, however, was pretty accurately fix,
by Spoke on his second journey The lal
is where Spoke said it was-as Stanley
sixteen minutes in lattitude-and VIII
Spoke said it was. His substantial acc
racy can no longer be questioned, provid
Stanley's statements are accepted.
think they may be received PROVISIONAL
tain test of truthfulness as to localities 9
tually visited is furnished by the alleg
meeting with Col. de Belletonds, of G
Gordon's staff, which Stanley mentions
having taken place on the northern Goa
and as described in previous letter. '
ought to hear of that meeting from c.
de Bellefonds. The letter which mt
have been intermediate to those receiv
and published, has not yet come to han
1t is evident that Mr.. Stanley owes
employment by newspapers to qualiti
other than those which characterize hi
as correspondent. His style is i'll
ranged, obscure, and frequently vulg;
The letters before us are crammed wi
names which have no significance VIII;
ever without map, and are worse tn
meaningless with the map which he 81
plies, on account of his playful variatio
in orthography. As to numerous plac
which he describes with considerable pr
cision, it is impossible to tell whether
has visited them himself or POUNDS his q
scriptions on native testimony. He dc
not tell US one way or the other. TIL
our complaint of his vnlgarity is W
founded may be seen by reference to
single passage, where he says: Let
pass on however, to our subject, and t
place where left off namely, cowa
like, running away from q pair of b
hippos. l am not sure they were bull
either, though they were Important su
enough.
1t strikes US that gentleman could 6
something better than such stuff to wr
home from the heart Of Africa. Whatey
the intrepidity and perseverance of Her
NJ. Stanley may enable him to accompli:
it is to be regretted that America sho,
have sent out the most vulgar Of AfriC