River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-22
STANLEY IN AFRICA.
LLendon Telegraph, sept Is. /

his followers have been making their way
dispatches have again reached us from
this resoute and successful explorer.
Good news indeed, it is to know that one
oil the most adventurous and pefilous
journeys undertaken upon the surface OF
the dark continent has reached its first
stage Of triumph in the safe transit
through totally unknown line of coun.
! try, and the careful survey of the shores
OF that magnificent lake upon the waters
OF which Mr.. Stanley has, after all, been
the first to launch an English-built vessel.
IL Is too true that We must qualify these
epithets good and 'safe' so far as to
acknowledge that, with all his courage,
skill, caution, and (orethought-qualities
no longer denied in any quarter to this
gallant gentleman Commissioner
has paid dear for the splendid results
which he has achieved.
Two Of the Europeans accompanying
him succumbed to the deadly breath of
| the Jungle; and tribute of honor and
respect is due, in the first place, to those
two young EngliShmen, Pocock and Bar.
ker, who have added .hcir name to the
list of the many unpretending martyrs
who have persisted for the sake Of Africa.
Moreover, in the swift and rcsolute march
which. Mr. Stanley has made since quit.
ting Mpapwa, on the Unyanyembe road
last December, his force of soldiers and
porters viii be found TO have diminished
| terribly.
| We shall so far anticipate the absorb.
| ing particulars OF that march as to state
that, by desertion. dysentery, fever, and
fierce lighting, as many as Isl of his fol-
lowers were found missing from the mus
ter.roll read by the shores of Lake Vic
toria at the beginning of March. There
stood around the brave leader only 100
Ten when he camped at Kagehyi, in
Uchambi; but these were well seasoned
by the swift progress which Stanley had
made, and his letters, public and private,
breathe the spirit of unswerving resolu.
ton and Of just satisfaction at what
had been achieved. lie reports himself
amply provided with men, guns and sup
| plies Of all kinds, even at the close of this
remarkable march, for that it is most
remarkable will be allowed by all who
know the conditions Of African travel.
From Bagamoyo TO the Victoria Lake
is distance Of nearly $50 miles, follow
ing Stanley's route, and this was accom-
pliShed in l03 days. The last expedition
which proceeded to Unyanyembe took
seven months to cover that 525
miles o! well known road, while the lar
ger portion of SANKEY'S lay through a
perfectly unknown district, the extraor-
binary hardships Of which will be under
stood when we are at liberty to lay the
full details OF this hardy enterprise be-
fore the public.
Through matted jungles and waterless
, plains, through mountain ranges and
swamps, over rivers and wilderness, and
with or without the leave of fierce tribes
new to the sight of the white man and
his wonderful goods, our Commissioner,
during those first months Of the year,
led his men increasingly, carrying with
him all the way in his little vessel, the
Lady Alice, which was at last put TO.
gethcr and launched on the broad bosom
Of the Victoria N'yanza.
Spite of all losses and difficulties he
stood there on the LIST of March last-as
he writes-well equipped for two years
more of good work, with men whom he
| could perfectly trust, and one of the
most dangerous portions of his toll ac-
complished. We feel confident that when
the story OF this march to the N'yanza is
read he will take place in public estima-
ton worthy of the friend and helper Of
Livingstone: as one OF the most skillful,
daring and successful Of all modern trav.
elers
His first letter describes the journey
from the Unyanyembe road to the N'yan.
"a; his second comprises description Of
this splendid inland sea, written after a
voyage of upward Of 1000 miles made
round its shores and upon its surface.
Ge0graphcrs everywhere will naturally
burn with anxiety TO know what is the
truth about that lake or lakes, the char
acter of which was ever one of the main
problems of African research. Spoke,
the discoverer, with Grant Of the Victoria,
always held the water TO be one and UNI
divided. He saw an immense extent Of
it from Muanza, and caught once and
again different prospects Of its western
glitter as he journeycd toward Uganda,
while at the Ripon Falls he once more be.
held what he took to be the same great
lake from the northward. Livingstone,
on the other hand, from heresay, judged
the Victoria TO consist Of at least five
small bodies Of water; and this idea that
it was made up OF different lakelets, and
could not be compared with DAe other in.
land seas Of Central Africa for size or
depth. has Of late gained much ground es
pecially as smaller sheets have been re.
Gently found near it to the north.
We must not anticipate the revelations
Of Mr.. Stanley's second letter; but We
can venture to assure geographers that
they have deeply interesting matters in
store for them in the account OF the Lady
Alice sailing upon these virgin waves, the
slow unfolding Of the unyisited shores,
ard the discovery Of fair and rich islands
Of great size set in the bosom Of this
queenly lake. II will be found, too, we
think, by the careful and repeated obser-
yatons which Mr.. Stanley trained him.
self to make before his departure, that
many ideas derived from measurements
too blindly accepted may have to suffer
doubt. Stanley makes the Victoria
N'yanza much higher above the sea.lcyel
than Spoke, Just as Cameron corrected
/ N ~ "a