The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-25
TIE AFRICAN EXPEDITION.
Stunicy Meets with Success, after cves.
coming lTauy Charlottesville Report.

Mr.. btanioy's letter, describing his re-
markable journey Of 100 miles from the
coast to the shore of the Victoria lake in
one hundred and three days, will in
crease tho reputation for bravery and
skill which no long ago 80 thoroughly
earned. Not only was tho march made
with rapility which is new in African
exploration, but it WIS brought to n sue.
cessful end in the face of obstacles which
cost the lives OF 126 out Of the 800 men
comprising the expedition. Twenty.one
fell in three days battle with the bar.
barians, III which Stanley proved
himself a soldier rs well MS mn explorer.
4 few desertedor strayed from the route,
and nearly one hundred, including two
OF tho Euglishmen belonging to the
force, died of hardship and diSease.
The splendid bravery which carried the
expedition through so terrible march
will give Stanley place ms lender be-
side the indomitable Baker while tho
importance Of his discoveries bids iair to
rival That Of the discoveries OF Spoke
and Livingstone.
No single geographical discovery has
been made in Africa during the last
eighteen years, with the exception OF
Cameron's discovery Of the outlet of
Lake Tanganyika, which is OF 80 much
interest rs Stanley sdemonstratio Of the
truth OF Spekc's description Of the
Victoria N'ynnza Us ono vast inland sea.
Spoke saw the lake from three different
points, on its southern, western, and
northern shores, respectively, and he
also sailed for some distance along the
northwestern coast. Capt. Grant-his
companion during his second journey
saw less OF the lake, but he agreed with
Speke III asserting that it was ono con-
tiluous body OF water. Inasmuch NJ,
previous to the recent journey Of Col.
Long, Speke and Grant were the only
white men who bad ever visited the lake,
their statements rs TO it deserve to be
credited. Nevertheless, many geo.
guphers have Of late adopted the theory
TINT the Victoria N'yan2a was really q
cluster OF small lakes, connected one
with another by streams or by tracts Of
marshy country that were overhowed in
the rainy season. This theory, which
implied that Spoke lacked either veracity
or the power Of observation, probably
owed its origin TO the personal dislike Of
Captain Burton for his comrade in the
Tauganyika expedition. 1t will be re-
membered that Burton and Speke dis
covered Lake Tanganyika md that
while Burton halted ut Kazeh Spoke
madc journey northward, and first
sighted tho Victoria lake.
Throughout Burtons "Lake Regions
Of Central Africa" he not only ridiculed
Spekc's belief that this nortlerly body
Of water was the source OF tho Nile, but
made 4 display OF his hatred Of his COM
rade which WAS in extremely bad taste.
Now, when Speko made his second
journey, which demonstrated TINT he was
right in his Milo theory, and which
eclipsed in public estimation the African
exploits Of Burton, the latter was
naturally rather annoyed. That Spoke
was greatly inferior in education and i'll
natural abilities to Burton no one doubts.
1t is, therefore, not difficult to under
stand how tho suggestion that Spoke
Ind mistaken half dozen small lakes
for one larg one gradually gained ere
dence. 1t was ono which pleased Spcke's
enemies, and it was approved by men
whose opinion as to African geography
deserved respectful attention. Even
Dr.. Livingstone, during the period
when his sUilerings had affected his
brain and made tho good old man capa.
bio Of sneering at SO gallanta gentleman
as Baker, joined with the detractors Of
Spoke, and assumed in his last journals
that Spoke was either au incompetent
explorer or III uutruthful narrator. 1t
was time that Stanley should come to
clear the reputation OF astrue ard honest
q man as ever dared the dangers of the
African jungle. He has found TINT
Spcke's account of tho Victoria lake is
thoroughly accurate, and hencetorth
there will be no room for any cnvious
theory which car dctract from Spekc's
fame as the true discoverer Of the source
of the Nile. Stanley has, it is true,
found an apparent error in Spcke's esti-
mate Of the latitude Of the lake. This
may afford some little satisfaction to
Burton, who only made MI error Of about
1000 feet rs to the altitude Of Tan
gauyika.
Stanley's next undertaking will be the
survey Of the Albert like. lie will reach
the lake without difficulty, siuco he will
march I'LL the way through the friendly
kingdom of Uganda; and unless his
supplies are exhausted, he will probably
be snio from disaster for some time to
come. The survey Of the Albert lake,
although matter Of great interest, ~ OF
secondary Importance in its bearings or.
the problem of tho Nile sources. The
southern limit of the lake is unknown,
but tho observations OF Schweinfurth
ana Livingstone have given US sufficient
knowledge Of tho watersheds west Rntl
south of tho lake to render it certain
TINT it receives no river south Of the
equator which can be of sufficient I'M
p0rtance TO be regarded rs the true
source Of the Nile. That mighty river
has its birth in the lake which Spoke
discovered, md tho gallant American
who rescued Livingstone from n horrible
death hAs now rescued Speke's reputa-
ton from the hands OF dull and cnvious
theorists. We may heartily congratulate
MIR. james Gordon Bennett on the Sue
ccsses which kavc rewarded the cxpedi-
tons which he wns tho first 10 suggest,
and which have been mainly carried out
at his expense.
The UnreaSOning bulldog.
Some time ago, in Cannon street, city
OF London, says writer in Land and