The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-05-05

CENTRAL AFRICA. tft
The Bold Cameron's Remarkable Jonrne!
"A Land of Wonderful beauty and Fruit
fulness. .liU
On Tuesday evening, the 18th OF
April, says the New York Tribune
Lieut.. Cameron enjoyed in London the
triumphant reception which must have
amply repaid him for all the trials and
perils of his journey of two years and
eight months across Africa. The Royal
Geographical Society met to welcome
him, the Duke of Edinburgh presiding;
and st. James Hall was filed to over
flowing with distinguished audience,
including the father, mother and three
brothers of the explorer. On the plat
form were the tattered remains of the
four British flags with which Cameron
started on his expedition, together with
two smaller ones which he made on the
way and colored with native dyes. The
skin of an antelope brought from Ugan-
ola, and three diminutive and fantastic
idols from Urua, were also exhibited. The
Duke of Edinburgh introduced the he
roic traveller in highly complimentary
uuuioSS, ahu VIC ioe"i ehoh WIZ AAA'
story.
The first object of his expedition, it
will be remembered, was to reach and
assist the lamented Livingstone. Start
ing from Zanzibar in March, 1873, he
did not reach Unyanyembe-the Arab
trading post, lying nearly between the
Victoria Nyanza aud Lake Tanganyika-
until August. Here, while prostrated
by fever, he received the news of Liv-
ingstone's death and the approach of his
corpse. guarded by Ohumah and VAIN
wright. Two days after this sad caravan
had left for Zanzibar, Cameron set out
for Ujiji TO save the papers which the
great explorer ha left there, and, if
possible, to continue the latter's work
of discovery. He describes the first
view of Lake Tanganyika from the brink
of the central table-land as something
marvellous; the vast blue lake apppeared
to be sky and the mountains beyond it
floating clouds. In spite of the severe
attacks of fever and ophthalmia, he COM
pleted the entire circumnavigation of the
lake in February, 1874. He found
ninety-six rivers flowing into it, besides
torrents and springs, and only one river
the Lukuga, on tho western side
flowing out. Mr.. Stanley and DR.. Liy-
ingstone had previously established the
fact that there was no northern outlet.
The Lukuga wa, discovered ut point
about twenty-five miles south of that to
which Capt. Spoke crossed, in February,
1853.
The beginning of Cameron's explora-
ton was thus signalized by the settle
ment of very important geographical
problem. he appears to have followed
the Lukuga but for short distance
westward, and then to have taken Iiv-
ingstone's route to the great Lualaba
river. This stream he traced to point
bat few leagues beyond that reached
by his predecessor, when the hostility of
a native tribe barred his advance. But
he saw the stream leave its northern course
and turn westward, and his observation
of its elevation above the sea level con-
clusively shows that it can have no con-
nection with the Nile. The drainage of
Lake Tanganyika into the Lualaba, and
the identity of that river with the Congo,
are therefore not absolutely proven, but
they have reached de rec Of proba-
pility which comes very near to GER
tainty. After being defeated in his at
tempt to follow the Lualaba, Cameron
turned southwestward through an I'M
known region, of which he gives us, as
yet, but scanty reports. He represents
it as land of wonderful beauty and
fruitfulness, with one of the grandest
river and lake systems in the world.
There are meadows where the grass
grows to the height of twelve feet, and
almost prevents travel. He there dis
covered another river, called the Lol-
anne, flowing through chain of lakes,
which Sir Henry Rawlinson considers to
be the true Lualaba. Beyond this he
came upon new political power in the
center of Africa-the great chief Ko
sango, whose authority is acknowledged
throughout vast extent of country,
named Urua. At the capital of this
chief he remained four months, and then
started for the western coast. His
course led him along the watershed be-
tween the affiuents of the Congo and
Zambesi rivers, an. the greater part of
it was over entirely new ground. He
crossed Livingstone's route from Loanda
to the latter river, and finally reached
the territory known to the Portuguese
traders. At Benguela he concluded his
remarkable journey of 5000 miles on
foot, during which, in spite OF disease,
baffled toll, and unceasing dangers, he
took nearly 5000 observations of lati-
tude, longitude, and elevation. These
are now being computed at the Green
WITCH observatory, and they are said
to be elaborate and accurate beyond
those furnished by any previous ex-
plorer.
Sir Henry Rawlinson followed Lieut..
Cameron in a highly complimentary
speech, ut the conclusion Of which he
announced that the society's gold medal
for the year has been bestowed on the
young explorer. 1t is also announced
that the latter WILL soon be promoted to
the rank of Captain in the royal navy.
For an Englishman of thirty-two, this
is distinguished yet wholly deserved
success, and we do not doubt that it will
keep alive an emulation in which hui
manity has an interest keener than that
of science. The complete exploration
of Africa is the extinction of the slave
trade, and there is no other way to that
end.
Judebteduess OF the Pacific Railroads.