New-York tribune., 1876-04-25
CAMEROYS AFRICAN JOURNEY.

Il
On Tuesday evening, the 11th inst, Lieut.
Cameron enjoyed 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 1T. Jamess
Hall was filled to overfowing with distin-
gIishcd audience, including the father, mother,
and three brothers of the explorer. On the
platform were tho 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 Uganda, and three dlminutiyc and fan
tastic idols from Urua, were also exhibited.
The Duke of Edinburgh introduced the heroic
traveller in a highly complimentary address,
and the latter then told his story.
The first object Of his expedition, it will be
remembered, was to reach and assist the Ia
mented Livingstone. Starting from Zanzibar
in March, 1878, he did not reach Unyanyembe
the Arab trading post. lying nearly between
the Victoria Nyanza and Lake Tanganyika-
until August. Here, while prostrated by fever,
he received the news of Livingstone's death
and the approach of his corpse, guarded by
| Chumah and Wainwright. Two days after
this sad caravan had left for Zanzibar, Cam
cron set out for Ujiji to save the papers which
the great explorer had left there, and, if pos
| sible, to continue the latters work of discoy-
ery. lie describes the first view of Lake
| Tanganyika from the brink of the central
table-land, MS something marvellous the vast
blue lake appeared to be sky and the noun
| /. oil N
severe attacks of fever and ophthalmia, he
completed the entire circumnavgation of the
lake in February, 1874. He found 90 rivers
flowing into it, besides torrents and springs,
and only one river-thc Lukuga, on the west
ern side-nowing out. Mr.. Stanley and DIR.
Livingstone had previously established the
fact that there was no northern outlet. The
Lukuca was discovered at a point about 20
miles south of that to which Capt. Speke
crossed, in February, 1853.
The beginning of Cameron's exploration was
thus sgnalized by the settlement of very
important geographical problem. He appears
| TO have followed the Lukuga but for short
| distance westward, and then to have taken
| Liyingstonc's route to the great Lualaba River.
This stream he traced to point but few
leagues beyond that reached by his predeces-
sor, 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-leycl
conclusiycly shows that it can have no connec-
ton with the Nile. The drainage of Lake Tan
ganyika into the Lualaba, and the identity of
that river with the Congo, are therefore not
absolutely proven, but they have reached n
degree of probability which comes very near
to certainty. After being defeated in his at
tempt to follow the Lualaba, Cameron turned
south westward through an unknown region,
| of which he gives lis, as yet, but scanty re-
ports. He represents it as land OF wonder
full beauty and frmtfulness, with one of the
| grandest river and lake systems in the world.
| There are meadows where the grass grows to
the hight of II feet and almost prevents
travel. He there discovered another river, called
the Lolame, flowing through chain of lakes,
which Sir Henry Rawlns0n considers To be the
| true Lualaba. Beyond this he came upon a
new political power in tho center of Africa
the great chief KosangO whose authority
is acknowledged throughout a 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 between the atlluents
of the Congo and Zambesi Rivers, and the
| greater part of 1T was over entirely new ground
lie crossed Livingstone's route from Loanda
to the latter river, and finally reached the ter
ritory known to the Portuguese traders At
Benguela he concluded this remarkable Journey
of 5000 miles Oh foot during which, in spite
of disease, bailled toll, and unceasing dangers
he took nearly 5000 observations Of latitude
longitude. and elevation. These are now be-
ing computed at the Greenwich 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 highly complimentary speech, at the close
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 English
man of thirty-tw this is distinguished yet
wholly deserved success, and we do not doubt
that it will keep alive an emulation III which
humanity has an interest kecner 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.
Ex-Attorney- General Akerman, asked by the Com