The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-27
Tho Nile Question Settled at Last.

While STANLEY has been carrying OH his
pirntical operations in the vicinity OF the
Victoria NyanZa, the Nile problem has
been definitely solved by explorations in
another quarter. Sir HENRY RAwLINsoN,
the President of the Royal Geographical
Society, has received from Gen. STONE
letter dated Cairo, June 10, 1876, and con-
tanning n long telegram from Gen. GORDON,
which gives an account of the decisive dis
rovery. We now possess the missing link
In the chain of evidence which conclusive
ly demonstrates the truth of the thory adj
vanoed by SPEKE regarding the source and
upper courses of the great river
II will be remembered that SPEKE's
famous telegram 60 Sir RoDERIcK MURCH-
IsoN in 1866" The Nile is settled pro
voked considerable doubt and even ridi-
rule. There is no doubt that the investi-
cations of that traveller were partial ana
tragmeniary. and did, i'll fact. + quire TO
be supplemented by thirteen years of sub
pequcnt research before his assertion could
be fully substantiated. What was posi-
lively established by SPEKE's personal OBJ
pervations may he stated in few words.
During his first journey lie had discovered
in July, ISIS, Lake Ukerewe, or the Vic
tora Nyanza which the map of ERHARDr
and REBMAN had Incorporated with the
Tanganyika in one vast inland sea. In the
course OF his later explorations under
taken in concert with GRANT, he skirted
the Victoria basin on the west, and found
its outlet to be the so-called Somerset
river. His homeward route, which was
shaped in Il northerly direction for the
Enunftan fronti.r hrnnphf him aUaiu in
contact with the Somerset at the Karuma
Falls, and SPEKE became convinced from
his own inspection and such Information
as he could gather. that this river trended
westwardly from this cataract TO another
great lake, the Luta Nzige or Albert Ny
ANA, from which il presently emerged as
the White Nile.
This hypothesis was partly confirmed in
the following year by sir SAMUEL BAKER.
He found the Albert Nyanza, and following
Its eastern shore in a canoe came upon the
mouth of the Somerset, which he traced
upward to n great cataract, lying appar-
emily about half way between the karuma
Falls and the Albert lake. We may add
here that another section OF the Somerset
upexplored by SrEKE has since been visited
by LoNG, aud that the river has now been
Identified throughout its entire length as
tho channel by which the waters OF the
Victoria are discharged into the Albert
Nyanza.
Unfortunately BAKER was SO well per-
suaded that the outlet of the latter lake
was none other than Bahr-el-D jebel, or
the White Nile, that he thought II super
huous to verify the fact by personal OBJ
4 IL
geographcrs and travellers took up false
scent, declined for the most part to recog-
nize with SPEKE the Nile IN the so-callcd
somerset and persisted III looking Tor the
true source Of the former river IN the great
southern lake which lies beyond the VIC
toria aud Albert Nyanzas, and Is known
rs the Tanganyika. LIvINGsToNE, for in
stance in 1867 and 1868, discovered 10 thu
west of that inland sea the river ana lak'
system of Lualaba, and inclined 10 place
here the origin OF the Nile. Capt. BURTON
too, expressed the conviction that the Tan
ganyika possessed an outlet into the Al
bert. and formed therefore the starting
point OF the Nile neXus, whereas the Vic
toria Nyanza was, he thought, rather
group of lagoons than the great reservoir
huHbul'fu ~ SfLhLs many PNHH'' ~
the course Of the expedition undertaken
In 1877, for tho subjection of the tribes
along the upper course OF the White Mic
penetrated "a second time to the Abort
Eyanza, but without actually tracing the
river to that basin. lie was here assure,
by the natives that the latter body OF
water was in direct, unbroken communi
cation with the Tanganyika sea.
1t has turned out that natives, explorers
and geographers were all wrong, aud tina
BPEKE was right. II was determined By
LIvINGsroNE in December, ls'l, that III
Tanganyika possessed no outlet on tn
north toward the Albert Nyanza, and tn
researches of Lieut.. CAMERON in 1874 prov
ed that the waters Of the hrst-named lax
found their vent on the west side in th
Lukuga river, which trended toward tn
Iualaba. II was certain, however, tina
the Lualaba, owing TO the relative depres
sion of Its bed, the different seasons OF IT
periodic overflow, and its far greater vol
ume could not be the initial section OF III
White Nile. but should probably DO as
signed, In accordance with CAMERON
theory, 70 ths CQpgo system. by the ol