The New York herald., 1877-11-16
STANLEY'S LAST LETTER.

From tho Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. l4l
The advantage OF tho telegraph the old mail
system was illustrated comparatively few weeks ago,
when the NEW YORK HERALD published at cons,dera-
able extent the first news of its explorer Mr. Stanley
since he plunged from Zanzibar into the heart OF
Africa, making his journey westward The dispatches
received from him the West Coast were necessarily
brief In consideration OF the rich experiences and
manifold adventures through which ho had passed
no disappeared from civilization one side OF
the continent to reappear on the Atlantic seaboard.
They in general the fact OF his dis
covery that the Lualaba was but continuation OF the
Congo RIVER, ard that he had followed The
stream for 1900 miles from Nyangwe TO the
sen had lost several natives and Euro
pean OF his exploring party; had noted tho
and definitely located the obstructons to navigation.
The intelligence that he still alive and well and
had continued TO prosecute the explorations spite
OF all sorts oI dscouragng circumstances received
with no little interest. His silence had become alarm
ing and tears OF his failure were entertained. These
were OF course dssipacd BY the first cable despatch
IRON London, which summarized his performances.
This morning the HERALD published two interesting
letters one giving ample details OF his march ana
The other the incidents OF the death by drowning OF
Francis Pocock. The former IS dated september 7,
the latter september l. The more recent letter Is
more Interesting from tho fact that It's details Of
greater general Importance
Tue course of the LuaaDa from Nyangwe is in gen.
eral northwest, Till II reaches point four degrees
north Of the Equator and twenty three degrees west OF
the meridian Here it makes grand, almost semi
aracts the Atlantic, in souIhwcstcry direction.
lts entire length from the Lake, In which II takes It's
rise, is 1900 mites, !, 500 miles IRON NYangwe,
draining through It's tributaries area country
500 900 square miles IN extent, country remarkable
Tor the commercial character of the natives, Tor its
production OF what has recently been looked upon
an almost extinct product-vlz, ivory-and Tor its
cotton, india rubber and other African vegetables.
1t s says the explorer, the grand highway OF CON-
merce to West Central Africa, aud Will shortly pre-
gent 10 the civilized world very important political
question-namcy, as 10 its control. Protection must
be given TO traders who ascend 1T and the question
who shall assume the responsibility Vi tho pro-
tecioraie is already becoming serious. Th howover
is apart from the purpose OF Mr. Stanley's laDors
lie has accomplished feat which amount
OF sncering bclttie IL has been claimed
that the identification OF tue Luaaba and
Congo rivers s not oil any great Importance. This Is
obviously a mistake. Tor by proving them 10 be the
the explorer brings to tue Atlantic coast
all the wealth OF the centre OF Africa through which
in its nciplency tie great river flows. HIS observa-
IONS, moreover viii be found OF great service 10
mercc IN guiding the pioneer tradng hees which will
open up Intercourse witn the natives His conlribu-
lou the pracl zeal knowledge OF this hitherto
ploTcd ana ierllo region cannot ba too highly
mated the enterprise Of the two newspapers
the NEW YORK HERALD and the London telegraph,
which equipped him Tor the undertaking. be lightly
valued.