New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-09


mid-shaped hut supported by corridor OF columns
From within man of majestic mien approached
the entrance; this was MISE. He appears scarcely
thirty-fve years of age; certainly more than SIX
feet high his face is nervous but expressive Oh III
telligence. From his large restless eye gican OF
fierce brutality beams out that mars an othcrwise
sympathetic expression; his features are regular,
and complexion light copper tint. lie is dresser
in long cloak, common in fashion to that worn by
the better class of Arab merchants The texture II
of blue CLOTH trimmed with gold; around his heau
in graceful folds, is wound white turban; his
waist encircled by belt in gold, richly wrought,
from which is suspended Turkish sclinitar; his
feet are ncased in sandals of Moorish pattern, pro-
cured from Zanzibar. He advanced to meet me
with graceful salutation as dismounted from
'Ugunda,' to whom alternately his eyes wandered
with almost an expression of fear that gave me the
impression that he regarded me as fresh from the
Inferno" After brief interview. and superiority
of compliments from the visitor, the King suddenly
rose from his seat, and at given signal the mar
salah" executiOners) snatched from their turbans
the plated cord and sezing their victims to the
number of thirty. amid bowls and fearful yells,
crowned in blood the honor of the white mans ap-
pcarance in the palace of MTse.
Colonel Long remained at the royal court until
July II, when he started for the Lake Victoria
Sehm who had charge of the horse. three hours
march through banana groves and dense forests
brought the little party to Murchison Creek. the
name given by Captain Spoke to bayou at the head
of the LAKE From the top of the hill that over
looks the creek, tho lake lay i'll its tran
anil beauty, rejecting q flood OF light, as
it glistened in the monday sun. Several
huts near the waters edge furnished shelter 10 ie
explorers The Mtongoli charged with attending
COL Long on the lake, after long parley, got to-
gether fifteen boats and promised as many more the
next day, though insisting that the proposed jour
ney was impossible. The boats were composed OF
thick bark scwcd together with rope made OF the
banana tree from thirty to forty feet in length,
with the antlcrs of deer at The prov. They were
propelled by thirty forty rowers, two by two and
were capable of great speed After several hours OF
rowing the party reached point OH the eastern
shore of the creek near the lake, where they were
to spend the night and early the next day 10 at
tempt the voyage across. The morning Juiy lol
dawDed bright and clear. They were awoke by the
sound OF drum and horn, and hcet OF
forty boats, with thirty oars IN each, came
out upon the creek, and with the drummer
and other musicians, making an escort OF
1000 men. An hour later, all the preparations
were complete, and the squadron pushed OIL On
reaching the lake the waters were found TO he clear
and very cold. Frequent sound:nss during the day
gave from forty to fifty feet of water, but there was
no perceptible tide, and 10 shells upon the banks
As the only Write man who had ever been upon the
lake Col Long was exceedingly DESTROYS TO cross to
the other side, hut no persuasions could gain the
consent of the Ntong0li, who insisted that the pas
sage would take mt least month and was attended
with great danger 1t appears that Mise, fearing
that Col Long might die in the attempt, had
secretly instructed tho pilot not to go across the
lake but to evade the wishes of tho explorer by
cruising about at random. The order was accord
ingly given 10 return. and two days after their de-
parturc from MurchisOn Creek, he found himself
again at the same place. lie still persisted IN his
solution and began AT once to prepare Tor fresh
attempt. A SPECIAL messenger was dispatched to
M'TsG, asking for the requisite porters and Mton-
gol 10 conduct him to Ur0ndocani lthc point where
the Victoria Nile Somerset River issues from the
lake, purpoSng to descend the river to Fneira, and
settle the problem of the connection Of the Lakes
Victoria and Albert Nyanza.
The new expedition started on July 10. 1t was
not until the LIST OF August that they reached iron
gOdani, after voyage OF twelve days OF incredible
misery, which might have been accomplished Ill
three hey left Urongodani on the morning OF the
9TH following the river Victoria Nile through ban
ana groves and prairies crowded by immense herds
of elephant and buffalo. The route lay in full view
of the river which now and then showed bowldcr
of rock above the surface, but nayigable AT mid
day. after brisk mach of several miles, Tie col
umn entered wide square i'll which floated the
Ugunda flag, surrounded by a mass of men with
the music of drums and horns. This was the head
quarters of the admiral of the river feet He offered
Col Long nice hut, and told him
that four boats should be placed at his
disposal the next day. On the morning of
Aug. the descent of the river commenced,
the escort following the high banks, which were
here of bold and abrupt character. The river was
full of hppopOt amuscS and crOcodlles, and geese,
ducks and unknown birds abOunded on the shores.
The stock of ratiOns had begun to run low Nothing
was left but few pounds OF flour and beans, one
sheep and quantity of green bananas. After four
days of incessant padding they entered sheet OF
water in which the river lost nself, and advancing
into the lake (snce called lbrahin), they saw i'll the
distance what seemed to be land TO the westward,
but which proved to be an immense sea of lilies,
which grew up from a vast depth, with their heads
aoating on the surface. Through this apparently
imitablc field there open passages from two
to three feet wide cut in every direction made by
nativescanoes that fled like phantomsa the approach
of the boats. Col Long now cndcayored to regain
the bed of the river from which they had been
driven by adverse winds, and which would leave
them free from the nOerable lilies that stretched
over the surface as far as the eye could reach. In
fact the newly discovered lake (lbrahini). as de
scrbcd by the author the great vegetable nursery
for the White Nile acting like the Victoria, as a
great reservoir for the ncessant rains. The almost
tranquil lake is only relieved of its heavy pressure
of water when the vegetable matter. annually
loosened by decay, lushes past Karuma Falls into
the Lake Albert and thence to the north. This
causes the annual rise in the Nile, as stated by the
author long before il ia felt at the Saubat The