The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-29
The Southern and Western Outlets
Of the Victoria Niyanza.
COURSE OF THE ALEXANDRA NILE.
The Intrepid Explorers
Latest Surveys.
Valuable Additions TO the Map
of Africa.
PROBABLE SCOPE OF FUTURE EXPLORATIONS.

The accompanying map. carefully drawn 10 the
liberal scale Of twenty miles one inch, illustrates
staaloys latest discoveries with regard TO the ex.
tension southwark and westward from Lake Vic.
tors Niyanxa OF tho Kagera River; also his
hyposheses regarding the water system which
hs calls the Alexandra Lake and Nile, which
is no other than the Kagera River, With ns
sssrvoirs and afiuents. II will be remembered that
shen Stanley marched southwark from Uganda,
after making tho attempt TO reach and circumnavi-
gate the Albert Niyanza, he struck the Kagera
River. and followed its course southwark and west
ward until he reached that point where the river
began 70 widen into papyruschoked lake, such as Is
shown on the map Hero starvation and the hostility
Of the natives forced him TO abandon his explora-
toni and hasten TO Ujijl by the shortest routes
Now. however, he gives the fruits Of his labors in
most interesting and Ineligible form. and illustrates
The story OF his discoveries by maps which are marves
Of skill considering his facilities for preparing them
The existence Of such lake the Alexandra Nyanxa
has been suspected for considerable time. Indeed
ef the matter scarcely open TO doubt The fact shat
lkreat river like the Kasera flowing from an unex-
plored region and that waters owing to differences
Of travel, &c, could not from either the Albert
Nyanza or Tanganika, proved that Its sources must
lie either between or westward Of these great
vors Tho nature OF the country with its ranges OF
mountains running parallel north and south; the
peculiar volcanic Of lis topography the enor-
nous rainfall aud the vastness Of Its particular water
sheds oil combined TO indicate that great lake must
exist somewhere in tho region whence the river un.
failingly flowed. That lake is without doubt the
Alexandra Niyanxa shown on the map. The widening
OF the river into lake filed with papyrus which
extends along the thirynrst meridian Of east longi
tude suggests the following hypotheses:-
!. That Alexandra Lake may not always have
drained into the Victoria Nyanza, but that after s
formation by probable volcanic CONFUSION il drained
into the Albert Niyanza
\ That owing to subsequent upheavas and dis
turbances that drainage line closed and the lake
sought ~ it filed the next most efficient outlet which
u found at It's eastern extrcmity that ike Tanga-
nika Il gradually raised in level and filled the valley
referred to as widening OF the river, allowing
for the growth and spread Of the aquatic vegeta-
ton which now covers its area; that when it had
reached the point called the Morongo Falls it became
connected with tho Kagera proper, which up to that
time limited 10 the stream which penetrates TO the
westward into Mpororo. All the evidences presented
BY stanley's map indicate FIRST, nundatons and then
the formation Of rivers due primarily to volcanic
disturbances
Gessrs description of tho south end of Albert
Nyanza goes show that the level OF that lake Is now
maintained chiefly by the waters supplied to 1t from
the Victoria Niyanza; that Its southern
the lake ID being filled up with local
detritus and the growth Of aquatic vegetation.
In staney's map the abrupt termination of tho noun
tain ranges at the Alexandra Niyanza, we'll the
peculiar features Of its outlet, point to a comparatively
recent change in the physical character of tho water
shed. II would be singular feature Of stanloy's
explorations in the region west OF Tonga.
nika and Albert Niyanxa If he discovered
connection between the Iualaba and the Alexandra
Nile. The only difficulty apparently existing lies
reservoirs OF both rivers But these being subject to
much error 10 determination, Is too early to dismiss
from consideration the possibility OF such connec-
tion.
As Stanley had not up the Of his last letters
visited tho Alexandra Lake and Upper Alexandra
Nile, the outline Of the former and the direction and
magnitude Of the latter laid down chiefly from
native and Arab reports and descriptions So far,
however. that part Of his map fully agrees with his
well founded hypothesis and will need only compare
70 render Il perfect