The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-26

uf latitude in width, mostly north OF the
equator, extending from tho headwatcrs OF
the Ogow6 River, four hundred miles from
the west coast to Albert Nyanza. In this field
two accomplished travellers are now working.
DIR. +. JUNKER, the Russian explorer who
has been living for some years among tho
Man Mans and Monbuttos whom SCHwEIN-
FURTH described, Is trying to solve the
question OF the destination OF the Well6
Nakua, which Is perhaps the most interest
ing geographical question still remaining In
Africa. He and LUPTON Bey have shown
quite conclusively that this navigable water
way Is not Identical with the Aruwimi River,
as STANLEY has asserted. 1t Is larger, too,
than any known aflluent OF Lake Tchad, and
most geographers do not believe that 1t Is
tributary Of that lake. The theories that 1t
emptics into the Congo, or into the very
large lake still impcrfectly explored that has
been discovered several hundred miles west
OF Albert Nyanza, are suppositions that will
before long be superseded by ascertained
facts.
Tho western part OF tho UNEMPLOYED field Is
occupied by Mr.. FIEGEL, who, after somo
years OF work in the Niger basin, has been
splendidly equipped by the German African
Association and sent to explore tho wholly
unknown country between Adamawa and
the Congo.
Tho great purpose that nnlmatcs most
African explorers now Is not to cover enor-
nous tracts OF country, but to rcctify old
errors and make additions to knowledge in
territories that havo boon but specifically
examined. Away from the coast line only
few localities have been accurately deter
mined by astronomical observations. Correct
| longitudes are few and far between. Travel
lers differ greatly as to attitudes, and are
| widely at variance In many other scientific
observations. There is need now that ex-
| plorers limit their operations to smaller
areas, In order that they may infinitely
examine and describe the peoples they visit
and tho countries they traverse.
1t is to make more complete and thorough,
| and consequently less extensive, researches,
| that ii. FL JOHNSTON Is now settled on Mount
| Kilimanjaro, shooting and skinning birds aud
| animals, collecting insects, pressing plants,
| and painting pictures; that Consul ONEILL
| has been prosecuting with much vigor and
| ability series OF explorations between
| Mozambique and Lake Nyassa; that q party
| OF German specialists In natural history and
| geodcsy has boon engaged for four years in
scientific explorations east OF Lake Tan
ganyikl. and Is about to study tho region
between that lake and Lake Moero; and that
WIssMAN and BUCHNER, the German travel
lers, and CAPELLA and IvENs, the Portu-
| guese, have resumed their work In parts OF
| the Congo basin.
| The pioneers in Africa have been succeeded
within the past eleven years by cver-increas-
| ing numbers OF investigators. Germany
alone, within that time, has sent ont six expe-
ditlons, from GUssTELDT In 1876 to P0aGE
| and WIssMAN In 188O-S2, whose researches
| have thrown flood of light upon the natural
history, anthropolOgy, and resources OF a
| vast territory extending from tho west coast
| half way across the continent, from two hun
| drcd to four hundred miles south OF tho Con-
go. DE BRAZzA's fruitful labors in the basin
of tho Ogow6 River and along the Alma
| afIiuent OF the Congo have covered a period
of six years. From tho Senegal River to
| Cape Frio on the west coast from the equa-
| tor to Sofala on the east coast, In South
Africa and in tho central lake regions, sew
crnl hundred Europeans, assisted by thou
sands OF native servants and supported by
Governments. by geographical societies, or
by missionary agencies. are all the while
adding now facts to our knowledge OF the
continent.
The fact that many OF the missionaries
who IRE now sent to Africa arc equipped not
only for humanitarian, but also for geo.
graphical service Is producing excellent re-
suits. In 1879 tho Royal Geographical So
ciety OF London provided means for instruct
ing them and other travellers in practical
astronomy, route surveying, and mapping.
The usefulness of the measure has been
demonstrated by the increased value OF their
researches. They have launched their steam
boats on Lakes Tanganyika and Nyassa,
have explored the coasts and harbors OF
these inland seas. have mapped much
OF tho country between the lakes aud
tho eastern seaboard. and are building
tho road, about 2lO miles long, that Is
to connect them. In South Africa the mis-
sionnlics are ever pushing northward. Some
Of tho French Jesuits who are spreading
over the whole Iambesi valley, and have nlsC
| planted several stations around tho great
lakes. were schoolcd Mt Paris in the use OF
scientific Instruments and are making con
siderable additions to geographical knowl-
edge. On the Congo the Baptist and LIv.
INGsToNE inland missions expected few
, months ago soon to start up the river above
, Stanley Pool in their own steamboats, t.
search out the land ana establish new cen
|, tres Of civilzing influences.
These workers are all the whiie correcting
errors in the maps of Africa. Mr.. JOSEPH
\ THOMSON. for instance. who returned t,
I England few weeks ago from Victoria
Nyanza. found that Kavirondo is not on thu
southeast, but ON tho northeast coast OF tn,
, lake, almost at the gates Of MTEsAs empire
Of Uganda The practical Significance u
| "A is Ia hut a,.trA do lie 4 hf
. terminus on tho lako Of the Swahili trading
routes from the Indian Ocean, and 1t now ap
pears that the proposed short route from
. tho sea to the lako can follow beaten cara