Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-07
GeOgraphers Who FOretOld Facts.
INSTANCES WHERE THEY PREDICTED THE TRUTH
BEFORE EXPLORERS WERE ON THE GROUND.

1eO&rapDefe :" no tOretOl0 Facts
INSTANCES WHERE THEY PREDICTED THE TRUTH
BEFORE EXPLORERS WE'RE ON THE GROUND,
From the New York Sun.
About eighteen years ago the explorer Schwein.
furth discovered great river in central Africa
known as the Welle-Makua- Some able geogra-
pliers have believed for years that the Well.-
Makua was a tributary OF the Congo, although
this fact was not proven by actual exploration
until early this year. they quite upset the theory
into Lake Tchad, and some OF their arguments
are very interesting because they show how
nearly geosraphers sometimes come to the
truth long before explorers are on the ground
They TOOK, for instance, the best measurements
they could obtain OF the Welle-Makuas depth,
width, and velocity. and thus formed an idea OF
the volume OF water In It's middle course. Then
from the figures OF Nacntigal and other explorers
showing the area OF Lake Tchad, they computed
sea. They showed conclusively that Lake Tchad
could not eyaporate the great volume Of water
river must belong 10 the Congo basin.
For nearly four years 1t has been believed that
the welle- Makua was identical with the great MO
bangi winch Grenfell assembled for 400 miles II
there were no cataracts nor rapids In the stl uh.
explored part OF the river, II was thought splen.
did navigable highway would be found stretcninv
from the Congo almost TO the Nile. But some
geographers discouraged this pleasant idea They
pointed to the rapids upon the Aruwimi, Ilimbiri
and Mpuka rivers as Indicating q sudden ana ex.
tensive dip in the surface OF plateau running about
northwest and southeast, and they Inferred that
between 40 ana % north latitude some RAPIDS
would be found In the MObangi-Maku Sure
enough, Capt. Van Gele found last winter a series
six rapids Just where IL was believed they mip Mt
occur, and he was obliged to drag his little steamer
overland past TWO OF them.
Perhaps the most brilliant generalization ever
made upon geographical topic was that OF the
great geOiogist Murchison, who, In 1852 before
Central Africa had been reached by any mOdern
traveller, described It's physical features with ap-
pr0ximate correctness From what was known or
the geological formation and fossils OF the REGIONS
around the vast unknown expanse, he Inferred
that inner Africa was elevated Tar above the sea
level; that It had no extensive mountain system
but that here and there eruptive rocks had forced
their way high above the level OF the pIateaus
and that some rivers had found their way throurh
deep rents in high ridges bordering the platesn
regions, while Others, flowing Inward wen
lost In interior sands and lakes. It was TO MUIR.
cnison that DIR. Livingstone dedicated hts frst
book in recognition or his remarkable hypothesis
Prospecting the physical conformation OF Arrica
which was verified three years afterward by the
author OF these travels"
The famous map maker, Reichard represented
the Niger River emptytng Into the Gulf Of Guinea
twenty-nine years before the Lander brothers
proved that he was right, and that oxplorers OF
the upper Niger were mistaken in their wild mo-
Congo. Many other Instances can be given to
show that slillful geoGraphers BY careful study
OF what Is known OF the world can now and then
draw conclusions OF much value with regard TO
regions that are sttll UNEMPLOYED.