The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-08-20
THE NILE SOURCES.
They Wore Not Discovered by Stanley, az
Many Suppose.

MANY SuppOSes
In the month of January, 1858, Cap.
tain John Hanning Spoke, attached to
the expedition of the distinguished
Captain, now Sir Richard Burton, reached
the southern extremity of the great in
land sea situated south of the equator,
which he called the Victoria Nyanza."
Speke's discovery was, however, incom-
plete, many geographers claiming that
the river which flowed out of the lake
in the north was not nor could not be
the Nile. Spoke endeavored to trace
this river; but when short distance
from the lake, he was driven from the
river, and was forced to abandon his
project, leaving the question still one
OF geographical discussion and doubt.
lsinail Pasha, Khedive, imbued with
the ambition to emulate his illustrious
grandsire - discover the source Of
Egypts great river and extend his do
main to its head waters-authorized
Sir Samuel Baker to undertake voy-
age of discovery, which resulted in the
finding of lake Tin 1864, which he
called the Albert Nyanza, situated be-
tween the first and second parallels
north. Baker thus discovered the Sec
ond Nile source.
Sir Samuel subsequently was ap.
pointed Governor-General of the Equa.
torial Provinces Of Egypt, and was re-.
placed by General Gordon in February,
1874. The writer, then an officer in the
general staff of the Egyptian army, was
chosen as chief of staff to General Cor.
don, and Immediately on his arrival at
Gondocoro, undertook to complete the
unfinished work of Captain Spoke at
the same time that he was urgently or.
dered to reach the capital of the famous
M'Tesa, King of Uganda, with the view
of anticipating the Stanley Herald
and London Telegraph Expedition"
then about to set out from England.
As may be seen by the book published
on this subject, a treaty was made with
the King just nine months before Stan.
ley's arrival, who found the ground
taken by the Khedive's military sta.
tions, extending to the Lake Victoria
itself. 1t was a sore disappointment
to Stanley, for the even then covered
country of Uganda had become Egyp-
tian territory, as manifested in the fol-
lowing official note. communicated by
the Egyptian Minister for Foreign AT.
fairs to the representatives of all the
great powers. 1t said:
tVNhara ic ocoopo III +ba
ton to Egypt of all the territories stu
ated in and around the great lakes,
Victoria and Albert and their affluents
We are happy to have to announce the
result of that expedition, which has suc-
ceeded, due to the energy and devotion
of those who have accomplished it un.
der the direction of Gordon Pasha, and
in the generous spirit of aiding in the
formulation Of these countries by civil
cation, by agriculture and by COM
| merce."
In addition to the diplomatic coup do
main which lad been the first intention
and object of his mission, accomplished
under hardships almost unparalleled in
the history of travel, the America
Egyptian officer descended the river,
and after great suffering and endurance,
and accompanied only with two faithful
soldiers and two servants, he traced the
stream to its connecting point with
Lake Albert thus solving finally and
forever the problem of the Nile sources,
and at the same time adding another
lake to the system in the discovery of
Lake Ibrahim.
Mr.. Henry M. SANKEY'S name has not
been mentioned here among those who
may claim to be the discoveries of the
Nile sources. Mr.. Stanley is not a Nile
source discoverer, in fact. He did not
discover the Victoria or the Albert
Nyanzas, nor Lake lbrahim, and these
| lakes constitute the Nile sources, and
none others. -Col. Chaille-Long in Har.
per's Weekly.