Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07

ton of mountain masses (the Mountains Of the
Noon spreading ont in many places a. vast
plateaus and buttressed by far-stretching
ridges, here and there rising into snow
from which outward and downward in
intricate articulations extends the complicated
bony skeleton of Africa In the crevices Of
this central mass, in rocky basins, in fathom-
less chasms, in vast depressions of the surface
of the elevated plateaus, lie those great ma
tional rain tanks, known as the central African
lakes, central sparkling gems of the Dark Con-
tinent, from which radiate in endless ramiica-
tions the streams which, flowing onward and
outward through the length and breadth Of the
continent, form its system of circulation-for
the outflow through mountain passes ur the
overflow through broad spongy expenses of the
contents Of those great reservoirs and the
downfow over the outer sides of those but
tresses are the head waters Of the Congo, the
Nile and the Zambesi Clustering around the
great lakes and browning their surrounding
ridges dense forests Of gigantic trees are pre-
served in perpetual verdure-the flesh and
identifying the skeleton and drawing from the
heavens the fluid that vitalizes all
THE GLORIOUS FORESTS.
"Down over the sides of the central elevation
extend these glorious forests, in broad masses
on their native heights, and where the waters
spread out-in smaller groves, where moisture
here and there is retained, and in long-extend-
ing lines and network fringing the ever-wind-
ing banks Of the streams, and finally joining
with the verdant belt of the sea coast to form
the brilliant epidermis of the whole. And
forming background and filling to the net
work Of these prominent features, in broad
concentric curves and in belts and patches. the
more stunted, thorny growth, long grass
broad savannah and sandy plain, ever changing
in color and aspect"
Central in this elevated region is a wide
depression of an irregular form and in the bot
tom of this hollow and occupying about three
quarters Of its longer diameter lies Lake Tan
ganyiks, its surface 200 feet above the sea,
and from 1000 to 5000 feet below the higher
parts of its surrounding mountain barriers. In
this unique position it is no wonder that Tan
ganyika has been the subject of much inquiry;
no wonder that rs the highest watershed was
reached from either side the explorer should
regard the lake and its system as feeding one
of the other great drains to the coast, but
further examination has proved its isolation
and that for long generations the lake has
been the reservoir (without other outlet than
evaporation) for the whole of the drainage Of
this central depression in which it lies, a posi-
ton which its native name, Tanganyika, or
the mixing of the waters, SO aptly describes.
THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CONGO.
"At last, however, by q gradual gain Of the
rainfall upon the evaporation the lake rose to
the level of the lowest gap in its surrounding
kuga, discharging the surplus waters Of the
lake by series Of rapids and falls into the
Lualaba, the system Of lakes and rivers form
ing the hesdwaters of the Congo.
"Thus, with its outflow and its surrounding
water sheds, conducting the waters to every
tremity only 800 miles from Kavalli Emin
Pashas station on the Albert Nyanza) Its south
ern extreme within go miles Of Nyassa its
western side the inner boundary Of
the Congo Free State, and its eastern
that of the Ierman territories, Lake
Tanganyika is at once the physical and the
political heart Of Africa. Four hundred miles
In length and fifteen to fifty miles across,
Tanganyika, though to some Of US but little
patch upon the map Of Africa, is to the natives
of those regions the great water and the
source Of many industries, both directly from
what it produces and indirectly through the
facility for transport and communication 1t
affords to the ten different tribes whose terri
tories are fringed by its 900 miles of shore,
and affording also a perfect watery highway
for civilizing enterprises among them.
SOME PRACTICAL RESULTS.
"The enterprise in the furtherance Of which
have visited these scenes has, however, had
far more practical results than the mere obser-
walton of the wonders and beauties Of the
OF the forest, removed from it's an
on the heights above, and cut and
carved into shape by the natives Of that land,
began life afresh on the waters Of the lake and
aided, as the explorers first vessel, in bringing
civilization and light to the countries around
its shores A survey Of the lake was made,
which is now added to our African maps The
wearing down of the difficulties of the road
to it has permitted the transport
Of modern ship-building materials, and after
years of work another, larger. steel vessel,
with steam power, has been launched on Tan
ganyika, affording a safe and efficient means Of
access to and communication with the sur
rounding countries. Two stations have been
built. dock, work shop and stores, serving to
keep these in working order, and foundation
Is thus laid OF new and improved condition
Of things
THE PEOPLE DESCRIBED.
The people Of this vast region occupied
few minutes of the lecturers time. He de-
scribed them as being rather above the ideals
Of those that have been set through SANKEY'S
words and writings. He said: ''They are not
totally sayage-they are Industrious they till
the soil, they make pottery, they dig iron ore,