The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-09-15
VICTORIA NYANZA.
IRREGULARITIES of the Greatest Lake on the
African Continent

Ernest Gedge, who has spent con-
siderable time on and around Victoria
Nyanza. has made some interesting
observations on the lake, which IS the
largest in Africa, says the n. !. San.
Although ii has been visited by num-
Der of explorers it is not very accu-
rately mapped yet. Mr.. Gedge says
the appearance of the lake suggests
the formation at some remote period
of a vast trough or valley. The shores
on the west side give striking indica-
tions of that, especially in karagwe,
where the cliffs are perpendicular, with
deep water close in shore. Nothing
on the eastern or southern shores sug-
pests volcanic action. On the north
ern shore are outcrops of lava blocks.
The main visible sources of the wa
ter supply are from three rivers,
which, although discharging continu-
ally a certain amount OF water into the
lake. are of no great size except dur
inp the rainy season. and they appear
TO be totally inadequate to maintain
the equilibrium of the lake. when it is
considered that large volume Is car
ried off constantly by the Nile, and
that the loss through evaporation from
so large an area must be great. 1t is
probable therefore, that the lake de-
riyes a great deal of water from
springs. The lake has great depth in
places. The water is fresh and clear.
although flat and insipid to the taste.
Fish are numerous and are caught
mostly with rod and line. Hippopot-
ami are not very numerous, as they
themselves franarall v To the
coasts and rivers. Those that are
found in the lake are extremely VI
| cious, and are much feared by the
| canoemen along the northern shores,
| who, strange TO say, are unable TO
swim. That is, no doubt, due largely
to the fact that the lake is infested
with alligators, and it is dangerous for
| anyone to enter its waters.
Cyclone storms of great violence oc-
| cur at certain seasons, and are dan
gerous to small craft. The storms
occur usually at daybreak. They are
accompanied by much thunder and
| lightning. Following the coast line
for a time they sweep across the lake,
| raising a tremendous sea, and on sew
| eral of Mr.. Gedge's Journeys his party
| was in great danger of swapping.
| One of the most remarkable phe-
| nomena he witnessed was the appar-
| ent tide that is observed at irregular
intervals. the waves opening in and
Overlooking the beach in exactly the
same way as the tide on the seashore,
the rise and fall lasting from a half
hour to an hour or more. This has
| occurred during a comparative calm,
while at other times, although stron 2
gale was setting on shore, Gedge did
not notice any difference in the lake s
level. He therefore thinks that the
phenomenon is not attributable en-
tirelv to the wind backing up the
water.
Another curious feature is the peri
odical rise and fall which, according
to the natives takes place every TWEEN,
tv-fve years, and is indicated by the
water marks on the stones. At the
time of his visit the lake was between
eight and nine feet below low-watel
mark, and the people said that certain
lands under cultivation then would bt
flooded again in due season, and thai
the peninsula or which his camp was
pitched would become an island. Sim
liar changes of level have been no
ticed in Lake Tanganyika and LAX
| Nyassa, and it is very desirable tina
continuous observations should b,
made in order to define the real char
| IF thn n