The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-09-15
VICTORIA NYANZA.
Peculiarities of tho Greatest Lake
on the African Continent.
Remarkable Phenomena Witnessed In the
Region of This Noted Body OF
Water-Visitcd by Violent
Cyclone Sto.:ns.

Ernest Gedge, who has spent consid-
erable time on and around Victoria Ny
ANA, has made some interesting OBJ
servations on the lake, which is the
largest in Africa, says the New York
Sun. Although it has been visited by
number of explorers it is not very ac-
curately mapped yet. Mr.. Gedge says
the appearance of the lake suggests the
formation at some remote period of
vast trough or valley. The shores on
the west side give striking indications
of that, especially in Karagwe, where
the cliffs are perpendicular, with deep
water close in shore. Nothing on the
eastern or southern shores suggests
volcanic action. On the northern shore
are outcrops of lava blocks.
The main visible sources of the water
supply are from three rivers, which, al
though discharging continually GER
tain amount of water into the lake, are of
no great size except during the rainy
season. and they appear to be totally
inadequate to maintain the equilibrium
If the lake, when it is considered that a
large volume is carried 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 derives great deal Of
water from springs. The lake has
great depth in places. The water is
fresh and clear, although fat and in
sipid to the taste. Fish are numerous
and are caught mostly with rod and
,nt
GUS, as they confine themselves gen.
orally to the coast and rivers. Those
that are found in the lake are extreme
ly vicious, 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 infected with
alligators, and it is dangerous for any
one to enter its waters.
Cyclone storms of great violence oc-
cur at certain seasons, and are danger
Gus to small craft. The storms occur
usually at daybreak. They are accom-
panied by much thunder and lightning.
Following the coast line for time they
sweep across the lake, raising tremen-
dous sea, and on several of Mr.. Gedge's
journeys his party was in great danger
Of swamping.
One of the most remarkable phenom-
ena he witnessed was the apparent tide
that is observed at irregular intervals,
the waves opening in and oyerfowing
the beach in exactly the same way as
the tide on the seashore, the rise and
fall lasting from q half hour to an
hour or more. This has occurred
during comparative calm, while at
other times, although strong gale was
setting on shore, Gedge did not notice
any difference in the lakes level. He
therefore thinks that the phenomenon
is not attributable entirely 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 twenty
five 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-water mark, and
the people said that certain lands under
cultivation then would be flooded again
in due season, and that the peninsula
on which his camp was pitched would
become An island. Similar changes OF
level have been noticed in Lake
Tanganyika and Lake Nyassa, and it is
very desirable that continuous observa.
tions should be made in order to define
the real character of the changes.