New-York tribune., 1893-12-03
EAST AFRICA.
INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT ExpLoRA.
TIONS
suEsss LAKE THEORY COMMENDED Al.
CENT OF MOUNT KENIA-P..ENTY
OF ELEPHANTS

CENT OF MOUNT KENIA-P.ENTY
OF ELEPHANTS.
Ono Of the most important achievements OF thu
ost year I'm scientific exploration was that of
DR. J. w. Gregory Of the British Museum, h
East Africa who has just returned home after q
wears absence The expedition organizA
originally merely for hunting purposes. Then
seeing that 1t would afford fine opportunities foe
scientific observation, its scope was enlarged and
the Museum trustees granted DIR. Gregory leave
to accompany it. The other members of the partyt
were Lieutenant Vers. Sir Henry Tichbcrne.
Captain Harris and Lieutenant Bennett Stanford.
They set out on November Of last year.
Apart from general exploration work, DR.. Greg.
ory who is n geological expert, was especially in-
terested in investigating the theory put forward
some time ago by Professor Suess. Of Vienna
This theory is that the East African lakes, which
form a chain extending through some thirty-two
degrees of latitude, from Lake Tana In Abyssina
to Lake Ngam In Khamas country, are the ~.
suit of connected earth movement reaching from
the head of the Jordan Valley, along the Red Sea,
almost to the Cape of Good Hope. Dr. Gregory
was desirous of examining the geological structure
of the country about Lake Rudolf and the lakes
connected with ii at the north and south, to see II
1t confirmed this theory. The results OF mis- OBJ
servations indicate in his opinion that Suess was
right and he declares himself now to be believer
in his theory.
Kismayu but eventually began at Lamu. with the
idea of proceeding up the Tana valley. Then sud-
denly the party dsbanded. DIR. Gregory went on to
form an advanced camp at 'Ngatana. Lieutenant
Villiers went off to join Sir Gerald Portal IN his
march to Uganda and the others decided to return
to London. Dr. Gregory was thus left alone but no
pluckly resolved go on, though he had never
before been in Africa, gone any such venture
anywhere He went back to Mombasa, hired forty
Zanzibar natives and set out for the great East
African valley of subsidence." He entered TINS
valley south OF Lake Naivaisha. and went to the
northwest far as Lake Baringo. lie wanted 70
go on to Lake Rudolf, but the natives were hos
tile so he went across the great plateau OF likipa
to the Kikuyu country. Then he went to Mount
Kenia where he spent fortnight crossed the upper
waters of the Tana, making various detours FOR
purposes Of exploration, and returned to Mombasa-
Aside from his investigation Of Suess's theory OF
the lakes. his exploration Of Mount kenia was the
most interesting feature Of the expedition Thae
splendid peak had only been visited twice peiore.
and had not been ascended beyond height OF
1900 feet, the point reached by Count Teiekl Dr.
Gregory all alon, climbed some 5000 feet higher.
There" he says, II stopped by a snow-coYered
cornce At one side there was series OF very deep
crevasses and the other side was obviously swept
by avalanches from the cornice. | was OF course,
alone and although made several attempts to reacn
the summit II impossible to get any further.
The glaciers there have certainly at one time
Some explorers were of opinion that the summit OF
Kenia was a full of snow, but found that
the top consisted of the central core or greaty.
denuded old volcano, Of which the crater mas long
since disappeared" He discovered on kenia
.number OF plants found Mount Kilima Marc at
the same elevation which he thinks must have
been carried across from mountain to the other
IN the cold period.
He got along with his Zanzbaris very we'll exc
cept on the mountain. The temperature up there
was at times 2s degrees below zero. and OF course
the natives were unable to endure it. lie had 10
leave them in camps on the mountain side, ana
30 on toward the summit all alone. Even then
they suffered much from mountain sickness ana
hcmorrhage OF the lungs. not to mention irose
bites and chiblains. Il should" he says nave
liked to reach the summit Of the great mountain.
but should have learned nothing more by DONG
SO. | could not have determined its altitude.
some rocks in the glacier. As | had 70 carry |.
te tSs rope pu food. ETC. my load was rather heavy
tried again next day on the west arets' out was was
round to the north side and try from there. but |
recalled to look after my men ! vas toll AZ
the coast that ought not to start with less than
seventy men, that numbers of M them would nhi die
and and s SO 9n but d not and nv they
behaved splendidly The Zanzibars have number
of habits and these yon must respect b ,nor i yGni
be no difficulty. My men often had each a load
in the morning I'll six al night with only an no9I
rest In the middle Of the day, without grumole;
a
at night we slept in shelter tents. Every night.
however | got up several times TO see that the
sentries were duty and that the hres were all
right" .
With the natives OF the countries he explored hee
did not have so pleasant experiences. The Nasal
he saws, are a very troublesome tribe and inter-
slider the Likipia plateau their sacred ground but
/ managed as a rule to dodge them. had the mis-
fortune however, to meet with 1900 OF their war
riors at Lake Naivasha. and some or the head men
told me that | must not go through their country.
| saw however that they were attempting 10 puiV
me and I bullied back. and | went on TO Lake
Raringo without Interference The country near
the coast fertile. and he thinks plantations there
ought TO nay But inland for about 200 miles the
traveller is going barren. sandy steppes., IN
many places there is very little water. and we
s,,frered a good deal in consequence. The dihcuy
~, axperienced in getting food In one district was
| believe due to the fact that Dr. Peters was the
only European who had been over the same grounu
before and he had simply taken by force what sup
niles he wanted The country or the klkiiyu - ek-
iroordinary fertile and densely populated: Mucn
o the low land Is left barren because the Masai are
continually raidng there. All the cultivation
done on the hills" As for the wild beasts. pr
Gregory reports that he found a few Hons. Ele.
phants were numerous. and he could only get
through the jungles around Mount kenia by Keep
ing I'm their tracks. The statements current re-.
pardinr the threatened extinction of the African
sienhant are he thinks unfounded. Certainly me
great creatures are plentiful enough In the region
he visited lie journeyed in all about LOS, niles.
in five and q half months. and brought paeA %u p
or more specimens which Will be placed III 'us
d., nh Anaa