The herald., 1897-07-14
WONDERS OF THE UPPER NILE
Regions Recently Explored by White
Men for the First Time

At recent meeting of the Royal Ge-
ographical society an interesting paper
was read by Lieutenant Vandeleur, en-
bodying the result of explorations dur
ing the last two years in the region of
the Upper Nile. in Uganda and Unyoro
and adjacent regions not hitherto Wis
tied by white men. incidentally, his
paper reveals the activity of the English
in this part of their African sphere and
the need of the railway from the sea-
coast to Lake Victoria, for which an ap-
preparation was recently made. Leav-
ing Mombassa, on the coast, on Septem-
Der Z, 1894, Lieutenant Vandeleur did not
reach Lake Victoria until the end of
November, the journey to Uganda thus
taking three months. or six months for
the round trip. Toward the beginning
Of 1896 he proceeded from Uganda with
an armed force to descend the Nile, and
reached Dufile. being the first white man
to revisit that place after its abandon
ment in November, 1888. on the approach
of the Mahdists What was done at
Dufile is not stated. but it may be as
sumed that his visit had military OBJ
ject in view-possibly it's occupation by
a military garrison-and that point on
the Nile is probably now held by forces
sent from Uganda.
During 1895 the whole of northern Un-
yoro, toward the Nile, was surveyed, in
cluding the course of the Victoria Nile
from Lake Ibrahim to the Murchison
falls and part of Tango or Wakedi coun-
try. Mount Fumbi, in Uuyoro, was
found to be 6640 feet above the sea and
some 500 feet above the adjacent coun-
try, which is held by means of Fort Ma
sindi. The valleys are fertile, producing
great quantities of Indian corn, tobacco,
bananas, castor oil, etc. The Wakedis
were found to be an interesting people,
living in conical huts in independent
communities. Part of the lieutenants
task was to lead an expedition sent to
attack Arab slaves in southern Uuyoro,
with the result of liberating many cap
tives. The Msisi river was reached and
near that stream was found another
British fort, 1852 fet above sea level.
The climate in these uplands is de-
scribed as fairly good" being drier than
that of Uganda. In July, the coolest
month, the minimum temperature was
49 degrees the usual night temperature
being 60 degrees. The highest tempera-
ture registered was so degrees. Peace,
enforced by the English, has led to a
great improvement of the economic con-
dition of the people, who have settled
down to agriculture and road making.
The cessation of war has resulted in
rapid increase of the population. In
Uganda industry is becoming more
common and the people are beginning
to carry goods and perform certain
amount of work" Many have been
taught to read and write. A port has
been established on Lake Victoria and a
silver currency introduced. AS the peo-
pie become more civilized and their
wants increase there will be, it is be-
lieved, an increased demand for foreign
goods.
OF special interest from the point of
view of intending colonsts in the Nandi
country, also visited by Lieutenant Van
deleur. This region lies at an average
height of 5000 feet above the sea and has
a climate well suited to Europeans. The
thermometer here rarely rises above so
degrees and the nights are cold. There
is abundance of grass for cattle and for
the most part the soil is very fertile.