The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-14
THEDARK CONTINENT
EXPLORING EXPEDITION OF MAJOR
GIBBONS ACROSS AFRICA.


Zsmbezi and Either Come Down the
Kongo or the Nile-A Journey Of About
Eighteen Months.
Reuters agency Is informed that the
following are the plans formed by Major
Gibbons for his forthcoming expedition
through Africa from the south to the
north. The primary object of the jour.
ney Is the continuation of the valuable
geographical work already accomplished
by the explorer on the Zambezi. after
which 1t is hoped to continue the jour-
ney by way of the great lakes to the
Nile. and thence. IL the political situa-
tion permits. down that river to Cairo,
or. failing in that to reach the west
coast by way Of the Kongo. An interest
ing feature of the expedition Is the en-
ployment Of specially constructed alu-
minimum laNpches and barges, which can
be taken to pieces and put together
again. The expedition may thus be di-
vided into as many as four sections.
Major Gibbons intends to leave England
in April and to take with him seven
Europeans.
Mr.. Montagu Sweet, who has had
considerable experience as practical
mineralogist in the antipodes has ar.
ranged to be member Of the expedi-
ton, and among the other members will
probably be Captain Boyd Alexander
Seventh rifle brigade) as ornithologist
and Lieutenants Stevenson Hamilton
and Dixon johnson, both Of the Innis-
la xxys1
sist of about q dozen picked natives.
probably Zulus. AS the journey for the
most part will be by water the services
of carriers will only occasionally be re.
quired. and then, arrangements will be
made with local chiefs. The expedition
will for its transport rely chiefly on the
launch which is now being built for the
explorer. This is made of sections, each
weighing 100 pounds, which will be
put together ON the Zambezi. Major
Gibbons is also having built sectional
towing barges. The steamers will have
a double set Of engines and will be 40
feet long or when subdivided will
form two steamers, each 80 feet long.
BY this means Major Gibbons will be
able, when necessary or advisable, to
divide his party into two water expedi-
tions, each under European command,
or even to have two land expeditions
under British leaders as we'll. He ex-
poets to be able to get through great
| deal more work than If the expedition
were carried out on the usual lines.
| Major Gibbons does not believe in TAX
ing large armed parties through Africa.
II have" he says, "never experienced
| great difficulties in this way before. 1t
| is often impossible to move large
armed force without disturbances break
ing out On the other hand, have
travelled safely alone with only two or
three boys among the Mashikolumbwe,
| who are regarded in South Africa as be-
| ing dangerous and almost impossible
people, Probably if had had 40 people
| with me l should have had serious trou.
BILE. With large escort there is a real
danger of offending native SUSCEPTIBLE.
ties, and it is really only necessary to
take sufficient to make yourself respect
| ed" In addition to their private sport
ing rifles the expedition will be armed
| with mausers and will not take more
than 1000 rounds of ammunition.
In addition to grant from the Royal
| Geographical society Major Gibbons is
receiving support from certain govern
| ment departments, for which he will do
] special work. The explorers chief aim
is to continue his former work in Barot-
siland as far as the Fam bezi .Kongo wa
| tersbed in the north, the Kwando on
the west and the Kafukwe on the east.
! Major Gibbons hopes to accomplish this
part of his work by January next, and
during that month to leave the Zambezi
for the Kongo system. When once the
\ Lualaba river Is entered, the stream
| will be descended to its confluence with
the Luapula. with view to reaching
Lake Bangweolo, which 1t is Major
Gibbons intention to circumnavigate.
| During this section it Is hoped to set
tie finally the question Of the sources Of
the Kongo. Thence the expedition will
return as far as the Kukuga Gan over
flow from Lake Taganyika), and 30
into the lake. After steaming the 300
miles to the north end Of Taganyika
( the launches will be taken to pieces and
carried over the intervening stretch Of
600 miles of almost entirely unexplored
country between that lake and the Vic.
toria Nyanza.
On the expedition reaching the west
ern shore of the Victoria lake the boats
will again be put together and the ex.
petition will steam around the lake to
Uganda. which will probably be reached
by July of next year. II the political
situation on the Nile is then quiet--and
1t is presumed that the dervish power
will be broken by that time-Major
Gibbons proposes to. go down the Nile
steaming. excepting when rapids are en-.
countered. at the rate Of 20 miles day
until Cairo is reached.
Major Gibbons hopes to perform the
whole journey in about 10 months. He
does not think that he will meet with
trouble from natives until at least after
Uganda has been reached. One Of the
chief difficulties will be the transport OF
tho hoaka between Lakes Tanpanvika