Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-20

might have been seen three miles above
their heads.
The work of the old class of African ex-
plOrers may be said to come to an end with
the last year of the nineteenth century
though there remain few tasks yet incom-
plete. The twentieth century is destined
TO see. probably within the next decade or
two, the topographic deineation of a large
portion of the continent by geOdetic TRAN
gulation. For the more the various states
and prntectOrates ripen under the influence
Of their civilized governments the more will
exact surveys be needed to settle conflict
ing international claims as well as for p,1r-
poses of revenue and administration and
the security of property inland. Good work
OF this kind has already been done in So
mali Land along the Anglo German from
tier in East Africa-betWeen Nyassa and
Tanganika. along the Anglo-Portuguese
boundary line south of Zambesi-in Tunis
Algeria and Abyssinia- If this work is
pushed We shall not have to wait MANY
years for an accurate map of the continent.
Needed Exploration.
Meantime, however there are certain ex
ploring tasks of an interesting character
which might well invite young men of
means and character. Those who are fond
of Alpine climbing, and aspire to do some
thing worth doing, might take either of the
snowy mountains RuwenZori, Kenia, Mum
bro and explore 1t thoroughly after the
style of Hans Meyer, who took Kilima
NJdIO lot MS SUBJECT. 1nere are peaks also
in the Eigon cluster north of the Victoria
Nyanza over 14OO feet high which might
well repay systematic investiga ton. 1t is
not the tourist who runs up a mountain
and starts for home to say that he has
done it that is wanted, but the intelligent
explorer, who undertakes to make his
mountain his Special study, and will give
us full ana accurate monograph of these
lofty heights. which in the not distant fu-
ture are destined to be often resorted to for
recuperation of the wearied lowland toilers
in the tropics.
British East Africa contains two sections
about which We are very ignorant. One
embraces all that region lying between the
Jub river and Lakes Stephanie and Rudolf.
The other extends from Lake Rudolf to
FaShoda on the one hand and southern
AbySSinia on the other. A thorough knowl-
edge Of these two regions would throw light
on the main routes taken by the ancient
immigrants from Abyssinia, and whose
blood blending with that of the primitive
tribes south, has produced the Zulus. Two
exploring expeditions well conducted would
settle the sources of the Jub and the Sobat
define the northern reach of the Mau
plateau and the southern limits of the
mass of Abyssinia. Between these some in
teresting lakes ought to be found.
Full of interest
Another promising region extends between
the Tanganika and Albert Edward lakes
dozen explorers have touched the edge
of this region, but only one has crossed
it. His intelligent observations have
rather excited than allayed interest We
wish to know where is the separating line
between the head of the River Basin and
that Of the Albert Edward. We are told
of active volcanoes. and clusters of noun
tain peaks of unusual height. A thorough
investigation of this part would discover
the southwestern sources of the Nile and
the eastern sources Of the Congo. The peo-
pie inhabitating the region would be found
to be among the most interesting of any
in Africa. For unless we are much mis-
taken, they are relics of a great prehis-
toric migration cooped up in that peculiar
recess formed by the Tanganika to the
SOUTH the mountain chains to the east and
the great Congo forest to the west while
the war loving races marching to the south
moved past them apparently unheeded and
unheeding.
Would Settle Many Questions.
The next bit OF real interest for the ex-
plorer is lengthy strip barely 50 miles
wide, but 100 miles long. lying between %
degrees 10 minutes east and 20 degrees
30 minutes east and between degrees
north and S degrees south. Earnest and
systematic work in this part of the Congo
Free State would settle many geographical
questions. such as the exact line of the
great upheaval which occurred at the sub
sidence of the vast trough wherein lie
Lakes Albert, Albert Edward, Kinu and
Tanganika. From the western slopes of
this long upland. which Is believed to he
now mainly forested. rise the head waters
of the Welle-Mubangi, Aruwimi, Chofl,
Iowa, Lindi, Lira, Luama and other rivers
How far east does the forest extend along
| this line? How far west do the plains
reach? In what part Of this region should
be located the center Of the seismic dis