The Washington herald., 1909-10-17


kind. Fifty years ago something similar
agitated all those interested in explora-
ton. IL lasted for years. with ever-in-
creasing bitterness of feeling on both
sides. and was not definitely settled until
long after one Of the principals had died.
This was the famous dispute between
Sir Richard Francis Burton and Capt.
John Hannlng Spoke a. 70 the source Of
the river Nile Burton claimed that the
great stream rose in Lake Tanganyika.
Of which he was he R-lscoverer. Spoke,
on the other hand declared that Lake
Victoria Nyanza. which he had first
seen. was the rivers source. says the
New York Times.
Spoke was right. After most acrlmo-
NOUS dlsputlng. the question. already
half decided in his favor. was answered
once for all bv Henry NJ. Stanley, who,
having thoroughly explored the shores OF
fanganyil1a. showed that 1t was connect
ed, not with the Nile. but with the Congo
system.
When Spoke first came out in open
contradiction TO Burton. it seemed as II
he had undertaken a hopeless Job. He
was merely a young officer, while Bur
ton was already making himself known
as one of the most daring. original. and
versatile men that ever lived Before
his Journey to Lake Tanganyika he had
won worldwide fame by one Of the
most audacious exploits ever recorded.
Prohting by his remarkable knowledge
OF Oriental languages, he had. some
years before, disguised as an Afghan
doctor. penetrated 10 the sacred Mo-
hammedan cities OF Mecca and Medina.
where detection by the Mohammedan
pilgrims would have meant instant as
sassination.
Both WeII-knOwn Explorers.
This Mecca pilgrimage took place in
1876. when Burton was thirty-four years
old. In October 1S56. having succeeded
in interesting Influential Englishmen in
The exploration OF unknown positions Of
Africa, Burton, then captain IN the
British army. sailed from home for Fan
Eibar with Spoke. whom he had first met
as an officer OF the Anglo-Indian troops
garrisoning Alden. on the Red Sea. Spoke
was thirty years old. had seen service
In India. as had Burton and was a gen
uine daredevil adventurer.
The two, organizing an expedition at
forbidden City Of Fugu, In Somalilands
Already their heads were filed with ma
tive tales OF the mysterious great lakes
In the interior. already Burton and Spoke
seemed 10 have entertained their contra
dictOry opinions as 10 which Of these was
the source OF the Nile When the expe-
dition got to Fuga the audacious officers
gained admittance within its sacred lin
its by informing the natives that they
were wizards, skilled in the curing OF
disease. The local Sultan. who was
very il. at once asked Burton for a rem
edy but it was beyond that resourceful
mans powers. When the expedition left
Fuga Burton SAYS that he was haunted
by the look in the eyes Of the Sultan,
hopeless OF being cured as he said fare
well 10 the wizards"
Returning 20 the coast. the expedition
was attacked by hostile SOmalis A des-
perate fight ensued. Lieut. Stroyan, one
OF the subordinate leaders was killed
Both Burton and Spoke fought like
tigers. Eventually they reached the
coast.
Organizes Another Expedition.
Burton at once organized another ex-
petition, purposing this time TO advance
straight toward Lake Tanganyika. Spoke
was in rather an unfortunate position.
having sunk much money In the disas-
trous Somaliland venture. Hence Bur
tons offer to him of the position of sec
ond In command on the Tanganyika trip
was distinctly welcome Already bad
blood seems to have sprung up between
the two adventures. Spoke thought that.
instead Of advancing through Somaliland
Burton should have taken another route
toward the great African lakes. He at
tribUted much OF the in success Of the
preliminary expedition TO Burtons man
aEcment. and seems even to have con-
sidered that the latter showed evidences
OF timidity.
However. on June %. 1857. they depart
ed from Zanzibar for Tanganyfka. IN
harmony Burton, always eccentric, car
ried some horse chestnuts tied I'D In
canvas bags TO ward off the evil eve
and sickness. The expedition. in addi-
ton to Burton and Spoke consisted Of
two boys from Goa. two negro gun car
riers. a man called Study Bombay who
had accompanied Burton in previous ex-
plorations. and ten Zanzibar merce-
naries. Burton's avowed object was 10
find Tanganyika and gain for himself
thereby the title OF disCOvereT Of the
sources Of the Nile.
At Duthumi. in spite Of his horse
chestnuts. Burton got a bad attack OF
march fever. Here hardships began in
earnest for the rest OF the expeditions
members. too. for all the riding asses
died, But Burton, IN spite OF hts own
worries. found time to head a raid
against some Arab slave traders whom
he defeated. thus freeing a number OF
captives who were being dragged away
from their homes.
tr-ar inc rr~l,,
part OF the natives were dying OF small
pox. the expedition reached a beautiful
country. over which great herds of re
bras and antelopes rOamed. This. how
ever. did not last long. Beyond It were
dreary swamps. The Zanzibar merce-
naries grew mutinous Time and again.
when all else failed Burton used a star
sapphire which he carried as an amulet
10 enforce obedience from the super
stitious negroes. In spite OF the awe
that he inspired in them. they plotted
20 kill him. While hunting one day. fol-
lowed by two negroes. who were not
aware that he spoke their dialect. he
overheard them arranging TO take his
life Without a word without even turn
ing. he thrust his dagger backward. stab
bling one to death The other. falling on
his knees begged for mercy.
Puts End to Plot.
on another occasion some more plot
ters, having made their plans around
wood fire. went away to gather more
wood. Burton. stealing up put a canls-
ter Of powder among the embers. When
the assassins returned and kindled the
fire anew there weren't any assassins."
as one Of Burton's blographers succintly
puts Il. Both these stories. though not
printed in any OF Burtons works, were
told by him to intimate friends on his
return from Africa
After passing through n realm where