The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-14

Kuya river. Other traces of fossils
were unearthed at points Ave and 10
miles distant, in what appeared TO be
the same gully.
The investigations were started
close 10 Karungu, in what Is apparent
" the delta OF an old river which for
merly ran into the lake at that point.
AT the top OF all was q clin OF basalt.
and below that was the sloping bed
OF the delta. The top OF this bed was
the ordinary black cotton soil OF the
district, and Immediately below that
were the ordinary ecoustrum beds
the top one OF gray clay, the second
one of red clay and white sandstone.
and the third one OF bun sandstone
and gravel.
In each bed were fresh water cells,
but there were very few fossils in
the top bed There were fair num-
Der In the second bed. but the rich
finds were in the third bed.
Our trip" says DR.. Oswald, "es-
tablishes the great age OF the high
lake, the Victoria Nyanza, for it is
evident from the position OF the old
delta that the river of which II Is the
relic, most probably the old course OF
the present-day Kuji, was running
there into the lake at least as far
back as the Lower Miocene period.
According to the British museum
experts the discovery OF the vast age
OF Victoria Nyanza throws an entirely
new light on the problem Of human
antiquity One consequence Is that
civilization In Egypt may have to be
assumed as probably having existed
from $4,000 To 100000 years ago or
even longer For. they say, IL VIC
toria Nyanza is 100000 years old,
the river Nile, of which II Is the
source. is not only OF practically equal
age, but mas in all that almost incon-
ceivably long period flowed IN its
present course OF over 3,400 miles
from the equator TO the Mediter-
ranean.
That means, according TO the mu-
scum scientists, that the Valley OF
the Nile in Egypt has remained for
more than 100000 years in virtually
its present physical state. with condi-
tons as favorable TO human occupa-
ton and human civilization a million
years ago as they were 10000 years
ago, at what Is called the dawn" OF
Egyptian history. And, inasmuch as
the Egyptian culture OF 10000 years
ago was as pronounced as II Is today,
there is no way OF limiting, by infer
ence, the actual extent OF Its an
tiquity.
In the course OF the ages the Lake
or Victoria Nyanza may have fallen
somewhat In level, with cores
ponding fall In the level Of the Nile
in Egypt, so that In prehistoric times
the people lived further back inland; ;
80 II Is further inland that their mon
uments and other remains are TO be
sought. In the case Of most OF the
great lakes OF the world-for example,
Lake Michigan, in North America.
and Lake Baikal, In Asia-marine
forms OF life or relics OF such have
been found, proving that these lakes
once had connection with the sea.
Such a connection implies very
great change from present physical
conditions. The Ice Age, too, Is sup.
posed 10 have broken the continuity
OF life.
Therefore the discoveries Of DR.. Os-
"
OF Lake Victoria Nyanza are, IL Ia
said at the museum, or the utmost
significance as indicating the peculiar
conditions In the Nile Valley In Egypt
favorable TO the development far
back In the dim past OF human civiliz
alton there to flourish unaffected by
geographic or climatic changes.
The heat where we worked" says
DR.. Oswald was terrific Tsetse flies
abounded. and have seen the midges
come over the lake in a cloud that
obscured the sun to dull yellow
tinge, and the noise OF their hum
ming as they passed sounded like the
lower c note on a pipe organ. Flying
crickets as large az sparrows were
common. There were ants three-quar.
tiers OF an inch long. But what op'
pressed me most was the dreadful
loneliness. Strange 10 say, the in.
tensely hot air was stimulating TO the
nerves. | drank a gallon OF milk q
day"
The man who IL able 10 fight his
own battles aIwaya has friends who