THE DISCOVERY OF THE SOURCES OF THE NILE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 362, 24 September 1863, Page 4

THE DISCOVERY OF THE SOURCES OF THE NILE.

The following is Captain Speke’s own account of his discovery which cannot fail to be of interest : An extra meeting of the Royal Geographical Society was held at Burlington-house, to welcome back to England Captains Speke aud Grant, and to hear from them a short account of their discovery of the Source of the Nile. Long before 9 o’clock the large room was crammed in every part with a fashionable audience, all eager to see and luar the heioes of the Nile. As it was, krge numbers were disappointed, the hall not being large enough to hold the whole of the crowd of would-be welcomers of these brave men.

In opening the meeting Sir Roderick Murchison, tiie president, said that, although it was before the hour fixed, he was sure the impatient audience would not be loth to make the acquaintance of Captains Speke and Grant at once. He would therefore take the chair, and commenee the meeting immediately by introducing to them the the travellers who had achieved so grand a success. (Loud cheers.) As Englishmen they had every reason to be proud that this great discovery had been made by this nation, and the fellows of the society were to be speedily congratulated upon' the sucsessfnl termination of an expedition that, had been carried out with means supplied by them. Sir Roderick went on to give an account of the state of our knowledge with respect to the source of the Nile up to the time of Captains Speke and Grant’s discovery that Lake Victoria Nvanza was the chief feeder of this mighty river. In a brief account of the matter that he had sent, to the Times on the 29th May, he had stated that no maps older than 300 years gave any trace of this great lake, but he had since learnt that it was not ohly clearly marked in an Arabian map of Africa, over 1000 years old, hut Unit Ptolemy was the first geographer who gave an account of these sub-Equator'ial lakes. Many travellers, in all ages, had tried to ascend the Nile; but none of them reached beyond the third parallel of northern lattitude, or within 400 or 500 miles of Lake Nyanza. It would please them all to know that their chief patron, the Queen, took the greatespossible interest in this marvellous achieve meat of human enterprise. Her Majesty had specially congratulated him most graciously on the subject during her visit to the International Exhibition building a few days since. The Prince Of Wales, their vice-patron, evinced no less interest in the discovery than her Majesty, and it was only through a most pressing engagement that his Royal Highness was not present that evening. The King of Italy had sent, through tho Marquis d'Azeglio, two gold medals, specially struck in honor of the occasion, for presentation to Captains Speke and Grant, accompanied by a most flattering letter, which he would read to them. The French Geoprnphieal Society having given Captain Speke their gold medal for his discoveries in the Lake Nyanza, district in JBSB, Captain Speke had shown his sense of the honor done to him by naming the principal channel leading from the lake after the Emperor Napoleon. He would take up their time no longer, but at once introduce to them Captain Speke, who would, on behalf of himself and his companion, Captain Grant, read to them a paper on the “ Nile and its Tributaries.” On coming forward Captain Speke met with a most flattering reception, the whole meeting rising and cheering loudly. When silence was at last restored, Captain Speke said that before reading his paper lie begged to introduce to them a little boy belonging to one of tha most intelligent of the Equatorial tribes, It was through the friendliness and fidelity of a man of this tribe that he was able to complete his great woik, and he thought it only just that the Government should educate some of the most intellectual of this race and send them back to their native country as consuls, to assist in

spreading-our commerce and civilization throughout Eastern Africa. The little fellow, of about 14, is an excellent specimen of the intellectual black type his nose being as straight and his forehead as high as those of an European although his woolly head and dark skin were thoroughly characteristic of his African blood. He seemed in uo way disconcerted at his reception, and was as cool and collected as if he had attended the meetings of the society all his life. Captain Grant had a similar companion with him. Captain Speke commenced his paper, “ The Nile and its Tributaries Compared,” by described the Lake Nyanza, the principal head of the Nile, This lake is situated in lat. 3 deg. S., and from that point to its debouchere, in the Mediterranean, in lat. 31 deg. N. } the Nile traverses a distanee of over 3000 geographical miles, or nearly oiie-tenth of the circumference of the earth. When he discovered the Nyanza Lake in 1858, he found it to be a large sheet of sweet water, lying about 3500 feet above the level of the sea, and he at once felt certain that it could only be the source of some vast river such as the Nile. The natives had traditions, too, of its great extent, ami certain Arab merchants of Zanzibar, who penetrated these regions iu search h of ivory, assured him that. Nyanza was the source of some great river. Oilier traditions, heard from the natives confirmed him in this opinion ; and he believes he would have settled ihe question ol the source of the Nile in 1859, by travelling to Uganda with an Indian merchant, had not the chief of the expedition fallen ill. On his return to England, he found Sir Roderick Murchison deeply imbued with the necessity of at once completing the work he had left undone. He himself could not rest satisfied until the world had accepted his views, now happily confirmed by actual inspection and obser ration.

On returning with his brave companion, Captain Grant, to Unyanyembe, 5 degrees south of the lake, in 1861, he hit upon a new route, which lie supposed, from the accounts of the ivory merchants, would lead to a creek in the western flank of the lake ; hut owing to the confusion existing in the language of the country with regard to the terms river and lake, it turned out to be a new lake, the Luero-10-Urigi, which once contained large quantities of water, hut is now fast drying up. It is to the west and north of Karagwe that the great lake receives its largest supply of terrestrial water, through the medium of the Kitangule river, which drains off the Luero-10-Urigi and many minor lakes. These lakes are all mere puddles compared to the Nyanza; hut the Kitangule is a noble river sunk low in the earth, like a huge canal, and measuring eighty yards across. The question now arises, what forms these lakes without number ? I'lie Mountains of the Moon, from whence they derive their water, are in the middle of the rainy zone, where he observed in 1802 that no less than 233 days out of the year were more or less wet days. The first place from which he obtained a view of lake Nyanza during the second expedition was from the town of Mashonde, in the Uddu portion of the country of Uganda, on the western side of the lake. Pursuing his way northward along the shore of the valley ofKatonga, which is situated on the equator, the land above the lake becomes very beautiful, being composed of low sandstone hills deeply scored and seamed by the heavy rains, covered with gigantic grass of unsurpassed verdure, and by dells of trees as tall and straight as the blue gums of Australia. Travelling, however, is most irksome in this part of the country, for owing to the gradual subsidence of all the streams the moorlands surrounding them are mere networks of rushes covering unfathomable soft bogs. Crossing the equator he reached the Mworango, a stream of moderate size and said to flow out of the lake. It runs north, and joins the Nile in the kingdom of Uuyoro, when its name is changed to Kafu. Further on the Luajerri follows its example, and still further on, at the centre of the northern coast of the lake, issues the parent stream of the Nile, falling over rocks of an igneous character, and forming falls 12 feet high, which he had christened by the name of the liipon Falls, in honour of the President of ihe Geographical Society at the time of the starting of the expedition. The escape of. the Nyanza’s waters, 20 miles north of the equator, was the only outlet examined, owing to the barbarous restrictions placed on travellers by the king of the country. They, however, saw the junctibn of the Nile with the Kafu ami Asua rivers, and crossed the Luajerri half way between its escape from the lake anil its junction with the parent stream. Proceeding down the Nile from the liipon Falls they first, passed through a row of sandstone luLs, after which the river rushes down due north with ths beauty of a mountain torrent funning oft’ at last into long flats, more like a lake than a river. In Unyoro it is increased by the rivers Kafu and Luajerri, and continues navigable as far as the Karuma Falls, where it rushes on with boisterous liveliness, 'l imy could not continue their passage beyond this point owing to a war that was raging in the country. They next met the old river in the Madi country, where it still hears the unmistakable character of the Nile—long flats and long rapids. Mere it is that another great feeder from the Nyanza lake, the Asua river, joins it on the eastern side. On the other side a long flat extends far into the country—-as far, Captain Speke believes, as the little Luta Nzigi lake. With the rest of the Nile we ought to be well acquainted, but little is really known about it, owing to the fact of uo one having yet taken the trouble to place udometers at proper spots. Proceeding onwards, the- next great affluent is the Bahr-el-Ghazal, which joins the Nile with hardly any visible stream* having more the appearance of a Jake than of a river. The second is the Geraftee river, which may be said to be only one-third of the Nile in size at its point of junction* Its 'source has yet to be discovered. Its character suggests

the possibility of its coming from Lake Nvanza. Tne third affluent is the Southern Sobat river, also full and navigable. The Northern Sobat they passed without knowing it. Captain Speke then went on to describe some other tributaries of the Nile, concluding by giving an account of his meeting with Mr. Baker at Khartoum, who had nobly up the Nile to meet him, with no less than three ladies. Mr. Biker and his party intended following out the stream supposed to lead to the little Luta Nzigi lake to its source. They would be pleased to hear that Mr. Petherick was in perfect health and excellent spirits, and trading energetically when last lie heard of him.

Sir Roderick Murchison then called on Captain Grant to say a few words. ITe met with a similar round of cheering to that given to his companion. He said that nothing could give him more greater pleasure than to bear witness before the eyes of the world to the energy of his old friend, Captain Speke, during the whole expedition. Not one man in ten thousand who attempted such a journey would have coifre home victorious, and he felt proud at having had the honor and privilege of serving under such a chief. They had collected specimens of natural history, and made many sketches. They were neither of them artists, so the sketches must not he judged too critically. He would, however, vouch for their accuracy. At the suggestion of the President, Captain Speke again addressed the meeting giving a long and interesting account of the people of the countries through which he passed, and detailing the reception he met with from various kings and chiefs. 'The people of this part.of the country are most intellectual, but have a great distrust of the white men, owing to the enormities committed by the slave traders. The difficulties of travelling through these countries are almost insuperable, from numberless causes. The native kings are are continually at. war with each other, which causes wholesale desertion among the men forming the expeditions. The natives, however, with whom he had amicable relations were most friendly and honest, not only helping him themselves with presents hut sending men with him into other friendly nations as safeguards. He conside-s that the race is the same as the Abys-iuian, with a strong admixture of the Hindoo. They are mostly tall well-made men, with straight noses and curly hair. They have no religion, and do not believe in a soul. The people of Karagwe he praises most highly. The king and princess are in every respect worth of the epithet “gentlemen.”

After the conclusion of his address, Sir Roderick Minch'son'presented Captain Speke with the gold medal sent to him by the King of Italy. The Medal for Captain Grant was on its way, ami had not yet arrived, S r Roderick then called on the meeting to give three cheers for the heroes of the evening, which was responded to by at least a dozen ringing rounds.

The meeting did not break up ut.-til nearly 12 o'clock, every one being anxious to shake hands with the travellers aud their companions.— Times.

“CHALK YOUR BOBBINS.” Everyone knows that old Sir Robert Peel, father of the late Prime Minister of England and grandfather of the present baronet, made his money by cotton-spinn-ing. In the early part of his career his business was not remarkably extensive ; but suddenly he made a tremendous start and soon distanced all his rivals. He grew immensely rich, as we all know ; and the lucky accident, as men call it, to which he was indebted for liis enormous wealth was the following. In the early days of cotton-spinning machinery, a great deal of trouble used to be caused by filaments of cotton adhering to the bobbins or tapes, which then formed portions of looms. These filaments accumulating, soon clogged the wheels and other parts of the machinery and rendered it necessary that they should be cleared, which involved frequent stoppages, and much loss of time. The great desideratum was to find out some plan of preventing this clogging by the cotton ; and Sir Robert, or Mr. Peel as he. was then, spent vast sums in experiments. He employed some of the ablest machinists in the kingdom, among them James Watt, who suggested various corrections ; but spite of all they could do, the inconvenience remained ; the cotton would adhere to the bobbins, and the evil appeared to be insurmountable. Oi course, these delays seriously affected the wages of the operatives, who on Saturdays generally came short in proportion to the stoppages during the previous days. It was noticed, however, that one man always drew liis full pay, his work was always accomplished ; in fact his loom never had to stop, while every other in the factory was idle. Mr Peel was informed of this, and knew there must be a secret somewhere. It was important that it should be discovered if possible. The man was watched, but all to no purpose ; his fellow workmen tried to “ pump ” him, but they couldn’t; at last Mr. Peel sent for the man into his private office.

He was a rough Lancashire man, unable to read or write ; little better indeed than a mere animal. He entered the “presence” pulling his forelock, and shuffling on the ground with his great, clumsy, wooden shoes. Dick,” said Mr Peel, “ Ferguson the overlooker tells me that your bobbins are always clean'; is that so ] ” “ Ee’s master ’t be ” “ Well, Dick, bow do you manage it ; have you any objection to let me know ; ” “ Why, master Pill, ’t be a sort ’o sacret loike, ye see ; and if oi told t’ others’d know’s mock as oi,” replied Dick with a cunning grin. “ Of coui’se, Dick, I’ll give you something if you’ll tell me, and if you can

make all the looms in the factory work as smoothly as yours.” “ Ev’ry one’n them, master Pill.” “ Well, what shall I give you ? Name your price Dick, and let me have your secret.” Dick grinned, scatched, and shook his great head, and shuffled for a few minutes while Mr. Peel anxiously awaited his reply. The cotton lord thought his servant would fbrobably ask a hundred pounds or so, which he would have most willingly have given him. Presently Dick said.— “ Well, Master Pill, I’ll tell ’ee all about it if you’ll give me—a quart ’o beer- a day as long as I’m in the mills ; you’ll save that ten.” Mr. Peel rather thought he should,'and quickly agreed to the terms. “ You shall have it, Dick, and half a gallon eveiy Sunday into the bargain.” “ Well, then,” said Dick, first looking cautiously {around to see that no one was near, “ this it be ; ” and putting his lips close to Mr. Pe .Ts ear, he whispered “ Chalk your bobbins ! ” That indeed was the great secret. Dick had been in the habit of furtively chalking his bobbins, which simple contrivance had effectually prevented the adherence of the cotton. As the bobbins were white the chalking had escaped detection. Mr. Peel was a sagacious man, and saw through the affair at a glance. Heat once patented the invention, had “ chalking ” machinery contrived, and soon took the lead in the cotton-spinning department. This was the foundation of his princely fortune. It is but right to add, that he pensioned off Dick handsomely.

A SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE FOR HIS COUNTRY’S HONORA pathetic instance of its power over a very humble representative of his country occurred during the late war in China, which many of our readers may remember. A poor young private in one of the infantry regiments was taken prisoner by the Chinese, aud commanded to perform the koutoie on pain of instant death. He unhesitatingly preferred the later alternative. The simple story lias been told by Sir Francis Doyle, in verses so spirited that we hope they will preserve a permanent place in our literature : Last night, among his fellow-roughs-. He jested, quaffed, and swore, A drunken private of the Buffs, Who never looked before. To-day, beneath the foeman’s frown, He stands in Elgin’s place, Ambassador from Britain’s crown, And type of all her race. Poor, reckless, rude, low-born, untaught. Bewilder’d, and alone; A heart with English instinct fraught, He yet can call his own. Ay, tear his body limb from limb, Bring cord, or axe, or flame, He only knows that not through him Shall England come to shame. Par Kentish hop-fields round him seem’d, Like dreams, to come and go ; Bright leagues of cherry-blossom gleam’d One sheet of living snow. The smoke above his father’s door In grey, soft eddyings flung; Must he then watch it rise no more— Doom’d by himself, so young ? Yes, honor calls !—with strength like steel He put the vision by ; Let dusky Indians whine and kneel; An English lad must die. Aud thus, with eyes that would not shrink, With knee to man unbent, Unfaltering ou its dreadful brink, To his red grave he went. Yain, mightiest fleets, of iron framed ; Vain, those all shattering guns, U nless proud England keep untamed The strong heart of her sons. So, let his deed through Europe ring ; A man of mean estate, Who died as firm as Sparta’s king, Because liis soul was great.