350 EXPLORATIONS IN EASTERN AFRICA. [June 13, 1859. 



ing the justice of the claim ; the slaves were all armed, and the 

 town of Zanzibar was thrown into a state of excitement and suspense. 

 After a fortnight of confusion, it was officially reported that H.B.M.'s 

 steamer Punjaub, under orders from H.E. the Governor of Bombay, 

 had met Sayyid Suwayni's fleet off the eastern coast of Arabia and 

 had persuaded it to return. 



After a courteous dismissal on the part of H.H. Sayyid Majid, to 

 whom the travellers had every reason to be grateful. Captains 

 Burton and Speke bade farewell to Zanzibar. Having engaged a 

 passage in a clipper-built barque, the Dragon of Salem, they quitted 

 East Africa on the 22nd of March, and arrived at Aden in the 

 middle of April, 1859. Their explorations, dating from the time of 

 their leaving Bombay, had been carried on for two years and about 

 three months ; and their discoveries will appear in detail at a 

 future time in the Journal of the Society. — E. F. B. 



The President. — As tlie two Papers are intimately connected with each 

 other, I will call upon Captain Speke before inviting discussion on the Paper 

 you have just heard. 



2. The region traversed by Captain Burton and myself is divisible 

 into five bands. They all run parallel to the coast, and each of them 

 is characterised by special geographical features. The first is the low 

 land between the coast range and the sea. Its breadth is about 120 

 miles, and its average slope not more than 2 feet per mile. Forests 

 of gigantic trees, and tall grasses, cover its surface. The second 

 band is the coast range of mountains. These are hills in lines and 

 in masses, intersected by valleys, through which the rivers of the 

 east coast find their way. This range is easily crossed, and nowhere 

 exceeded 6000 feet, adjacent to the line of road taken by our 

 travellers. It is capable of cultivation, though neglected, because 

 the slaving forays to which it is subjected drive away the inhabi- 

 tants. The third band reaches to Unyanyembe. It is a dry plateau, 

 with a slight inclination toward the interior, and ranging in height 

 between 3000 and 4400 feet. Tributary streams, running south- 

 wards to the Euaha, intersect it. The fourth zone is a continuation 

 of the above, but it is better watered, and is studded with granite 

 hills. Here is the water-parting between the streams that run 

 eastward to the Indian Ocean, and westward to the Tangan3dka 

 Lake. The Nyanza Lake is situated in this band. The fifth band 

 is a remarkable slope, that inclines to the shores of the Tanganyika. 

 It sinks no less than 1800 feet in 45 miles ; it is exceedingly fertile, 

 but harassed by marauders of the Watuta tribe. 



