JUNB 13, 1859.] KXPLOUATIONS IN EASTERN AFRICA. 351 



On arriving at Ujiji, the party found tliat the only boats to be 

 had were wretched canoes ; while the troubled state of the country 

 rendered it unsafe to explore the lake unaccompanied by a large 

 escort. There was, however, a small sailing craft belonging to 

 an Arab, on the other side of the lake, which would be large 

 enough to contain the entire party ; and Captain Speke started 

 with seventeen savages, as a crew, and four of his own men, to 

 hire her. He first coasted to Kabogo, a bold promontory usually 

 selected as the starting point, when the lake has to be crossed, 

 and reached it in five days. He describes the shore as wild and 

 beautiful, affording many convenient harbours, and requiring but 

 a little art to make it quite a fairy abode. There were no 

 inhabitants, but an abundance of game, — hippopotami, buffaloes, 

 elephants, antelopes, and crocodiles. The passage across the lake, 

 a distance of 26 miles, was made rapidly and safely, and Captain 

 Speke was cordially welcomed by the Sultan of the country on the 

 opposite side. The owner of the sailing boat was there also, and 

 was ready to afford every assistance ; but he himself was on the 

 point of starting on an ivory expedition 100 miles into the interior, 

 and the crew of his sailing boat were, at the same time, his armed 

 escort : he could not therefore spare them. What made the disap- 

 pointment doubly vexatious, was that this Arab desired Captain 

 Speke's companionship in his intended journey, and he promised 

 the boat on his return. Had Captain Speke been unfettered by 

 time, this would have been an excellent opportunity of farther 

 travel. As it was, he was obliged to go back to Ujiji without the 

 sailing boat, and proceeded with Captain Burton to a more extended 

 exploration of the Tanganyika Lake, which lasted a whole month. 

 The mapping of its southern portion depends on information given 

 by this Arab. 



On returning to Unyanyembe, Captain Burton's continued illness 

 again made it necessary for Captain Speke to proceed alone to the 

 northward to explore the Lake Nyanza. He went with 33 men, 

 through a line of populous country, less visited by strangers than 

 that which he had hitherto travelled on. There were numerous 

 petty sovereigns who were hospitable enough, but very troublesome. 

 The view of Lake Nyanza, with its numerous islands, reminded 

 Captain Speke of the Greek archipelago. The islands were pre- 

 cisely like the tops of the same hills that studded the plains he had 

 just travelled over. In fact, the lake had the features of a flooded 

 country rather than those of a sheet of permanent water, with well 

 marked banks. Its water is sweet and good : those who live near 

 it drink no other. 



