June 13, 1859.] EXPLORATIONS IN EASTERN AFRICA. ' 868 



fixed the position, the longitude and latitude of these two great lakes, and have 

 shown you that whilst one is like other lakes, of which we had previously- 

 heard, situated on a great plateau, the other is situated at such an elevation 

 that, as Captain Speke has explained to you, it may very possibly be found to 

 feed the chief sources of the Nile. I will not now argue that difficult question, 

 because I am quite sure there is one gentleman here, if not others, who may 

 dispute that inference. I will, therefore, first call attention generally to the 

 great importance of these discoveries. My friends here have not only traversed 

 the district and furnished us with a good picture of the manners and customs 

 of the inhabitants, but have also brought home rock specimens which enlighten 

 us as to the fundamental features of this country ; and to these rocks I will for 

 a moment advert. Captain Burton placed before me this morning certain sj)eci- 

 mens which show me that at an elevation of upwards of 3000 feet above the 

 sea and towards the interior there are fossilized land shells, showing that from 

 very ancient periods the lands have maintained their present configuration. 

 These deposits, whether purely terrestrial or lacustrine, have been consolidated 

 into stone, and show that the existing internal condition of Africa is that 

 of ages long gone by, as I took the liberty of pointing out to the Society some 

 years ago, when treating of Livingstone's first explorations. Another striking 

 feature in connection with this great zone of country is this. You will observe 

 that our friends spoke of remarkable herds of oxen on the banks of the lake 

 Tanganyika, and tribes of people between that vast lake and the coast range, 

 who are a thriving, peaceful, agricultural population, whilst the adjacent districts 

 in the north and south are frequently disturbed by wars for slave-hunting 

 purposes. This is a great fact as indicating a broad line of route by which we 

 may hope hereafter to establish intercourse with the interior country. 1 here 

 is another important fact, though I do not think Captain Speke alluded to it, 

 namely, the absence of that great scourge of parts of Southern Africa, the Tsetse 

 fly. With regard to the physical geography of the country, it is remarkable 

 that all the adjacent rivers fall into the great Tanganyika lake, which was 

 formerly supposed, on the contrary, to aflbrd the sources of the Zambesi river. 

 All theory, therefore, on this subject is now set at rest. Lastly, we come to 

 the subject which is likely, as I said, to give rise to much discussion, and that 

 is the theory upon which I think my friend Captain Speke may rest his claim 

 to our most decided approbation. On my own part I am disposed to think that 

 he has indicated the true southernmost source of the Nile. Now, in saying 

 this 1 do not mean to deny that the great mountains flanking the lake on the 

 east, of which a point or two only is marked on the map before us, do not afford 

 the streams which flow into this great lake. That must probably be the case 

 on the east, just as Captain Speke ascertained from the Arabs that the so-called 

 " Mountains of the Moon" feed the same lake from the west by other streams. 

 You must here recollect that the same Arab sheik who gave him the informa- 

 tion which turned out to be correct concerning the existence of the lake Tan- 

 ganyika also told him of the existence of the Nyanza, which lake was found 

 to be exactly in the position indicated. As Captain Speke has determined that 

 this great lake Nyanza is nearly 4000 feet above the sea, it may well, indeed, 

 be the main source of the White Nile. Everything (as far as theory goes) being 

 in its favour, this view is farther supported when we reflect on the fact that 

 the tropical rains cause these upland lakes and rivers to swell and burst their 

 banks at a period which tallies very well with the rise of the Nile at Cairo. 

 These, then, are grounds which I think must go to strengthen the belief of 

 Captain Speke, and I may, therefore, repeat what I stated at the Anniversary, 

 that highly worthy as Captain Burton was to receive a gold medal, not only on 

 account of this great expedition which he led, but also for his former gallant 

 and distinguished expeditions. Captain Speke, who now sits at your Lordship's 

 left hand, is also entitled to a gold medal of the Koyal Geographical Society. 



