NA TURE 



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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, i{ 



MR. STANLEY. 



MR. STANLEY'S latest letters, which have been 

 exciting universal attention, present as fascinating 

 a record of travel, adventure, and geographical discovery 

 as any that has ever awakened the interest of civilized 

 mankind. It is impossible to read them without the 

 warmest admiration for the writer's resolute energy, in- 

 exhaustible resource, and dauntless courage. No previous 

 traveller can have been confronted by a greater number 

 of formidable — often apparently insurmountable — diffi- 

 culties. Mr. Stanley never allowed himself to be dis- 

 heartened by the obstacles in his way, but pressed steadily 

 on, varying his methods to meet changing needs, until 

 the immediate object of his great enterprise was attained. 

 Not the least serious of his perplexities sprang from the 

 reluctance of Emin Pasha to be "rescued." It was not 

 unnatural that Emin should hesitate to quit a region for 

 which he had made so many sacrifices, and with regard 

 to which he had entertained so many hopes ; but it is 

 certain that if he had remained he would soon have 

 fallen a victim to treachery. Happily, Mr. Stanley, after 

 many an argument, succeeded at last in overcoming 

 his scruples and hesitations, and on April :o the two 

 men, accompanied by a party of about 1500 persons, 

 including native carriers, started from the southern 

 shore of Albert Nyanza on their homeward journey. No 

 part of Mr. Stanley's narrative is more interesting than 

 that in which he tells the story of his efforts to persuade 

 Emin that he might with honour resign a task which had 

 already been practically taken out of his hands. The 

 tale brings out vividly a most striking contrast between 

 two types of character, each of which in its own way 

 commands our sympathy and respect. 



The scientific results of Mr. Stanley's journey are full 

 of interest, and form a most important addition to our 

 knowledge of Central Africa. On April 11 (Nature, 

 vol. xxxix. p. 560) we gave an account of his geographical 

 discoveries so far as they were then known ; and anyone 

 who will consult the map which we printed on that occa- 

 sion .will be able to trace without difficulty the main lines 

 of the explorer's later course. In 1877 Mr. Stanley dis- 

 covered Muta Nzige, which he now calls Lake Albert 

 Edward. This lake is less extensive than was originally 

 supposed. At the time of its discovery it could not be 

 determined whether its waters were discharged into the 

 Nile or the Congo, but now Mr. Stanley has found that 

 it is one of the feeders of the former river. It receives 

 all the streams of the south-western part of the Nile 

 basin, just as Victoria Nyanza receives all the streams 

 of the south-eastern part of the Nile basin. The two 

 lakes discharge their waters into Albert Nyanza, whence 

 flows the White Nile. Lake Albert Edward and Albert 

 Nyanza are connected by a river called the Semliki, 

 whose valley Mr. Stanley vividly describes. 



Lake Albert Edward occupies the south-western end of 



a great area of depression, at the north-eastern end of 



which lies Albert Nyanza. This area of depression lies 



between 3° N. lat. and i^ S. lat., and is from 20 to 50 



Vol. xli.— No. 1048. 



miles broad. East and west of it rise extensive up- 

 lands, those on the western side forming the water- 

 parting between the Nile and the Congo. Towards 

 the east, beyond the valley of the Semliki— that is, 

 the central part of the line of subsidence — is a great 

 mountain range called Ruwenzori, "the Mountains of 

 the Moon," culminating in peaks which Mr. Stanley 

 estimates to be between 18,000 and 19,000 feet. Past 

 this splendid range the party advanced on their way 

 southwards. Says Mr. Stanley : — " Much as we had 

 flattered ourselves that we should see marvellous scenery, 

 the Snow Mountain was very coy, and hard to see. On 

 most days it loomed impending over us like a tropical 

 storm-cloud ready to dissolve in rain and ruin on us. 

 Near sunset a peak or two here, a crest there, a ridge 

 beyond, white with snow, shot into view, jagged clouds 

 whirling and eddying round them, and then the 

 darkness of night. Often at sunrise, too, Ruwenzori 

 would appear fresh, clean, brightly pure ; profound 

 blue voids above and around it ; every line and 

 dent, knoll, and turret-like crag deeply marked and clearly 

 visible ; but presently all would be buried under mass 

 upon mass of mist until the immense mountain was no 

 more visible than if we were thousands of miles away. 

 And then, also, the Snow Mountain, being set deeply in 

 the range, the nearer we approached the base of the 

 range, the less we saw of it, for nigher ridges obtruded 

 themselves and barred the view. Still we have obtained 

 three remarkable views — one from the Nyanza Plain, 

 another from Kavallis, and a third from the South 

 Point." 



Lieutenant Stairs tried hard to reach the loftiest 

 summit, but succeeded only in attaining a height of 

 10,600 feet, which was separated from the snow-covered 

 peaks by deep ravines. He is of opinion that the central 

 mass of the Ruwenzori range is an extinct volcano, and 

 that certain jutting pinnacles on the sides of the moun- 

 tains are survivals of the time when volcanic forces were 

 in full activity. So much of the debris is borne along by 

 the Semliki that the southern part of Albert Nyanza is 

 being rapidly filled up. 



Mr. Stanley has much that is new to tell us, not 

 only about Albert Nyanza and Lake Albert Edward, but 

 about Victoria Nyanza, a great south-western extension of 

 which he has discovered. About the many tribes through 

 whose territories he passed he has also a vast amount 

 of curious and suggestive information, offered with all the 

 freshness due to his immediate contact with the facts he 

 describes. Nothing could be better in its way than his 

 account of the Wakonju, a tribe from whom he and his 

 people received much kindness. They occupy the slopes 

 of the Ruwenzori Mountains, on which some of their 

 villages are built at a height of 8000 feet. Here they have 

 taken refuge from their enemies the Warasura. It is note- 

 worthy that in many parts of the Central African uplands 

 which he visited Mr. Stanley found a physical type which 

 he identified with that of the Abyssinians. Cm these and 

 many other points of interest the world may expect soon 

 to receive from him further enlightenment. Meanwhile, 

 we desire to join most cordially in the expressions of high 

 appreciation that have been everywhere evoked by his 

 success, and by the great qualities of intellect and 

 character by which it has been achieved. Such geogra- 



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