Central African Exploration 147 



on the bed of the Lake of Haarlem, which had now been 

 dried, drained, and cultivated, though it had been navigated 

 for hundreds of years and the scene of a great battle between 

 the Dutch and the Spaniards. 



Nov. 24th. Dr. Hofman mentioned that, in lecture 

 experiments, he had found sparks from the Ruhmkorff coil 

 useful in the decomposition of gases, for instance with 

 ammonia, marsh-gas, and carbonic acid. In particular 

 cases he had observed two stages of decomposition. Pro- 

 fessor W. A. Miller said that, in his own lectures, he had used 

 this coil for similar purposes. 



On Dec. 22nd (u6th meeting) Sir R. Murchison said that 

 Dr. Livingstone had found that his intended exploration 

 required a steamer, especially fitted for river navigation, 

 and had applied for one to the Government. 1 It had been 

 granted, and would leave this country in April or May. 

 Captain Speke, he went on to say, proposed to descend the 

 lake which he had recently discovered, 2 and to follow the 

 river issuing from it, which he believed to be the White Nile. 

 Mr. Petherick, consul at Tetuan, was to ascend the Nile and 

 meet him. Government had granted 2500 towards the 

 expense of the expedition. 3 



Colonel Smythe, 4 Director of the St. Helena Observatory, 

 sent word of his mission to the Fiji Islands, asking for sugges- 

 tions as to matters demanding investigation. Dr. Hooker 

 was asked if he could be accompanied by a botanist from 

 Kew. 



1 He had left on March loth, 1858. Though the steamer was unfitted 

 for its purpose, he explored, notwithstanding many difficulties and trials, 

 the northern bank of Lake Nyassa, returning to the east coast of Africa, 

 whence an adventurous voyage took him to Bombay. 



* On July 30th, 1858. 



8 Speke, with his companion, Captain Grant, left Efagland April 27th, 

 1860. The story of the expedition, which, notwithstanding grave diffi- 

 culties, placed the matter beyond reasonable doubt, is told in his book, 

 Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile (1863). 



4 William James Smythe (1816-1887), R.A., who saw service in Kaffir 

 War, India, etc., was sent to these islands in 1859 to report upon their 

 cession to England. He advised against it, on the conditions then proposed,, 

 and they did not become British till 1874. 



