SIR HENRY RA WLINSON'S ADDRESS. 683 



he was better equipped for the emergencies of travel ; but still, the absence 

 of all intelligence regarding him was becoming painful, when, in the autumn 

 of last year, intelligence was received almost simultaneously from Egypt 

 and Zanzibar that the gallant explorer had reached the coast of M'tesa at 

 Uganda, on the north-western shore of the Victoria Nyanza. As a full report 

 of his travels after leaving the sea-coast has been already published in the 

 1 Proceedings ' of this Society, I need not at present follow his footsteps in 

 any detail, but, in the interests of geography, and in recognition of his emi- 

 nent personal services, it is only just and proper that I should briefly notice 

 the main features of his journey. 



" Mr. Stanley then, by taking a new line to the lake, considerably to 

 the east of the track pursued by former travellers, discovered a large river 

 flowing in a north-western direction, which he followed down to the lake 

 along a course which he approximately estimated at three hundred and fifty 

 miles. This river is named the Shimeyu, and, as far as our present means 

 of information extend, it must be considered the true source of the Nile — 

 that is, it is the most southerly feeder of the great reservoir of Victoria 

 Nyanza, from which the White Nile issues. After reaching the southern 

 shore of the lake, not far from the Jordan's Nullah of Speke, Mr. Stanley put 

 together the Thames boat which he had broughi in pieces from Zanzibar, 

 and to which he gave the name of ' Lady Alice,' and proceeded to circum- 

 navigate this great inland sea. He passed along the eastern and northern 

 shores of the lake to M'tesa's capital in Uganda, taking a series of observa- 

 tions for latitude and longitude as he went along, and also obtaining mea- 

 surements both of the depth of the lake and of its elevation above the sea- 

 level. 



" On the whole, Stanley's surveys may be held to confirm, in a remark- 

 able manner, not only the accuracy of Speke's own work, but the correctness 

 of the information which he obtained from the natives. The lake was found 

 to consist of one great and continuous body of water, instead of being bro- 

 ken into a series of lagoons, as had been surmised by other travellers. Its 

 general contour, indeed, as delineated by Speke, and the area which it was 

 estimated to cover, very nearly corresponded with the shape and dimensions 

 given in Stanley's map ; and even in regard to the so-called subsidiary lake, 

 named the Bahr-ingo, at the north-eastern corner, which Speke was held to 

 have introduced into his map on insufficient authority, Stanley was able to 

 identify the title in the same locality, and, indeed, he explained the original 

 report, by showing that there really were large land-locked bays in that 

 quarter, almost claiming to be 'ndependent lakes. The only serious discre- 

 pancy between the two accounts was a uniform difference of latitude, amount- 

 ing to fourteen miles, which was due, no doubt, to some constant error either 

 of instrument or observation. The elevation of this great reservoir above the 



