1859.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 255 



Communications were received. 



1. From G. H. Ereeling, Esq., An account of Pergunnah Maho- 

 ba, Zillah Hameerpore, Bandelkuud. 



2. The following extract from a letter dated Aden, April 16, 

 1859, addressed to Mr. Blyth by Captain Speke, who has lately- 

 returned with Capt. Burton from an exploring journey in the East 

 of Africa : 



"At last we have returned from our African exploration and I 

 think with tolerable success, considering all things. Starting from 

 just opposite Zanzibar we travelled over flattish cultivated and tree- 

 clad ground, following up the Kinjani river to the Eastern Ghauts of 

 Africa about 100 miles from the Sea. Thence we ascended from 

 250 feet and crossed over the mountain belts, averaging from 2000 to 

 6,000 feet each, until the great central plateau was reached. These 

 hills are chiefly composed of granite and are very sparely populat- 

 ed excepting in some few favoured places. Their breadth is about 

 2 degrees. Still travelling "Westward on the parallel of Zanzibar, 

 the track extends about 6 degrees over a continuous plateau, dotted, 

 and in some places striped, with small hills, outcrops of granite, 

 until the great and extraordinarily depressed Lake Tanganzika is 

 reached. This is a lovely piece of water surrounded on the North- 

 ern half, where we visited it, by a nest of hills higher to the north, 

 and gradually drooping towards the South, thickly studded with a 

 population of boisterous habits. The water level is only 1,800 feet 

 or about half the height of the plateau. Some of the fishes are 

 excellent. I have brought away some specimens of shells. There 

 is but a limited variety of them. The Lake water is very sweet and 

 good. 



" On returning from the Tanganzika Lake I left my companion 

 (who had been almost in a bed-ridden state from the beginning of 

 the journey) at a place called Unzunzember, Lat. 5° S. and Long. 

 33° E., and went due North up the plateau to 2° S. There I dis- 

 covered the water of waters, the Nyanza Lake, a broad expansive 

 sheet at an elevation of 3800 feet, extending certainly 5° or 6° to 

 the northward and about 90 miles broad. The waters are delicious 

 and are said to contain a great variety of fish. The whole of its 

 southern extremity is thickly populated, thickly cat-tied, and thickly 



