What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the NileSpeke, John Hanning
History
What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile
Speke, John Hanning
Horn of Africa -- Description and travel; Nile River; Tanganyika, Lake
To-day's track lay for the first half of the way over a jungly
depression, where we saw ostriches, florikans, and the small Saltiana
antelopes; but as their shyness did not allow of an open approach, I
amused myself by shooting partridges. During the remainder of the way,
the caravan threaded between villages and cultivation lying in small
valleys, or crossed over low hills, accomplishing a total distance of
twelve miles. Here we put up at a village called Ukumbi, occupied by
the Walaswanda tribe.
2d.--We set out at 6 A.M., and travelled thirteen miles by a tortuous
route, sometimes close by the creek, at other times winding between
small hills, the valleys of which were thickly inhabited by both
agricultural and pastoral people. Here some small perennial streams,
exuding from springs by the base of these hills, meander through the
valleys, and keep all vegetable life in a constant state of verdant
freshness. The creek still increases in width as it extends northward,
and is studded with numerous small rocky island-hills covered with
brushwood, which, standing out from the bosom of the deep-blue waters,
reminded me of a voyage I once had in the Grecian Archipelago. The
route also being so diversified with hills, afforded fresh objects of
attraction at every turn; and to-day, by good fortune, the usually
troublesome people have attended more to their harvest-making, and
left me to the enjoyment of the scenery. My trusty Blissett made a
florikan pay the penalty of death for his temerity in attempting a
flight across the track. The day's journey lasted thirteen miles, and
brought us into a village called Isamiro.
Chapter IV.
First Sight of the Victoria N'yanza--Its Physical
Geography--Speculations on its Being the Source of the Nile--Sport on
the Lake--Sultans Machunda and Mahaya--Missionary Accounts of the
Geography--Arab Accounts--Regrets at Inability to Complete the
Discovery--The March Resumed--History of the
Watuta--Hippopotamus-hunting--Adventures--Kahama.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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