Abstract
THE despatches and private correspondence of Dr. Livingstone, after a long detention, have at last been delivered, and we are now able to give extracts from the explorer's reports which throw further light on his discoveries. He appears to have ascertained, by a journey round the south-eastern side of Tanganyika, that that lake has no outlet. He has also explored the drainage to the eastward for nearly 600 miles. We learn also that his present object is to examine the hills to the south-west of Lake Bangweolo, where he had been told that there are four fountains, which he confusedly connects with the sources of the Nile, as described by Herodotus. There is marvellous heroism in this persistency, and it is sad to reflect that the grand old traveller is doomed to disappointment. But there can scarcely be any doubt that these rivers to the eastward of Tanganyika have no connection with the Nile. Apart from other considerations, Livingstone's own observations show that his Lualaba, where he saw it, was only at the same height above the sea as Gondokoro, and the error of his instrument would increase rather than diminish the height. This makes it impossible that his discoveries can be connected with the Nile. Doubtless the mass of waters is lost in some inland swamp.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dr. Livingstone . Nature 6, 287–290 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/006287a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/006287a0