Fifty Years of Nile Exploration, and Some of Its Results

Speke's expedition in 1856, and ends with the reconquest of the Sudan, by Lord Kitchener, in 1898.Within this space of time, the Nile sources were discovered, the basin of the river was explored, and the partition of Africa between the European Powers took place.The second period covers but ten years-from 1898 to the present day.In it, no startling geographical discoveries have been made, but much useful work has been accomplished, in mapping the Nile, and instituting scientific observations of its course and flow.Moreover, within this period, the Sudan has made steady progress towards prosperity, and Egypt has continued to profit largely by an effective distribution of the Nile waters.Before, however, I touch upon the work of the last half-century, it is indispensable to my subject that I should make some reference to the state of knowledge existing, prior to Burton and Speke's expedition.My remarks will be brief.From the very dawn of history, the secret of the Nile sources attracted the attention of the dwellers in its valley.Every conquering race in succession fell under the spell of this mystery and sought to solve it.This is not surprising.They saw a great river, rising they knew not where, and traversing many hundreds of miles of desert unassisted by a single tributary.They saw that it delivered an unfailing supply throughout the entire year, and-greatest marvel of all-they saw that, at the time when the sun's rays were most powerful, and the intense heat scorched and shrivelled up every green thing, its waters rose, overflowing their channel, saturating the adjacent lands, and converting tracts that would otherwise have been arid wastes into the most productive agricultural areas in the world.I repeat, then, that it is small wonder if they sought to explain the origin of this marvellous stream, and the causes that led to the yearly inundation.Their simple minds instinctively turned to supernatural agency, and they were satisfied to account for these miracles, by ascribing them to a Deity whose special mission it was to control the Nile.As civilization and powers of thought increased, such explanations failed to satisfy men's minds.The legends were gradually discarded, and tile geographers of the period began to attribute the origin of the Nile to natural causes.Many of the early writers discussed the subject at length.Among these, Herodotus was perhaps the most notable.The first rumour of the river sources being situated in a lake, would seem to have reached the outer world through the medium of traders to the eastern coast, and not by the course of the Nile itself.The physical difficulties of the Upper Nile valley must have proved potent factors in baffling all attempt at inquiry in that direction.On the East Coast it was different.The Phoenicians and, later, the Greeks, in their constant voyages, touched at different ports, and entered into trade-relations with the inhabitants.These last brought

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