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Henry Morton Stanley's first African expedition was in 1871, on assignment for The New York (/places/united-states-and-canada/us-political-geography/new-york) Herald to find Livingstone, who was assumed dead. Stanley's famous question upon finding him, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" made Stanley a household name in the explorer frenzy that followed Livingstone's journeys. Although not a scientist, Stanley was sent back out to answer the geographic questions left following Livingstone's death in 1873. Among these, Stanley set out in 1874 to circumnavigate the enormous Lake Victoria to see if it was a single body of water, and—more importantly—to see if it was the much-sought-after source of the Nile River. Stanley also planned to circumnavigate Lake Tanganyika (/places/africa/african-physical-geography/laketanganyika), to see if it was the source of the Nile, as Burton had suggested. Finally, Stanley planned to finish Livingstone's work of mapping the Lualaba River. Livingstone had theorized that the Lualaba, which flowed from Lake Bangweolo, was quite possibly the Nile itself. (Others thought that the Lualaba was the same as the Congo River, not the Nile.)

British missionary David Livingstone (/people/history/explorers-travelers-and-conquerorsbiographies/david-livingstone) (1813-1873), while partly on a quest to seek the elusive source of the Nile, discovered the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (/places/africa/african-physicalgeography/victoria-falls). Livingstone's expedition went on to discover parts of the main network of Africa's largest rivers, including the Congo, but his work remained unfinished, leaving many questions that Stanley would soon answer.

Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) and John Hanning Speke (/people/history/explorers-travelers-and-conquerors-biographies/john-hanning-speke) (18271864) explored part of Lake Victoria and a section of the Nile, and theorized that either Victoria or Lake Tanganyika (/places/africa/african-physical-geography/lake-tanganyika), southwest of Victoria, was the river's source

It took four months for Stanley to meet the banks of Tanganyika, but he circumnavigated it successfully in 51 days.

Verney Lovett

The Congo, as Stanley had now surmised that the Lualaba and the Congo were the same river, would have nearly 200 miles (320 km) of the most severe rapids he would encounter.

Stanley's journey also concluded what we know about the character of the Congo River: from its source, just south of Lake Tanganyika, the river begins as the Lualaba, heads southwestward to Lake Bangweolo, then turns north to the Zambia/Zaire border to Lake Mweru, where it becomes the Congo. The mighty river crosses the equator twice, placing it in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. After 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of a wild path through extreme landscapes, it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.

Not a single observation for latitude appears to have been made between Kirenji and the Tanganyika, although this country has been traversed very many times by European travellers.

, has been laid down from a rough Ms. map prepared by the traveller. Mr. Moir, in a note written on the face of his map in 1883, states that Mom- bera's is laid down from actual observations made at that place in let. 11 ° 37' S., and 30 ° 50' 30" E. ; that Mr. Stewart and himself subse- quently took lunars at the place, the result agreeing within a few miles.

at night, on the 19th, they camped close to Kambomba's town, which lies at the foot of the hills, immediately to the west of Mount Parasinga. There are between four and five hundred huts, and many sheep, but n~> cattle, as the tsetse abounds in the Loangwa valley.

On the 15th the road led through a level country and past severn} villages, the inhabitants of which were armed with bows and poisoned arrows.

"pelele,"

Most of the villages are inhabited by Basenga. It then climbed the hills to the village of the chief Chifungwi, a little thin man,

wana Hill, where Arabs trading in slaves and ivory, have a station, lies within this district.

with a small head, who wore anklets and Bracelets of brass-wire and beads. His people are Wasingwa, but Mangamba and other villages belonging to him are inhabited by fugitives from Unyika, who fled from the dreaded Merere.

Mombera to Kambomba, 27 h. 6 rain. 76"06 miles. Kambomba to Kirenji,. 41 ,, 22 ,, 112'59 ,, Kirenji to Karonga, 18 ,, 14 ,, 54"17 ,,

The western shore of Lake Iqyassa is partly based upon information collected by Mr. Donald Munro during a land journey from Bandawe to Karonga (Aug. 18-30, 1884).

The Luweya forms a small delta, enclosing two swampy islands, fringed along its lake shore by sand-banks about 600 feet wide, which are thickly covered with native huts, Ngombo's people occupying the southern, and Makambiro the northern island. The southern arm of the river (Lnweya-mufwa) leaves the main stream about 2 miles from the lake; it is 30 yards broad, 3 feet deep, and has a slow current. The dimensions of the main branch are similar, but its current is stronger. The northern arm (Chintechi) resembles a swamp rather than a river. The people who crowd the delta live in daily dread of the Mangone, against whom the swamps afford a certain measure of security. Their exhalations, on the other hand, are a source of much disease, and the many recently covered graves in the villages afford evidence of this.

The three rocky islands (" Chirwa," Chirupumbu, and another) in a broad bay to the north are crowded with huts, some of them upon piles. The adjoining mainland has a poor soil, notwithstanding which cassava i.~ cultivated, and food appears to be plentiful.

Leaving this bay, Mr. Munro climbed over steep hills, rising to a height of 1500 feet, and then returned to the lake, which he reached near a small bay dubiously called "Magwina" (" crocodile "). Wretched huts of fugitives cling to the hill- sides further to the north.

Patowtow is a beautiful little harbour, extending about half a mile inlaml, and bounded by steep hills. It affords excellent shelter.

Mr. M'Ewan left Bandawe on April 7, 1885, and, having been joined by Mr. Munro, started from Mombera's on April 14. The travellers eneamped on that day at the foot of the Kabo Rock---a mass of granite covering an area of 160 by 80 yards, and rising to a height of 80 feet. Mount Parasinga, a prominent peak, was clearly visible, bearing 269", and during the progress of the journey proved a valuable landmark.

Five miles to

e north of it a river of similar dimensions, the Chiwetwi, enters the lake. The country hereabouts is well cultivated by people from the interior, who spend the rainy season until harvest time in temporary dwellings.

Ruali, the first village of Uchungu, stands upon the lake shore. Its houses and inhabitants contrast very favourably with what is to be seen among the Atonga to the south.

Commander Young

Not a single observation for latitude appears to have been made between Kirenji and the Tanganyika, although this country has been traversed very many times by European travellers.

latitude

Mr. Moir, in a note written on the face of his map in 1883, states that Mom- bera's is laid down from actual observations made at that place in let. 11 ° 37' S., and 30 ° 50' 30" E. ; that Mr. Stewart and himself subse- quently took lunars at the place, the result agreeing within a few miles.

with a small head, who wore anklets and Bracelets of brass-wire and beads. His people are Wasingwa, but Mangamba and other villages belonging to him are inhabited by fugitives from Unyika, who fled from the dreaded Merere.

On the 15th the road led through a level country and past severn} villages, the inhabitants of which were armed with bows and poisoned arrows.

"pelele,"

at night, on the 19th, they camped close to Kambomba's town, which lies at the foot of the hills, immediately to the west of Mount Parasinga. There are between four and five hundred huts, and many sheep, but n~> cattle, as the tsetse abounds in the Loangwa valley.

It then climbed the hills to the village of the chief Chifungwi, a little thin man,

Mr. M'Ewan left Bandawe on April 7, 1885, and, having been joined by Mr. Munro, started from Mombera's on April 14. The travellers eneamped on that day at the foot of the Kabo Rock---a mass of granite covering an area of 160 by 80 yards, and rising to a height of 80 feet. Mount Parasinga, a prominent peak, was clearly visible, bearing 269", and during the progress of the journey proved a valuable landmark.

Mombera to Kambomba, 27 h. 6 rain. 76"06 miles. Kambomba to Kirenji,. 41 ,, 22 ,, 112'59 ,, Kirenji to Karonga, 18 ,, 14 ,, 54"17 ,,

The western shore of Lake Iqyassa is partly based upon information collected by Mr. Donald Munro during a land journey from Bandawe to Karonga (Aug. 18-30, 1884).

The Luweya forms a small delta, enclosing two swampy islands, fringed along its lake shore by sand-banks about 600 feet wide, which are thickly covered with native huts, Ngombo's people occupying the southern, and Makambiro the northern island. The southern arm of the river (Lnweya-mufwa) leaves the main stream about 2 miles from the lake; it is 30 yards broad, 3 feet deep, and has a slow current. The dimensions of the main branch are similar, but its current is stronger. The northern arm (Chintechi) resembles a swamp rather than a river. The people who crowd the delta live in daily dread of the Mangone, against whom the swamps afford a certain measure of security. Their exhalations, on the other hand, are a source of much disease, and the many recently covered graves in the villages afford evidence of this.

The three rocky islands (" Chirwa," Chirupumbu, and another) in a broad bay to the north are crowded with huts, some of them upon piles. The adjoining mainland has a poor soil, notwithstanding which cassava i.~ cultivated, and food appears to be plentiful.

Leaving this bay, Mr. Munro climbed over steep hills, rising to a height of 1500 feet, and then returned to the lake, which he reached near a small bay dubiously called "Magwina" (" crocodile "). Wretched huts of fugitives cling to the hill- sides further to the north.

Patowtow is a beautiful little harbour, extending about half a mile inlaml, and bounded by steep hills. It affords excellent shelter.

Bwana Hill, where Arabs trading in slaves and ivory,

The country hereabouts is well cultivated by people from the interior, who spend the rainy season until harvest time in temporary dwellings.

Ruali, the first village of Uchungu, stands upon the lake shore. Its houses and inhabitants contrast very favourably with what is to be seen among the Atonga to the south.

Commander Young

. In his journey Stanley saw a mountain southeast of the Mwutan Nizige, which was reported to be from thirteen thousand to fifteen thousand feet high, called Gamnboragare, on the peak of which snow is frequently foun

Ujiji

Lake Tanganyk