How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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After
Making Great Bends West And South-West, And Then Curving Northward,
It Enters Kamolondo.
By the natives it is called the Lualaba, but
the Doctor, in order to distinguish it from other rivers
Of the same
name, has given it the name of "Webb's River," after Mr. Webb,
the wealthy proprietor of Newstead Abbey, whom the Doctor
distinguishes as one of his oldest and most consistent friends.
Away to the south-west from Kamolondo is another large lake, which
discharges its waters by the important River Loeki, or Lomami,
into the great Lualaba. To this lake, known as Chebungo by the
natives, Dr. Livingstone has given the name of "Lincoln," to be
hereafter distinguished on maps and in books as Lake Lincoln,
in memory of Abraham Lincoln, our murdered President. This was
done from the vivid impression produced on his mind by hearing
a portion of his inauguration speech read from an English pulpit,
which related to the causes that induced him to issue his
Emancipation Proclamation, by which memorable deed 4,000,000 of
slaves were for ever freed. To the memory of the man whose
labours on behalf of the negro race deserves the commendation of
all good men, Livingstone has contributed a monument more durable
than brass or stone.
Entering Webb's River from the south-south-west, a little north
of Kamolondo, is a large river called Lufira, but the streams,
that discharge themselves from the watershed into the Lualaba are
so numerous that the Doctor's map would not contain them, so he has
left all out except the most important. Continuing his way north,
tracing the Lualaba through its manifold and crooked curves as far
as latitude 4 degrees south, he came to where he heard of another
lake, to the north, into which it ran. But here you may come to
a dead halt, and read what lies beyond this spot thus . . . .
This was the furthermost point, whence he was compelled to return
on the weary road to Ujiji, a distance of 700 miles.
In this brief sketch of Dr. Livingstone's wonderful travels it is
to be hoped the most superficial reader, as well as the student of
geography, comprehends this grand system of lakes connected
together by Webb's River. To assist him, let him glance at the
map accompanying this book. He will then have a fair idea of what
Dr. Livingstone has been doing during these long years, and what
additions he has made to the study of African geography. That
this river, distinguished under several titles, flowing from one
lake into another in a northerly direction, with all its great
crooked bends and sinuosities, is the Nile - the true Nile - the
Doctor has not the least doubt. For a long time he entertained
great scepticism, because of its deep bends and curves west,
and south-west even; but having traced it from its head waters,
the Chambezi, through 7 degrees of latitude - that is, from
11 degrees S. to lat. 4 degrees N. - he has been compelled to come
to the conclusion that it can be no other river than the Nile.
He had thought it was the Congo; but has discovered the sources
of the Congo to be the Kassai and the Kwango, two rivers which
rise on the western side of the Nile watershed, in about the
latitude of Bangweolo; and he was told of another river called
the Lubilash, which rose from the north, and ran west.
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