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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The Bays To The East Of
The Rusizi Are Of The Same Conformation As Those On The West.
Carefully Judging
From the width of the several bays from point
to point, and of the several spits which separate them, the
Breadth
of the lake may be said to be about twelve or fourteen miles. Had
we contented ourselves with simply looking at the conformation,
and the meeting of the eastern and western ranges, we should have
said that the lake ended in a point, as Captain Speke has sketched
it on his map. But its exploration dissolved that idea. Chamati
Hill is the extreme northern termination of the western range,
and seems, upon a superficial examination, to abut against the Ramata
mountains of the eastern range, which are opposite Chamati; but a
valley about a mile in breadth separates the two ranges, and
through this valley the Rusizi flows towards the lake.* Though
Chamati terminates the western range, the eastern range continues
for miles beyond, north-westerly. After its issue from this broad
gorge, the Rusizi runs seemingly in a broad and mighty stream,
through a wide alluvial plain, its own formation, in a hundred
channels, until, approaching the lake, it flows into it by three
channels only, as above described.
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* After the patient investigation of the North end of the Lake,
and satisfying ourselves by personal observation that the Rusizi
ran into the Lake, the native rumor which Sir Samuel Baker brought
home that the Tanganika and the Albert N'Yanza have a water
connection still finds many believers!
______________
I should not omit to state here, that though the Doctor and I have
had to contend against the strong current of the Rusizi River, as
it flowed swift and strong INTO the Tanganika, the Doctor still
adheres to the conviction that, whatever part the Rusizi plays,
there must be an outlet to the Tanganika somewhere, from the fact
that all fresh-water lakes have outlets, The Doctor is able to state
his opinions and reasons far better than I can find for him; and,
lest I misconstrue the subject, I shall leave it until he has an
opportunity to explain them himself; which his great knowledge of
Africa will enable him to do with advantage.
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