Geographical Notes

Abstract

EMIN PASHA contributes to the Scottish Geographical Society's Journal an account of an exploration he made recently of part of Lake Albert Nyanza, which contains some data bearing on the probable origin and the physical geography of the lake. Off the station of Mabagi, on the north-west shore of the lake, Dr. Junker found a long, low, sandy island, which he recognized as of quite recent formation; for in 1879 he noticed that the spot where it now lies was covered with shallow water. Its length is 1067 yards, and maximum breadth 99 yards. Tall grass and weeds grow at the water's edge, and a species of acacia (A. mellifera) on the higher parts. The island, Emin Pasha states, is due to the deposition of the detritus brought down by the two rivers which enter from the south-west. From what he observed on the lake, he is inclined to believe that the foreshore on the west is gradually encroaching on its waters; in other words, the lake in this part is gradually filling up. As for the lake itself, Emin Pasha attributes its origin solely to erosion. He thinks it more than probable that formerly a large stream may have made its way from between the two ranges to east and west of the lake, so that its erosive action, combined with that of inundations, heavy rains, caving-in, and the influence of the sun and weather, are quite sufficient to account for the result. The geological formation of both ranges is the same; their altitudes differ but little, and the terrace-like formation of their descent lakewards is in each case exactly alike. Emin Pasha hoped to examine the problem much more minutely. He landed at Kibiro, on the opposite side of the lake, and gives an interesting description of the valuable salt-mines of the region. Emin Pasha afterwards made two other journeys on the lake, during one of which he discovered what he believes to be a new river, called Kakibbi by the Wasongora, and Duéru by the Wamboga. It flows from the Ussongora Mountains, and is of considerable size, and enters the lake at the south, having a large island near its embouchure. It abounds with cataracts, and is therefore unnavigable. To the south-west, Emin Pasha was informed, there is a large river on the banks of which there is a colony of Akkas—called Balia by the Wanyoro people, but by themselves Betua; the latter a name suggesting the Batua recently discovered by Lieut. Wolf on the Sankuru, to the south of the Congo. Is it not possible that the Kakibbi is the same as the “red river” discovered by Mason Bey in 1877, entering the south extremity of Lake Albert?