Consul Petherick's Expedition up the White NileSource: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1860 - 1861),pp. 20-22Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of BritishGeographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1798875 .

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DISTANCES BY TROClIIAhIETER conttnued.

Place. Latitude.* Longitude.*

o t tt o t /t

Walwich Bay .. .. .. .. .. 22 53 26 .*

Oesip ... .. .... .. .. .... .. 22 43 57 .. .. Otjimbinque ........ .. .. .. .. .. 22 20 0 16 5 30

Barmen ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 5 37 16 42 56

Eikanis ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 33 . 0 . 17 6 15

Quaiep .. .. .. .. .. .. .. n2 30 20 .. .. Wit Vley ........ .. .. .. .. .. 22 24 50 . 1& 26 0

Elephants' Fountain .. .. .. 22 26 15 . . .. ..

Twas . .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 35 30 19 20 25

Riet Fountain .. .. .. .. 21 53 0 21 o 30 Gnathais .. .. .. .. .. 21 52 45 .. ..

Fort Funk (Gnubgga) .. .. .. 21 49 38 - .. .. Koob'e .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 27 53 .. ..

Lechulatebe's Town .. .. ... 20 21 34 23 39 58

l-

* The nature of the observations by which these results have been obtained is not explained.

DISTANCES BY TROClIIAhIETER conttnued.

Place. Latitude.* Longitude.*

o t tt o t /t

Walwich Bay .. .. .. .. .. 22 53 26 .*

Oesip ... .. .... .. .. .... .. 22 43 57 .. .. Otjimbinque ........ .. .. .. .. .. 22 20 0 16 5 30

Barmen ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 5 37 16 42 56

Eikanis ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 33 . 0 . 17 6 15

Quaiep .. .. .. .. .. .. .. n2 30 20 .. .. Wit Vley ........ .. .. .. .. .. 22 24 50 . 1& 26 0

Elephants' Fountain .. .. .. 22 26 15 . . .. ..

Twas . .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 35 30 19 20 25

Riet Fountain .. .. .. .. 21 53 0 21 o 30 Gnathais .. .. .. .. .. 21 52 45 .. ..

Fort Funk (Gnubgga) .. .. .. 21 49 38 - .. .. Koob'e .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 27 53 .. ..

Lechulatebe's Town .. .. ... 20 21 34 23 39 58

l-

* The nature of the observations by which these results have been obtained is not explained.

20 20 NOTES ON SOUTH AFRICA NOTES ON SOUTH AFRICA [Nov. 1S, 1860 [Nov. 1S, 1860

HEIGE:TS BY BOILING WATER. Feet.

.. .. 226() . Twas .. .. .. 3352 . Quaiep .. .. .. 3310 . Awas .. .. .. 3450 . Eikanis .. .. .. 3752 . Barmen ..

HEIGE:TS BY BOILING WATER. Feet.

.. .. 226() . Twas .. .. .. 3352 . Quaiep .. .. .. 3310 . Awas .. .. .. 3450 . Eikanis .. .. .. 3752 . Barmen ..

Feet. .. .. 3950 .. .. 4463 .. .. 4643 .. .. 3860 .... 3575

Feet. .. .. 3950 .. .. 4463 .. .. 4643 .. .. 3860 .... 3575

Lechulatebe's Town Ghanzi .. .. .. Fort Funk .. .. Riet Fountain .. .. Elephants' Kloof ..

Lechulatebe's Town Ghanzi .. .. .. Fort Funk .. .. Riet Fountain .. .. Elephants' Kloof ..

Consul PethericA's Expedition up the Whtte. Nile.

MR. (:ONSUL JOHN PETHERICB, at the request of the President, pointed out the difficulties and dangers which Capt.- Speke would encounter in his progress from the hostility of the tribes north of the Equator. lIe would be unable to obtain potters the only means of transit at his disposal to proceed froln one tribe to allother, and without porters it was impossible he could proceed. His guard would have sufficient work to carry their own ammunition and fire-arms; and as no beasts of burden existed in these countries, he must have negroes to carry his provisions and beads. Should he succeed in reaching Gondokoro, his stock of beads would be exhausted; and from the pastoral character of the natives and their disinclination for work of any kind, particularly agricultural, he wollld have great difficulty in obtaining grain for the support of himself and people. Moreover, if he does not time his arrival at Gondokoro between December and February, when Arab merchants from ilihartum arrive at that place in boats, he will not obtain the means of trans- port down the Nile. It was necessary, in order to ensure the suc-

Consul PethericA's Expedition up the Whtte. Nile.

MR. (:ONSUL JOHN PETHERICB, at the request of the President, pointed out the difficulties and dangers which Capt.- Speke would encounter in his progress from the hostility of the tribes north of the Equator. lIe would be unable to obtain potters the only means of transit at his disposal to proceed froln one tribe to allother, and without porters it was impossible he could proceed. His guard would have sufficient work to carry their own ammunition and fire-arms; and as no beasts of burden existed in these countries, he must have negroes to carry his provisions and beads. Should he succeed in reaching Gondokoro, his stock of beads would be exhausted; and from the pastoral character of the natives and their disinclination for work of any kind, particularly agricultural, he wollld have great difficulty in obtaining grain for the support of himself and people. Moreover, if he does not time his arrival at Gondokoro between December and February, when Arab merchants from ilihartum arrive at that place in boats, he will not obtain the means of trans- port down the Nile. It was necessary, in order to ensure the suc-

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Nov. 26,186p.] PETHERICK'S EXPEDITION UP THE WHITE NILE. 21

cessful termination of Captain Speke's mission, that he should be met at Gondokoro with boats, prourisions, and men; and if gentle- men would contribute towards the expense of the expedition, he should be most happy to devote his time and services to the object m vlew.

The PRESIDENT announced that subscriptions wtould be received at the Royal Georaphical Society, 15, Whitehall-Place, -in aid of Consul Petherick's Expedition, to cooperate with that under Captains Speke and Grant, sta Khartum and the Upper Nile.

The meeting then adjourned to Monday, November 26th.

Second Meeting, Monday, November 26th, 1860.

LORD ASHBURTON, PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

PRESENTATIONS.- H. Cartwright, Esq.; Consul T. J. Hutchinson; and Captain S. Xyde, were presented upon their election.

ELECTIONS.-Ne Rev. L.- J. Bernays; the Farl of lOunmare; Mapor J. B. Edwards; Lieut. A. Giffard Glascott, R.N.; Colonels W. L. Grant and W. R. EBaliday; R. W. lCeate, Lieut.-Governor of Trinidad; Ixeut.- Cotonel W. E. Loyd; Rev. R. Coqnyn Lumsden; Capt. Sir F. Leopold 'CIintock, R.N.; Capt.R. Pla?yfair; Rev. G. Richards; Lieut.-Colonel L. Shadwell; Consut Don Ramon de Silva Ferro; Colonel Sir Anthany Sterling; Assist. Comm.-Generawl E. Strickland; T. S. Beybie; E. W. Birch; A. Cave; J. Rodney CrosAey; T. Devine, Chief of Surveys, Cunclda; 7z. Gould; B. Bandley; A. Jessopp; F. Perkzns, Mclyor of So?>thampton; W. Rwhardson, M.D.; J. Sheren; J. C Sim; J. W. Sullivan; and J. Irwine Whitty, D.C.L., Esqrs., were elected Fetlo?xs.

EXHIBITIONS.-A globe, in relief, by Thury and Belnet, published at Dijon; Sonnenstern's map of Central America; Russian map of Northern Asia; and Johnson's deep-sea thermometer, were exhi- bited at the meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. The PRESIDENT stated that information had been received from Captains Speke and Grant of the successful starting of their expedition, and he trusted the Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society and the Public would join in promoting its equally successful termination, by contributing to the fund that was being raised to enable Consul Petherick to meet them with provisions and men on their arrival at Gondokoro. The Council of the Society had departed from their rule and allotted out of the funds of the Society 1001. for the purpose, and the Foreign Offlce

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22 ON THE PHYSICAL GROGRAPHY OF THE SEA. [NOV. 26, 1860.

had contributed a similar amount. Privato individuals had also subscribed something, but still without the ass;stance of the Public, this would be insufficient. It was intended to send to every Fellow of the Society a circular containing a statement of the difEctllties which Captains Speke and Grant would probably have to encounter, and w-hat was proposed to be do:ne to provide for the safety of these adventurous men.

The Paper read was- O7s the Physicat Geography of the Sea, in Connection w?th the Antarctic Regians.

By (:aptain M. F. MATrRY, U.S. Navy; Corresp. F.R.G.S., etc. The PRESIDENT next said they were aware that the principal subject of the

evening was a paper to be read by a geographer who had done them the honour of coming amonC them from the United States; a gentleman of world- wide reputation, who by the energy of his character and the power of his arguments had ir3dllced tivilised nations to concur with him in adopting one great plan for ascertaininffl the meteorolozy of the ocean, He had col- lected the records and observations which had aS yet been made vIpon the subject, and, with theb assistance of the maritime nations of the world, was in

COU1SE of receiving further information.

CAPTAIN MAURY, IJ.S., after detailing the Ftatistical results of his labours fUr several years in this previously unes:amined field of inquiry, proceeded to dwell specially upon the effects of the winds and currents in the southern hemisphere. He pointed out that, by a knowledge of the set of the winds, sailing vessels had been able to make greater average rlms than any steamers had ,-et been able to accomplish, and this solely by attention to the force of the winds in certain southern latitudes. Before the course of the Gulf-stream was known, ships froln Europe to New York in winter used to sail, first to Charleston, South Carolina, then coast it down to the Hud- son. The voyage used to occupy them from six to eight :months The Narltucket fishermen were the first to discover the course of the Gulf-stream, and- while English captains were taking si:S: months to reach New York, they used to rnake the run sometimes in one month. Vessels running north of this stream in winter get their sails and rigging frozen, so that it is scarcely possible to make any headway. By running into the strealn they thaw it, br the water is always warm, and is known by this and its intense dark-blue colour It is provided as a reservoir of heat by the Great Governor of Worlds to accomplish his grand purposes. It is the influence of this stream which renders the climate of Britain so genia], Were it diverted to break upon the coasts of Spain only, the island of Britain would soon become a bleak, cold, and inhospitable region, with a clianate as cold and a winter as long as Labrador; and Erin would cease to be named the Emerald Isle, for her fields would be covered

22 ON THE PHYSICAL GROGRAPHY OF THE SEA. [NOV. 26, 1860.

had contributed a similar amount. Privato individuals had also subscribed something, but still without the ass;stance of the Public, this would be insufficient. It was intended to send to every Fellow of the Society a circular containing a statement of the difEctllties which Captains Speke and Grant would probably have to encounter, and w-hat was proposed to be do:ne to provide for the safety of these adventurous men.

The Paper read was- O7s the Physicat Geography of the Sea, in Connection w?th the Antarctic Regians.

By (:aptain M. F. MATrRY, U.S. Navy; Corresp. F.R.G.S., etc. The PRESIDENT next said they were aware that the principal subject of the

evening was a paper to be read by a geographer who had done them the honour of coming amonC them from the United States; a gentleman of world- wide reputation, who by the energy of his character and the power of his arguments had ir3dllced tivilised nations to concur with him in adopting one great plan for ascertaininffl the meteorolozy of the ocean, He had col- lected the records and observations which had aS yet been made vIpon the subject, and, with theb assistance of the maritime nations of the world, was in

COU1SE of receiving further information.

CAPTAIN MAURY, IJ.S., after detailing the Ftatistical results of his labours fUr several years in this previously unes:amined field of inquiry, proceeded to dwell specially upon the effects of the winds and currents in the southern hemisphere. He pointed out that, by a knowledge of the set of the winds, sailing vessels had been able to make greater average rlms than any steamers had ,-et been able to accomplish, and this solely by attention to the force of the winds in certain southern latitudes. Before the course of the Gulf-stream was known, ships froln Europe to New York in winter used to sail, first to Charleston, South Carolina, then coast it down to the Hud- son. The voyage used to occupy them from six to eight :months The Narltucket fishermen were the first to discover the course of the Gulf-stream, and- while English captains were taking si:S: months to reach New York, they used to rnake the run sometimes in one month. Vessels running north of this stream in winter get their sails and rigging frozen, so that it is scarcely possible to make any headway. By running into the strealn they thaw it, br the water is always warm, and is known by this and its intense dark-blue colour It is provided as a reservoir of heat by the Great Governor of Worlds to accomplish his grand purposes. It is the influence of this stream which renders the climate of Britain so genia], Were it diverted to break upon the coasts of Spain only, the island of Britain would soon become a bleak, cold, and inhospitable region, with a clianate as cold and a winter as long as Labrador; and Erin would cease to be named the Emerald Isle, for her fields would be covered

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