Into The Unknown Stories of Remarkable journeys on Land and Sea

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17886, 5 December 1929, Page 15

Into The Unknown Stories of Remarkable journeys on Land and Sea

Joseph Thomson, the Scottish explorer, who conducted no loss than five expeditions on the African continent, enjoyed the distinction of never having _ caused the death of a nativo, which distinction, as Sir Clements Markham truly said, “is a proof of very raro qualities in the leader of an expedition, and places him in the very first rank of explorers.” His first visit to the Dark Continent took place in 1878, when he was appointed geologist and naturalist to the expedition which was 6ent out to East Central Africa by the Royal Geographical Society. Keith Johnston, the original leader of the expedition, died during the journey from the coast to Lake Nyasa, and Thomson then took command. He was only twenty-one years of age at the time, but he immediately proved that ho was a born explorer and leader of men. After reaching the northern end of Lake Nyasa, he proceeded to Lake Tanganyika by a hitherto unexplored route, and travelling up the western shore of the lake ho solved a moot problem regarding the Lukuga outlet. He then struck out westwards, with tho intention of travelling to tho Congo, but he was compelled to abandon the project, owing to trouble with his native carriers, who refused to venturo through tho country of tho warlike Warua tribe, and in the course of his return journey to the eastern coast he discovered Lake Rukwa. In 1881 ho travelled up the River Rovuma on behalf of tho Sultan of Zanzibar, who had engaged him to examine certain supposed coal-beds, which, on investigation, provod to bo deposits of bituminous shale, much to tho annoyanco of the dusky potentate. In tho following year the Royal Geographical Society gave him charge of an expedition into Masailand, through which country ran tho shortest routs from tho sea to the head-waters of the lUy.tx Hite*, bilk PSiWS

Charles Cbtma/^

Thomson’s Travels in Africa.

ery of tho Nasai w’arriors, no European had hitherto ventured past Mt. Kilimanjiro .Thomson, however, succeeded in crossing the dreaded Njin Desert, and explored the eastern rift-vallev. Before retracing his steps ho traversed the unknown country between Lakes Victoria Nyanza and Baringo, and on his way back to tho coast ho visitecj Mt. Elgon, where he discovered several remarkable caves. His fourth journey was in West Africa, where in 1885, ho undertook an expedition on behalf of the North African (afterwards the Royal Niger) Company, and on this journey he did much to consolidate Britain’s interests in Nigeria by his tactful dealings with tho Sultans of Sokoto and Ganda, with both of whom he entered into important treaties. In 1890 he entered the service of the British South Africa Company, on whoso behalf he travelled twice through the country lying between Lakes Nyasa and Bangweola and the Zambesi River, and he there entered into trendies with a number pf nativo chiefs, which gave the Company valuable political, trading and mining rights over a largo section of the territory now known as North Eastern Rhodesia. On this expedition ho travelled for over a thousand miles of hitherto unexplored country. Thomson also mado two African trips on his own account; tho first being in 1888, when bo spent a holiday in southern Morocco, where ho explored a portion of the Atlas Mountains; and the second in 1893, when be travelled through South Africa in an effort to regain health and strength, his constitution having been undermined by the hardship of his many journeys. His search for health proved futile, and he died soon after his return to London in 1895. leaving behind him a record of successful travel which has been hy few exjjisrgrs-