Victoria Nyanza,

Victoria Nyanza, a great fresh-water lake in East Central Africa, situated on the equator, and on the meridian of 33° E., has an area of over 30,000 sq. m., or about the size of Ireland. It lies about 3880 feet above sea-level. The geological evidence points to the origin of its basin having taken place at a very remote period, a number of terrace-like faults along the western shores suggesting a series of immense landslips as a probable cause of the formation of the hollow which now contains the lake. The traces of volcanic action do not seem sufficient to account for so large a depression. The prevailing rocks are gneiss and schists, with porphyritic granite at the south extremity, and some lava and ironstone towards the north. The igneous area is, upon the whole, barren and desolate looking, the remainder of the basin being clothed with luxuriant tropical flora, exceedingly varied in character. This variety is, perhaps, most strikingly exhibited on some of the islands. The fauna is also varied, the number of alligators frequenting the waters being very large. Hippopotami, although less frequently met with, are exceedingly fierce, and are held in great dread by the native boatmen. The water is good and fresh, although somewhat insipid to the taste, and frequently assumes a dirty white colour. The lake is drained by the Nile, and its chief feeders are the Kajera, the Nzoia, the Shimiyu, and the Katonga. As these are all comparatively insignificant streams, and the evaporation from such a large body of water in an equatorial climate must be very great, it is supposed that the lake draws the larger part of its supply from springs in its bed. Tides have lately been noticed along the shores, the rise lasting from about half an hour to an hour in time; from such observations as have been made, the winds do not appear to exercise much influence upon this curious phenomenon. The natives assert that a periodical rise and fall in the level of the lake takes place at intervals of about twenty-five years, and the water-markings along the coast, noted by recent travellers, are believed to lend an appearance of truth to the statement. Cyclonic storms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, are common, and occur most frequently in the month of August. Fishing is mostly carried on by the use of the rod and line, except in Lower Kavirondo and among the Ba-Sesse people, where grass mats and basket traps are used as nets. The lake, whose native name is Ukerewe, was discovered by Speke in 1858, visited by him and Grant in 1861-62, and subsequently partly explored by Stanley (1875), Mackay, Thomson, and others.