The Discovery of the Nile by John Tenniel. Engraved by Swain. From Punch, Vol. 44, 6 June 1863, facing p. 232. The Nile is seen as an Egyptian king hidden behind bulrushes in an exotically overgrown corner. Water flows from an amphora by his side as he sits smoking his long pipe, when his peace is disturbed by the familiar figure of the helmeted Britannia. The youthful maiden looks delighted as she parts the verdure and spots him. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
On the facing page to this cartoon are rousing, celebratory stanzas under the title, "The Nile Song," including the lines, "SPEKE and GRANT's gallant band/ Down to posterity famous shall go." Although David Livingstone and another famous explorer, Sir Richard Burton, disputed it, John Hanning Speke was actually confirmed to have made the discovery. James Grant (1827-1892), who accompanied him on his own mission to confirm the location, could not complete the trek because he developed a leg ulcer. The disputes marred the triumph for Speke: sadly, he did not live to see his final vindication, and Livingstone is still commonly credited with the discovry.
Speke's Discovery of the Source of the Nile
- A Review of Tim Jeal's Explorers of the Nile: The Triumph and Tragedy of a Great Victorian Adventure
- The Speke Monument in Kensington Gardens
Memorials to David Livingtone
- David Livingstone Monument in Glasgow by John Mossman
- David Livingstone Monument in Edinburgh by Amelia Robertson Hill (née Paton),
- David Livingstone bas relief by Henry Hugh Armstead or J. Birnie Philip on the façade of the Colonial Office, Whitehall, London
- Royal Geographical Society Medal by Elinor Hallé
Image scan and formatting by George P. Landow and text by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the site and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
Bibliography
"Britannia Discovering the Source of the Nile." Punch Vol. 44 (6 June 1863): 232-33. Internet Archive. Web. 16 February 2024.
Created 10 November 2007
Last modified 16 February 2024