John Hanning Speke

John Hanning Speke was a man of thirty-six, when his Nile Journal appeared. He had entered the army in 1844, and completed ten years of service in India, serving through the Punjab Campaign. Already he had conceived the idea of exploring Africa, before his ten years were up, and on their conclusion he was appointed a member of the expedition preparing to start under Sir Richard (then Lieutenant Burton) for the Somali country.

Kari - Tragic Incident there - Renewals of Troubles - Quarrels with the Natives - Reach the Nile - Description of the Scene there - Sport - Church Estate - Ascend the River to the Junction with the Lake - Ripon Falls - General Account of the Source of the Nile - Descend again to Urondogani - The Truculent Sakibobo.

In the following pages I have endeavoured to describe all that appeared to me most important and interesting among the events and the scenes that came under my notice during my sojourn in the interior of Africa. If my account should not entirely harmonise with preconceived notions as to primitive races, I cannot help it. I profess accurately to describe native Africa - Africa in those places where it has not received the slightest impulse, whether for good or evil, from European civilisation.

First Voyage on the Nile - The Starting - Description of the River and the Country - Meet a Hostile Vessel - A Naval Engagement - Difficulties and Dangers - Judicial Procedure - Messages from the King of Uganda - His Efforts to get us back - Desertion - The Wanyoro Troops - Kamrasi - Elephant-Stalking - Diabolical Possessions.

The design - The Preparations - Departure - The Cape - The Zulu Kafirs - Turtle-Turning - Capture of a Slaver - Arrive at Zanzibar- -Local Politics and News Since Last Visit - Organisation of the Expedition.

My third expedition in Africa, which was avowedly for the purpose of establishing the truth of my assertion that the Victoria N'yanza, which I discovered on the 30th July 1858, would eventually prove to be the source of the Nile, may be said to have commenced on the 9th May 1859, the first day after my return to England from my second expedition, when, at the invitation of Sir. R. I.

Invitation to the Palace at last - Journey to it - Bombay's Visit to King Kamrasi - Our Reputation as Cannibals - Reception at Court- - Acting the Physician again - Royal Mendicancy.

The Nature of the Country - The Order of March - The Beginning of our Taxation - Sultan Lion's Claw, and Sultan Monkey's Tail - The Kingani - Jealousies and Difficulties in the Camp - The Murderer of M. Maizan.

The Ceremonies of the New Moon - Kamrasi's Rule and Discipline - An Embassy from Uganda, and its Results - The Rebellious Brothers- - An African Sorcerer and his Incantations - The Kamraviona of Unyoro - Burial Customs - Ethiopian Legends - Complicated Diplomacy for our Detention - Proposal to send Princes to England - We get away.

Nature of the Country - Resumption of the March - A Hunt - Bombay and Baraka - The Slave-Hunters - The Ivory-Merchants - Collection of Natural-History Specimens - A Frightened Village - Tracking a Mule.

Sail down the Kafu - The Navigable Nile - Fishing and Sporting Population - The Scenery on the River - An Inhospitable Governor - Karuma Falls - Native Superstitions - Thieveries - Hospitable Reception at Koki by Chongi.

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