John Hanning Speke

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.

The Lie of the Country - Rhinoceros-Stalking - Scuffle of Villagers over a Carcass - Chief "Short-Legs" and His Successors - Buffalo- Shooting - Getting Lost - A Troublesome Sultan - Desertions from the Camp - Getting Plundered - Wilderness March - Diplomatic Relations with the Local Powers - Manua Sera's Story - Christmas - The Relief from Kaze

Junction of the Two Hemispheres - The First Contact with Persons Acquainted with European Habits - Interruptions and Plots - The Mysterious Mahamed - Native Revelries - The Plundering and Tyranny of the Turks - The Rascalities of the Ivory Trade - Feeling for the Nile - Taken to see a Mark left by a European - Buffalo, Eland, and Rhinoceros Stalking - Meet Baker - Petherick's Arrival at Gondokoro.