2 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
my future expedition through the Galla countries to great 
advantage. 
I perceived that a journey from Berbera to Lake Rudolf 
would be a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The 
preliminary details would require the most careful study, 
and no expense should be spared in preparing for every 
possible contingency. 
Ever since the days of Sir Richard Burton, who first 
endeavored to explore the Galla countries, to the time of 
my expedition, attempts had been made from time to time 
by Europeans to pass through the country lying between 
Somaliland and Lake Rudolf, without success. From 
Captain H. G. S. Swayne I received much encourage- 
ment. Captain Swayne had made many expeditions in 
Somaliland, and on his last journey had gotten as far 
as Ime, on the Shebeli River, and had endeavored to go 
across into the Galla country. He had an escort of only 
forty armed men, but ‘the Gallas would not let him enter 
their country because the only white men who had ever 
crossed their borders, Prince Ruspoli and Captain Bottego, 
had attacked them continually. These two Italians had 
gone far up the Ganana, or river Jub, taking with them 
large armed forces, and the Gallas had resolved to unite 
to prevent any other Europeans from coming among 
them. 
The greater part of the country west of the Shebeli 
River to Lake Rudolf was therefore a ferra incognita to 
Europeans, except in a few instances, where very indefi- 
nite native reports had been conveyed to residents on 
the coast, and to the two explorers, M. Borelli and 
M. D’Abadie, who had endeavored to penetrate the 
country from the north. 
Dr. W. L. Smith and I got a little beyond Milmil on 
our sporting trip; and on inquiries from Somalis I judged 
