PREFACE 



The following pages contain an account of an expedition which 

 roamed through extensive tracts of Central Africa under the 

 author's leadership during the years 1907-8. 



This expedition had for its aim a systematic investigation 

 of the German East African Protectorate, the Central African 

 rift-valley, in its expansion from Lake Kiwu to Lake Albert, and 

 finally the north-eastern confines of the Congo State. It ended 

 by crossing the Dark Continent. 



The plates used to illustrate the text have been selected from 

 amongst some 5,000 photographs. Though some of them may 

 not possibly pass muster before very critical eyes, it must be 

 remembered that many of them had to be developed in our tents. 

 The troublesome dust blown up by gusts of wind adhered at 

 times to the coated sides of the plates, and did not, of course, 

 improve them. Those of the undeveloped plates sent on the 

 long route from the centre of Africa to Germany, despite most 

 careful packing and hermetical sealing, were subjected to the 

 greatest changes of temperature, which have often worked in- 

 juriously. It is mainly due to the skill and pains bestowed 

 upon them by those who developed them that many plates which 

 were feared to be hopelessly spoilt were saved. 



I owe a deep debt of thanks to those who helped in such a 

 spirited manner with magnificent material support, and, in fact, 

 enabled the expedition to take place. I harbour a special feeling 

 of gratitude towards Geheimrat Hans Meyer, of Leipzig. The 

 successful inauguration of the expedition and the entire, care- 

 fully studied plan of its execution were due to his initiative. 

 It was through his exertions as President of the Commission for 



