I.] FORMER SEARCH EXPEDITION. 19 



Althougli disaj)pointed at my failing to obtain the command 1872. 

 of this expedition, I still entertained some hope of leading an- 

 other, and carrying ont the project which I had so much at 

 heart, and therefore determined to further prepare myself for 

 the undertaking by studying the Suahili language. 



Of the difficulties entailed by such a service I had gained 

 some knowledge from eight months passed in the Eed Sea dur- 

 ing the Abyssinian war, and nearly three years on the East 

 Coast of Africa, much of which period was s]5ent in open boats. 

 With this experience of work in a hot climate, added to my 

 having suffered severely from fever at Zanzibar, it was not 

 without counting the cost that, as soon as Dawson's expedition 

 was reported to have been broken up, I volunteered to j^roceed 

 to join Dr. Livingstone, taking with me such instruments and 

 stores as he might require, and offering to place my services 

 unreservedly at his disposal. 



This was in June, 1872, but no intention of sending out an- 

 other expedition to assist our great traveler appeared then to 

 be entertained. 



I next drew up a scheme for the exploration of the route to 

 Victoria Nyanza via Mounts Kilima Njaro and Kenia and the 

 volcano reported to lie to the north of them — thus passing 

 close to the water-shed between the coast rivers and the feeders 

 of the Victoria Nyanza — and, after surveying that lake, to work 

 my way to the Albert l^yanza or Mwuta Nzige, and thence 

 through Ulegga to Nyangwe and down the Kongo to the West 

 Coast. 



The latter part of this route is now being attempted by Mr. 

 Stanley, one of the most successful and energetic of African 

 travelers, under the auspices of ihe^New York Herald and the 

 Daily Telegraph. 



In this I was encouraged and assisted by Mr. Clements Mark- 

 ham, C.B. ; and to his counsel and kindly help in many mat- 

 ters intimately connected with my African travels I am deeply 

 indebted. 



The Council of the Geographical Society were, however, of 

 opinion that this scheme, thongh meeting with the approval 

 of some of its most eminent members, could not be carried out 

 with the funds at their disposal. 



