Chapter I. 



of the Indian Ocean, and Port Florence, on the eastern bank of 

 the Victoria Xyanza. Port Florence ^^■as in its turn connected 

 witli EntebVje, tlie ca])ital of Uganda, by a regular service of 

 steamers. It bad thus become possible to reach the centre of 

 the African continent without difficulty, at small expense, and 

 with an immense saving of time. The country was henceforward 

 in a state of ])eace and securitv. 



NATIVE CHIEF WITH HIS FAMILY, lt;AM»A. 



After tlie expedition of David, no explorer availed liimself ot" 

 these favourable conditions until the end of the year 1905, when 

 interest in lluwenzori seemed suddenly to reawaken. Thus it 

 happened tliat at the very inoiiiciit wIhmi H.Il.H. the Duke of 

 the Abruzzi was forming bis plan for an exprditioii in this 

 reofion, and in tlie beii'iiiiiiìii'- ot* !!)()(). wIhmi Im- bad actually 



16 



