Chapter I. 



of the Indian Ocean, and Port Florence, on the eastern l)ank of 

 tlie Victoria Nvanza. Port Florence was in its turn connected 

 with Entebbe, the ca])ital of Uganda, by a regular service of 

 steamers. It had tlius become possible to reach the centre of 

 the Ah'ican continent without ditKcidty, at small expense, and 

 with an immense saving of time. The country was henceforward 

 in a state of peace and secm'ity. 



NATIVE CHIEF MITH HIS FAMILY, VCANDA. 



After the expedition of David, no explorer availed himself of 

 these favoura])le conditions until the end of the year 1905, when 

 interest in Iluwenzori seemed suddenly to reawaken. Thus it 

 happened that at the very moment when H.R.H. the Duke of 

 the Abruzzi was forming his plan for an expedition in this 

 reeion, and in the beoinnlntr of lOOG, when he had actually 



16 



