200 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER 



but owing to the war between Uganda and Unyoro two boxes 

 were returned to me, and are still here. As towards the end of 

 this month I despatch a caravan to Uganda, I hope to be able to 

 send them by this occasion, together with the boxes of specimens 

 which I collected during a short stay at the western shore of 

 Lake Albert. There are some new species of birds which may 

 prove acceptable to your collections. I have somewhat neglected 

 to collect mammalia, for the reason of deficiency of books. By 

 this post I entreated my friend Dr. Felkin to get me a good 

 work treating of mammalia only. If, therefore, he begs your 

 advice about the choice of the wished-for book, please give him 

 the necessary directions. Remember, however, that the book is 

 wanted for determination. Collecting without an approach to 

 determinate is half-hearted work. For the first time I shall send 

 some lepidoptera. 



I have some good skulls for you ready — Lango, Wadi, and 

 Turi, but I dare not send them now. The King of Uganda is 

 in strained relations with Mr. Mackay, to whom I send my boxes ; 

 and if by chance they did open a box, and found these skulls, 

 we should be accused of witchcraft, and of plotting against the 

 life of the king. I may, therefore, be forced to expect Mr. 

 Stanley's arrival; but if by chance an opening offers itself, I 

 shall certainly send the skulls also. In my antecedent letter I 

 begged of you to tell me whatever I could do for you and your 

 collaborators. The English have proved so generous in my 

 people's behalf, that I should like to contribute at least to your 

 public collections. You write so many delightful things i^ide 

 " Osteology of Mammalia," etc), why not remember and gratify 

 me with a copy? Believe you that we Africans have lost all 

 appreciation of science ? 



Dispose of my services, and believe me to be, dear sir, yours 

 very faithfully. Dr. Emin Pasha. 



Prof. W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., 

 Director of the British Museum of Natural History. 



Flower read a paper on these Akka skeletons 

 before the Anthropological Institute in February 



