XIV 



EMIN'S BOX AND LETTER 199 



way to its consignee, the Director of the Natural 

 History Museum, it was fully expected that some 

 account of the military position, and perhaps an 

 estimate of the time which his ammunition would 

 last and of the spirits of his troops, would accom- 

 pany the package. There was in it absolutely no 

 personal news whatever. The letter and the con- 

 tents of the chest were just what might reach the 

 table of some learned society in London from a 

 correspondent on the fringe of civilisation, who 

 hoped to interest, and expected in the course of 

 time to be back at his club, and able to give a 

 lecture on his travels. 



The box was an ordinary seaman's chest. The 

 covering letter was exquisitely written on the very 

 best foreign notepaper, divided into squares by the 

 water-mark ; and, as Flower said at the time, the 

 only thing which seemed to cause Emin any anxiety 

 was the doubt whether his contribution would 

 or would not entitle him to be made an honorary 

 fellow of the Anthropological Society. 



Wadelai, September 4, 1887. 



Dear Sir — Your very welcome note of Nov. 23, 1886, reached 

 me here safely. As by the papers I had learnt of your new 

 appointment, I have addressed the boxes which I forwarded to 

 you to the Consul-General, requesting him to send them to the 

 British Museum of Natural History. By Mr. Mackay I was 

 informed of his having started the said boxes from Uganda on 

 the 19th March. They should, therefore, by this time have 

 arrived at, and perhaps started from Zanzibar. On April 1 7 I 

 wrote another letter, with four boxes of different objects to you, 



