VI PREFACE. 



feeling of disinclination to abandon the East Coast of 

 Africa to the Portuguese and slave-trading, and I 

 determined to run home and consult my friends before 

 I allowed the little vessel to pass from my hands. 

 After, therefore, having put two Ajawa lads, Chuma 

 and Wakatani, to school under the eminent missionary 

 the Rev. Dr. Wilson, and having provided satis- 

 factorily for the native crew, I started homewards with 

 the three white sailors, and reached London July 20th, 

 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Webb, my much-loved friends, 

 wrote to Bombay inviting me, in the event of my 

 coming to England, to make Newstead Abbey my 

 headquarters, and on my arrival renewed their invi- 

 tation : and though, when I accepted it, I had no 

 intention of remaining so long with my kind-hearted 

 generous friends, I stayed with them until April, 1865, 

 and under their roof transcribed from my own and my 

 brother's journal the whole of this present book. It is 

 with heartfelt gratitude I would record their un- 

 wearied kindness. My acquaintance with Mr. Webb 

 began in Africa, where he was a daring and successful 

 hunter, and his continued friendship is most valuable 

 because he has seen missionary work, and he would 

 not accord his respect and esteem to me had he not 

 believed that I, and my brethren also, were to be 

 looked on as honest men earnestly trying to do our 

 duty. 



The Government have supported the proposal of the 

 Royal Geographical Society made by my friend Sir 

 Roderick Murchison, and have united with that body 



