PRUSSIAN COLLEAGUES. 
3 
the 31st, 1850, having come circuitously by way of 
Algeria and Tunis. Divers reasons, on which it is 
unnecessary to enlarge, had prevented us from 
adopting a more direct route. However, there had, 
properly speaking, been no time lost, and we had still 
to look forward to inevitable delays. An expedition 
of the kind we were about to undertake cannot be 
performed in a hurry, especially in Africa. In that 
continent everything is carried on in a deliberate 
manner. The climate is in itself suggestive of pro- 
crastination ; and no one who has there had to 
do with officials, even of our own country, until he 
has himself felt the enervating inSuence of the 
atmosphere, can fail to have been held in ladicrous^ 
suspense between indignation and surprise. 
It must here be mentioned tli,at, associated with 
me in this expedition, were two Prussian gentlemen, 
Drs. Barth and Overweg, yAio had volunteered to 
accompany me in my expedition in the character of 
scientific observers. 
The political and commercial nature of my Mis- 
sion by no means excluded such auxiliaries. It was 
desirable that every advantage should be taken of 
this opportunity to explore Centi'al Africa in every 
point of view ; and when the proposition came to 
me under the sanction of Chevalier Bunsen, and 
received the approval of her Majesty's Government, 
I could not but be delighted. It was arranged that 
these gentlemen should travel at the expense and 
