88 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
endeavour to arrive at the point above stated in the month of 
December or January, when he will, in all probability, find the 
boats of the Arab traders from Khartoum, which will afford him 
a passage down the Nile to Khartoum. 
“ On the other hand, if Captain Speke cannot make the Nile at 
Grondokoro in either of the months stated, his difficulties will be 
very considerable : the season of the ivory trade will have expired, 
he will find no more boats there ; and in consequence of the 
invariable great scarcity of grain in that part of Africa, he will 
have to encounter hunger and the hostility of the tribes, who, 
finding him unprovided with the means of escape by boats, will 
doubtless pursue him, and attempt to murder the whole of the 
party, for the gratification, innate in them, of destroying any 
stranger intruding on their territory, and to possess themselves of 
any articles of value wherewith to purchase grain for their half- 
starviug families. 
“ To advance under these circumstances would be ruinous ; and 
I should then advise Captain Speke to endeavour to retire to 
more favourable regions, to some agricultural tribe, where, if his 
means hold, he might support himself and party until the proper 
season arrives for him to approach the Nile, and when to a 
certainty he will find the boats of the Khartoum traders. 
“ I am not yet in possession of any official communication 
from the Grovernment regardiug my application for the vacant 
Consulate of Abyssinia ; but whether I should be honoured by 
obtaining the appointment or not, I shall under any circum- 
stances be happy to meet the views of the Greographical Society 
and the Gfovernment by placing myself, men, and boats, at their 
disposal, for the purpose of rendering any assistance to Captain 
Speke in his perilous undertaking. 
“ Tours, <fcc., 
“ (Signed) J. PETHEEICK.” 
