102 
TEAVELS JN CENTEAL AEEICA. 
mj wife and self, accompanied by a medical man and photographer 
— after a tedious journey up the Nile, and a vexatious delay of 
several weeks at Korosko, owing to a deficiency of camels ne- 
cessary for crossing the desert of Aboo Hamed, arrived here a 
. month ago. Had it not been for a serious illness, from which I 
am now recovering, we should have left at the same time as Abd 
il Majid to attempt a meeting. The latter has also been detained 
by the unheard-of rise of the Nile this season, and the conse- 
quent backwardness of the north wind and cool season. 
“Abd il Majid’s instructions are to proceed to meet you 
from Gondokoro, via my establishment at Neambara, on the west 
bank of the Nile, some four or five days’ journey in the interior, 
where he will reinforce himself with some thirty men, in addition 
to the forty he proceeds with from here, and unless he meets you 
in the neighbourhood of Gondokoro, he is to continue due-south 
in the direction of the Lake Nyanza, which, as he proceeds, he is 
to inquire for, until my wife and self come up with him. Should 
Abd il Alajid effect a happy meeting with you prior to my 
arrival, he is to place himself and men at your disposal, return 
and conduct you t’o the boats, and make them over to you for 
your disposal. The bearer has in charge some provisions, qui- 
nine, &c., which latter I trust you will not require, and clothing 
for your immediate requirements ; and hoping that all may go 
well, with my best wishes to Grant and yourself, 
“ Believe me, &c., &c,, 
“ (Signed) JOHN PETHEEICK.”. 
For reasons that will be easily understood^ I did not wish to 
trouble Speke with the particulars of our difficulties, but merely 
alluded to my illness to account for our not accompanying Abd il 
