132 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
of square miles, and that my means of meeting him were confined 
chiefly to sailing boats up the Nile, I think I have a fair claim to 
the consideration of the E-oyal Geographical Society for having 
kept my appointment within half that loss of time, viz., seven 
months, after the estimated period of my arrival. 
With reference to Speke^s acceptance of supplies and boats from 
Mr. Baker, however praiseworthy in the first instance the motive 
may have been, upon the rumour of my death at Khartoum, for 
Mr. Baker to get up an expedition to replace my loss to the Speke 
Expedition, I feel that with his knowledge that my boats, with 
every requisite, had, prior to him, left Khartoum for Gondokoro to 
support the Zanzibar Expedition and our own, and my personal 
subsequent advent at that place in sufficient time for every prac- 
tical purpose, when I imparted to him the great efforts I had 
made to keep my appointment, he should have felt in duty bound 
to give way, and permit me to complete the programme I had 
undertaken. 
There is no doubt in my mind that it was the report of my death 
that induced Mr. Baker to undertake this expedition; and that, 
although not admitted at the time, he was also encouraged so to do 
by the Boyal Geographical Society, I think the following letter, re- 
ceived by me at a subsequent date from Captain Speke, will prove : 
“ KHAETOUM, 
“Beitish Consulate, 
]5a, 1863. 
“Mt dear Petherick, 
“We came down the Nile all right, the last nugger arriving 
on the fortieth day, and have lived ever since very comfortably 
