APPENDIX A. 
177 
November 15tb^ 1861, a copy of which I forwarded to the Society 
on November 25th. 
In a previous letter to Sir Roderick I informed him that it was 
owing to the powerful opposition Abd il Majid would be likely to 
meet with by proceeding direct south from Gondokoro that dictated 
the route via my station on the west side of the Nile, and that the 
direction in which they travelled was not, as the Committee affirms, 
a wrong one. I need only state that upon the occassion of Captain 
Speke taking leave of his guide, Kidgwiga, at De Bono’s station 
(see page 585 of his work), he describes it as the best route to 
adopt from Gondokoro. 
That there could have been no misconception on the part of my 
servant I think is evident. On the contrary, during the over- 
land journey he followed his instructions to the full extent of his 
power; and, considering that the Society had been fully advised of 
the step, had they disapproved of it, why not at the time have 
communicated with me ? But neither the Society nor Speke, at 
the time of my entering on this enterprise, really expected more of 
me than that I should meet and succour the Zanzibar Expedition 
at Gondokoro. 
The following extract from a letter addressed to me by Dr. Shaw, 
one of the officials of the Society, proves this. He writes : 
“ June 21th, 1861. 
“Mt Beak pErnEEiCE:, 
The last news from Speke were to the effect that the 
party was advancing up the hills into the interior, and hoped 
to meet you all well at Gondokoro. Go ahead ! Take obser- 
vations for our gold medal. 
“ (Signed) NORTON SHAW.” 
VOL. II. 
12 
