Nov. 23, 1857.] 
THE EAST AFRICAN EXPEDITION. 
55 
! 
merchants. They frequented the place till unpleasantly disturbed 
by H. M. S. Grecian. In making these remarks, I would by no 
means detract from the merit of an officer whose name has ever 
been mentioned with honour. But in those days a survey had but 
few facilities, pilots caused perpetual complaints, there had been 
no preparatory exploration, and interpreters could deceive as they 
pleased. The native names in the charts are full of blunders. 
Equally full of extraordinary mistakes in the maritime part are 
other maps, and, in fact, the only tolerable delineation of the coast 
from Mombas to Pangany is the Bev. Mr. Erhardt’s rude sketch map, 
lithographed in 1850 in London. 
The accounts formerly made in Europe about the facility of 
penetrating inland from Kilwa (Quiloa) and the economy of travel 
in that region are fabulous. The southern Sawahili are more hostile 
to explorers than the inhabitants of the northern maritime towns, 
and their distance from the seat of government renders them daring 
by impunity. But last year they persuaded the Wagindo tribe of 
the interior to murder a peaceful Arab merchant, in order that 
strangers might be deterred from interfering with their commerce. 
Messrs. Krapff and Erhard t, of the Mombas mission, spent a few 
hours at Kilwa, where they were civilly received by the Governor 
and citizens, but were sadly deceived in being led to imagine that 
they could make that part their starting-point. Lieut. Christopher, 
I.N., who visited the coast about the year 1843, in the H.E.I.C. 
brig Tigris, more wisely advises the neighbourhood of Kilwa to be 
avoided. 
We shall probably land at Bagamoyo : as yet, however, this point 
cannot be determined. I scarcely anticipate being able to set out 
before the middle of June proximo, as the Moslim fast-month inter- 
venes. This is a loss of time, but I will endeavour to utilize my 
residence upon the island by drawing up a description of it and an 
ethnographical account of the slave races on the neighbouring main- 
land. 
On the 24th of March, 1857, I received from the Secretary to 
Government, Bombay, an official letter, transmitting a copy of a 
communication from the Secretary to Government of Bengal (Ko. 
170, of 3rd of January, 1857), according permission to Captain 
Speke, and Assistant-Surgeon Steinhausen, b.a., surgeon, Aden, to 
accompany the expedition on the pay and allowances of their rank. 
I cannot but express the warmest gratitude to his Excellency Lord 
Elphinstone, to the Honourable Mr. Lumsden, and to other members 
of the local Government, who have added to a long list of former 
favours by providing me with these stanch and valued companions. 
