our in their power to increase their Indo-European
forces, and had written home to Leadenhall Street an
urgent desire that no officers should have their leave
extended, or he placed on duty out of India ; and for
this reason, the India House authorities, although
privately evincing a strong disposition to permit my
going, felt it necessary to withhold their sanction to
it. I was now between two fires. I had sacrificed
my Caucasian expedition, and could not speak with
the authorities in India. So, to cut the matter short,
with a kind hint from my friend Sir Henry Eawlinson,
as I had still nearly three years’ furlough at my disposal,
I ventured over with Captain Burton by the
overland route to Bombay, and tried my luck again.
This time, fortunately, it turned up trumps ; for I
need only say that the Governor of Bombay at this
time was Lord Elphinstone, a man whose large and
comprehensive mind was not only able to discern the
frown of a pending mutiny looming in the distance,
but whose quick foresight, backed by a great and
natural unremitting energy of body, was subsequently
able to forestall and provide, as far as human powers
extend, against its thundering outburst. He saw at
a glance of how much importance to the improvement
of the commercial objects of his presidency
this exploring expedition was likely to be. The
Secretary to Government, Mr Anderson, who was
equally of this view, treated the matter as a great
national object, and, at the request of Captain Burton,
drew up an official application to incorporate me in
the expedition, and sent it to the Government at
Calcutta, with the recommendation of his lordship;
whilst I, in anticipation of the sanction of the Governor
- General, Lord Canning, was permitted to
accompany Captain Burton to Zanzibar in the Hon.
East India Company’s sloop-of-war Elphinstone, commanded
by Captain Frushard, I.N., and commence
operations at once.
This vessel had been detached especially on this
duty to meet Captain Burton’s views, that a political
importance should be given to the mission by our
arriving in Government official state at the starting-
point, in order to secure the influence and respect of
the sultan reigning there.
After a residence of one week at Bombay, during
which time I completed our outfit in scientific instruments
and other minor points—for this charge was
reposed in me, owing to my previous experience in
those matters we set sail on the 3d December 1856
taking two Goanese cook “ boys,” by name Yalantine
and Gaetano, with us as servants, and in eighteen days
landed at our destination, Zanzibar. The kindness of
Captain Frushard, who shared his cabin with us, as
well as the constant attentions of his officers, combined
with pleasant weather and a liberal fare, provided
for us by the Bombay Government in the capacity
of political envoys, made the time occupied on the
voyage fly quickly and very agreeably.*
* I must add here, to show that the generous hospitality of the
Indian navy was now as strong in force as ever it was, that the ward
room officers, not being aware of the intended generosity of the Govern
ment to supply us with messing gratis, had laid in an extra store of
provisions for the purpose of making us their guests.