I could not conceive that anything in this world
had power to resist a determined will, so long as
health and life remained. The failure of every former
attempt to reach the Nile source did not astonish me,
as the expeditions had consisted of parties, which,
when difhculties occur, generally end in difference of
opinion and retreat: I therefore determined to proceed
alone, trusting in the guidance of a Divine Providence
and the good fortune that sometimes attends
a tenacity of purpose. I weighed carefully the chances
of the undertaking. Before me—untrodden Africa;
against me—the obstacles that had defeated the world
since its creation; on my side—a somewhat tough
constitution, perfect independence, a long experience
in savage life, and both time and means which I intended
to devote to the object without limit. England
had never sent an expedition to the Nile sources previous
to that under the command of Speke and Grant.
Bruce, ninety years ago, had succeeded in tracing the
source of the Blue or Lesser Nile: thus the honour of
that discovery belonged to Great Britain | Speke was
on his road from the South; and I felt confident that
my gallant friend would leave his bones upon the
path rather than submit to failure. I trusted that
England would not be beaten; and although I hardly
dared to hope that I could succeed where others
greater than I had failed, I determined to sacrifice all
in the attempt. Had I been alone it would have been
no hard lot to die upon the untrodden path before me,
but there was one who, although my greatest comfort,
was also my greatest care; one whose life yet dawned
at so early an age that womanhood was still a future.
I shuddered at the prospect for her, should she be left
alone in savage lands at my death; and gladly would
I have left her in the luxuries of home instead of
exposing her to the miseries of Africa. I t was in vain
that I implored her to remain, and that I painted the
difficulties and perils still blacker than I supposed they
really would be : she was resolved, with woman’s constancy
and devotion, to share all dangers and to follow
me through each rough footstep of the wild life before
me. “ And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee,
or to return from following after thee : for whither
thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will
lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God
my God: where thou diest will I die, and there will
I be buried : the Lord do so to me and more also, if
aught but death part thee and me.”
Thus accompanied by my wife, on the 15th April,
1861, I sailed up the Nile from Cairo. The wind blew
fair and strong from the north, and we flew towards
the south against the stream, watching those myste-
B 2