portions of the vast territory between the Cape and the
Nile, now in the hands of the British, Portuguese, and
German nations.
Those who preceded or who followed me into portions
of the regions that I crossed, have been there either as
traders, prospectors, missionaries, or administrators; each
has seen and judged things from his special point of view,
and in relation to the particular aim before him, On
the other hand, I had no financial interest in any of the
countries I visited, nor was I attached to any religious
mission, or any executive or administrative department
of any Government having sovereignty in the districts
through which I passed. A Frenchman in lands where
my own country had neither claims to urge nor rivalry
to fear, I was in a position to form an independent and
unbiassed opinion.
My journey was performed at the most interesting
period of the history of Africa—just on the eve, or at
the beginning of its transformation, while still in a
primitive state, into European Colonies. To offer to
the reader a useful book will be my object; and I will
endeavour to confine the narration of my personal
adventures to facts that may be of use to others, in
enabling them to avoid the mistakes I have made,
or to assist them with the experience I have gained.
The preparation of this volume has been necessarily slow,
inasmuch as it has involved the sifting of larger masses
of information than will possibly be apparent from the
mere reading of its pages. Perhaps I may allude to the
difficulty of writing in a language which, though it has
become to me a second mother tongue, must needs
continue to present certain difficulties. Further and
constant interruptions in the work have occurred. I had
only been a few months in Europe when I started for
Madagascar in connection with the French Expedition to
that island. Upon my return I was able to bring to light
the murder of the unfortunate Stokes, and my time was
fully occupied with collecting evidence of the guilt of
Major Lothaire, and as I was about to set to work finishing
the writing of this book, I had to start on a fresh visit to
the Cape. For assistance in the preparation of the book
under these difficulties I am much indebted to my friend
Mr. G. W. Steevens, who has written some of the chapters
from my notes and seen the whole through the press, and
to my secretaries, Mr. C. F. Mant and Miss A. Otter.
I must not close this introduction without addressing
my deepest and sincerest thanks to all those who helped
me throughout my journey. My special thanks are due
to Sir Harry Johnston, K.C.B., not only for generous
hospitality and advice in Africa, but also for the kindest
aid in that part of the work which relates to his Administration.
Neither must I forget the Right Honourable
C. J. Rhodes, who granted me special facilities to travel
on the ^ Cape Railways and in the various portions of
Rhodesia, where I also received much help and assistance
from Dr. Jameson. I must also mention Col. Sir Henry
Colvile, whose guest I was during the whole of my stay
in Uganda, and who gave me a large number of porters
with an armed escort of two-score men to accompany me
to the coast. Last, but not least, I must pay a tribute to
the memory of my poor friend Roddy Owen, whose sad
death in the Soudan has brought sorrow to so many hearts.
A most brilliant soldier, one of the bravest men that ever
lived, he was always a true.and loyal friend to me, and the
memory of the happy time I spent with him during the
Unyoro war will for ever live in my heart. To mention
by name all those Who have given me their hospitality
and assistance would take pages; and I feel bound to