lake regions of Central Africa; a picture of exploration

This was Richard Burton’s second expedition into the interior of Somalia in his search for its reputed great lakes – long rumoured to be the source of the great river Nile. His first venture, with fellow explorer John Hanning Speke, had ended badly when their camp was attacked and both men were lucky to escape with their lives, Burton receiving a spear thrust through both cheeks.,
On this trip he was again accompanied by Speke and in 1857 they left Zanzibar on the east coast of Africa for the interior. Their journey took them to Lake Tanganyika. Speke then famouslty discovered fhe vast Victoria N’Yanza (Lake Victoria) while Burton lay sick. During the trip they were both beset by illness and bedevilled by a myriad of other problems, all described in extensive but arresting detail by Burton in this two volume set, compiled from the detailed daily journals that he maintained through everything.
Speke returned first to London and when Burton followed he found that his subordinate, breaking a promise to Burton to withold his report to the Royal Geographical Society until Burton returned, had claimed the glory for himself of discovering the sole source of the Nile. Despite Burton’s doubts, Speke’s claim was confirmed by another expedition he made to the region in the company of the young explorer James Grant. The public feud between Burton and Speke ended only with Speke’s death while shooting on the eve of a great debate with Burton at Bath, whether by design or accident, no-one knows. These volumes were published shortly after their return and the Preface bears witness to Burton’s animosity towards Speke, an unattractive and inarticulate man, less brilliant than Burton, but a more successful explorer. This is a classic of exploration as colourful as its author.