Although We Had Worked
Hard Throughout All Seasons, Over An Immense Extent Of Country,
We Were Both Strong And Well, And The Rest Of Some Months At
Khartoum Had Only Served To Inspire Us With New Vigour For The
Commencement Of The Work Before Us.
By the 17th December, 1862,
our preparations were completed; three vessels were laden with
large quantities of stores--400 bushels of corn, twenty-nine
transport animals, including camels, donkeys, and horses (among
the latter was my old hunter Tetel).
Ninety-six souls formed my
whole party, including forty well-armed men, with Johann Schmidt
and Richarn. On the 18th December we sailed from Khartoum upon
the White Nile towards its unknown sources, and bade farewell to
the last vestige of law, government, and civilization. I find in
my journal, the last words written at our departure upon this
uncertain task, "God grant us success; if He guides, I have no
fear."
* The account of the White Nile voyage, with the happy
meeting of captains Speke and Grant, and the subsequent
discovery of the "Albert N'yanza," has been already
given in the work of that title.
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