x INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Society petitioned Government to assist them in equipping one. The project, however, was not destined to be carried out by them, for the Government gave their consent to a scheme organised by Mr. W. Mackinnon of Ballinakill, who, in conjunction with several of his friends, sent out an expedition under Mr. Stanley in January 1887,a sum of £10,000 being subscribed towards it by the Eeyptian Government.

In order to satisfy the desire expressed by Germans to know more of ‘their countryman, Professor Ratzel of Leipzig and Professor Schweinfurth of Cairo undertook to publish a collection of Emin Pasha’s letters, feeling that this was the best way of making him known; and it is in consequence of the interest felt in him in our own country, that the publishers of this English edition are induced to present a translation of the German work to the British public. It is hoped that it will meet with that appreciation which the letters and journals deserve, full as they are of interesting details concerning the geography, botany, zoology, and, above all, the ethnology of the very heart of Africa, and dealing, as they do, with a desperate struggle for liberty and civilisation, carried on single-handed by a Kuropean, within the stronghold of slavery and barbarism.

As I have often been asked, “Who is Emin Pasha?” I will quote a few sentences about his past life from the Introduction to the German edition of this book :— “Tt is not our intention to give here a biography of this important man; his name belongs to the history of our times, and his work is, please God, not nearly finished. Hmin Pasha forms at the present time the central point around which all the interest in Central Africa revolves, and now that it is generally known that the Arabic name ‘Emin’ is only a cognomen chosen by a German in partibus <infidelium, curiosity 1s ‘aroused, and people are making all kinds of speculations as to his birthplace. We therefore consider it our duty to give a few facts concerning his early life which have been supplied to us by his nearest relations.