INTRODUCTION. XX1
quite so vividly affected as I am, I shall be surprised if they do not gain a better knowledge of Central Africa from their
perusal, than they would by reading many of the histories of
travel elaborately got up for the press. The descriptions, too, which Emin Pasha gives of the people and their habits and
customs, are life-like and extremely accurate, and coming, as they do, from one who has lived in the country so long, they
are far more valuable than accounts written by travellers, whose knowledge of the various languages is necessarily very
slight, and who are lable to make many mistakes owing to the intervention of an interpreter. Moreover, it is almost
impossible for an ordinary traveller rapidly passing through a
district, to become intimately acquainted with the inner life of
the people with whom he only sojourns for a few days.
In order that the reader may follow Emin Pasha’s wan- derings with ease, I append as a note a summary of his
exploratory expeditions, which Mr. Ravenstein of London has
had the kindness to draw up for me, and a reference to Mr.
Ravenstein’s admirable map will greatly facilitate an intelligent
appreciation both of the extent of the Equatorial Province and
of Emin Pasha’s numerous journeys.”
* Summary of Emin Pasha’s Exploratory Expeditions, 1876-87 :—
With Gordon Pasha up the Nile and to Mrili. First mission to Uganda, with Nutr Aga (Mrili to Rubaga and back), June to September 1876. With Gordon Pasha to Nyamnyonga and back, September 11-18, 1876. Mrili to Masindi, Magungo, Lake Albert (Kibiro), and down the Nile to Khartim (arrived November 1876),
Lado, up the Nile to Magungo, and vid Kirdéto and Masindi to Mrili, July to August 17, 1877.
Mission to King Kabréga of Unyédro, September 13 to October 30, 1877. Second mission to Uginda, November 29, 1877, to April 8, 1878. Mritli to Magiingo, April 13-28, and back to Lado. To Shambe and the lower Bahr-el-Jebel, June and July 1878. Second visit to the lower Bahr-el-Jebel, and examination of the obstructions
in the river, November 21-25, 1878.
Dufilé to Faloro and Fatiko and back, December 27, 1878, to January 8, 1879... Visit to Lake Albert, March 1879. To the western shore of Lake Albert (Lir) and back to Dufilé and Ladd, October to December 1879.