their attempt to succour me, when knowing
the fate of the expedition was in great jeopardy.

Instead of coming up the Nile at once, as Petherick might have done--so
I was assured--he waited, whilst a vessel was building, until the season
had too far advanced to enable him to sail up the river. In short, he
lost the north winds at 7 deg. north, and went overland to his trading depot
at N'yambara. Previously, however, he had sent some boats up to this,
under a Vakil, who had his orders to cross to his trading depot at
N'yambara, and to work from his trading station due south, ostensibly
with a view to look after me, though contrary to my advice before
leaving him in England, in opposition to his own proposed views of
assisting me when he applied for help to succour me, and against the
strongly-expressed opinions of every European in the same trade as
himself; for all alike said they knew he would have gone to Faloro, and
pushed south from that place, had his trade on the west of the Nile not
attracted him there.

Baker now offered me his boats to go down to Khartum, and asked me if
there was anything left undone which it might be of importance for him
to go on and complete, by survey or otherwise; for, although he should
like to go down the river with us, he did not wish to return home
without having done something to recompense him for the trouble and
expense he had incurred in getting up his large expedition. Of course
I told him how disappointed I had been in not getting a sight of the
Little Luta Nzige. I described how we had seen the Nile bending west
where we crossed in Chopi, and then, after walking down the chord of an
arc described by the river, had found it again in Madi coming from the
west, whence to the south, and as far at least as Koshi, it was said to
be navigable, probably continuing to be so right into the Little Luta
Nzige. Should this be the case, then, by building boats in Madi above
the cataracts, a vast region might be thrown open to the improving
influences of navigation. Further, I told Baker of my contract with
Kamrasi, and of the property I had left behind, with a view to stimulate
any enterprising man who might be found at this place to go there, make
good my promise, and, if found needful, claim my share of the things,
for the better prosecution of his own travels there. This Baker at once
undertook, though he said he did not want my property; and I drew out
suggestions for him how to procee