which pierced both cheeks, and struck out four of his teeth.
Speke received eleven wounds, from which, however, he took no harm--a
touching proof, comments Burton, of how difficult it is to kill a man
in sound health. Eventually the survivors, stained with blood, and
fearfully exhausted, but carrying, nevertheless, the corpse of poor
Stroyan, managed to reach a friendly native craft, which straightway
took them back to Aden. [160]

Chapter VIII. 9th February 1855-October 1856, The Crimea

Bibliography:

14. First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856.

34. The Crimea.

Owing to his wounds Burton had to return to England, and, on his first
opportunity, he gave an account of his explorations before the Royal
Geographical Society. Little, however, was now talked of except the
Crimean War, which had commenced, it will be remembered in March 1854.
The Allies landed in the Crimea in September, Inkermann was fought on
the 5th of November, and then followed the tedious siege of Sebastopol.
Burton had not long been home before he applied for and obtained leave
to join the besieging army; and his brother Edward also went out as
surgeon, about the same time. Emulous of the deeds of Napier and Outram,
Burton now thought he saw a career of military glory awaiting him. Soon
after his arrival at the seat of war he was appointed chief of the staff
to General Beatson, and in his "gorgeous uniform blazing with gold"
he set vigorously to work to re-organize and drill his contingent of
Bashi-Bazouks. He had great difficulties with Beatson, a brave, but
passionate and undiplomatic old warrior; but he succeeded marvellously
with his men, and his hope of winning fame rose higher than ever. The
war, however, was crawling to an end, and the troops he had drilled
so patiently had little to do beside look on. At this conjuncture he
thought he saw a road to success in the relief of Kars, which had been
persistently besieged by the Russians. Elated at the prospect of taking
part in a great military feat, he hurried to Constantinople, obtained an
interview with the British Ambassador, Lord Stratford, and submitted
a plan for approval. To his amazement, Lord Stratford broke into a
towering passion, and called him "the most impudent man in the Bombay
Army." Later Burton understood in what way he had transgressed. As the
war was closing, it had been arranged by the Allies that Kars should be
allowed to fall as a peace offering to Rus