But the subject has led me, in my capacity of editor of these pages, beyond the proper limits of my duties, and I must crave the indulgence of the reader for this long digression. My object is merely to relate, as briefly as I can, such simple facts of Frank Oates’s earlier life as may serve to illustrate the scope and bearing of the ensuing pages, and bring to view the motives which led him to enter on his life of travel. What I have said, indeed, may perhaps, it is true, help to show--what I was anxious early to point out--how very catholic were the interests of the deceased, how great the hold each separate department of the world’s life, and history, and daily growth, had laid upon him. Devoted to the study of natural history, as I have already pointed out, and especially to that of birds--the pursuit of which might be called his ruling passion--yet never did he close his eyes to all those varied interests of other kinds, which were constantly opening round him in his life of foreign travel. “He was not” indeed, as has lately been said of the young French naturalist Jacquemont, who, like Frank Oates himself, died early and in harness,--“He was not at all one of those specialists who shut themselves up in a narrow speciality, and become blind and deaf to the great interests of human life.”[1] Rather may it be said of him, that his interests were perhaps too wide, and that he overtaxed his strength and powers in following the promptings of his nature. Speaking indeed in homely phraseology, whilst out in Africa, he admitted himself that he had “too many irons in the fire,” and some of the difficulties and vexations which beset him upon his journey must be attributed to the delays which were occasioned by his desire of embracing every opportunity which presented itself, not only of adding a new specimen to his collection, but also of noting any fresh fact with regard to the country and its inhabitants which came before his notice. For, in addition to his natural history pursuits, he was, as above intimated, engaged on this journey in taking observations of the country which he passed through, and laying down his route, and also, wherever possible, in seeking intercourse with the natives, and gaining knowledge of their character.