Beginning with the earliest journeys of which we have any record, the story will be carried down stage by stage to the present day, and it is believed that, when complete, it will form what may be called a biographical history of exploration. While the work of geographical research in all parts of the globe will be seriously and adequately treated, the adventures incident to such research, which add human interest to it, will have due prominence given to them. In all cases it will be sought to obtain the co-operation of men who are recognized as authorities on the particular subjects with which they deal. Each volume will be profusely illustrated, the illustrations being selected for their appropriateness to the text, while every assistance will be given to the reader by means of carefully executed maps. J. SCOTT KELTIE. PREFATORY NOTE When the author of this book was composing his recent work on the Uganda Protectorate, he was led through the history of its discovery into the general consideration of Nile exploration, since it was in the search for the Nile sources that the territories now forming the Uganda Protectorate were laid bare to the gaze of the civilised world. But as anything like a detailed review of the exploration of the Nile basin by the Caucasian race would have unduly extended a book dealing more particularly with Uganda, he gladly took advantage of the suggestion made by Dr. Scott Keltie (Editor of this series) that these studies should be applied to the present volume, which is one of a series on the history of great geographical discoveries. It is not for the author to say that his book on the Nile Quest will prove interesting; but he has striven to make it as accurate as possible, and he hopes it may be permanently useful as a faithful record of the names and achievements of those who solved the greatest geographical secret, after the discovery of America, which remained for the Caucasian’s consideration. H. H. JOHNSTON. LONDON, 1903. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Editor and the Author desire to acknowledge, with thanks, the loan of photographs, letters, or maps for the illustration of this book, from Sir John Kirk, G.C.M.G., Mrs. Murdoch (_née_ Speke), Mr. J. F. Cunningham, Mr. W. G. Doggett, Mr. Theodore Tinne, Mr. T. Douglas Murray, Lady Baker, Mr. Oscar Neumann, Mr. J. E. S. Moore, Major Gwynn, Major Austin, Mr. J. Thomson, The African Society, Mr. S. Crispin, and Mr. Warry. CONTENTS Chapter Page I. The Dawn of Nile Exploration 1 II. The Greeks interest Europe in the Nile Question 14 III. Abyssinians and Jews 30 IV. Islamites and Italians 37