What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the NileSpeke, John Hanning
History
What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile
Speke, John Hanning
Horn of Africa -- Description and travel; Nile River; Tanganyika, Lake
1st August.--This day's march, commenced at 6 A.M., differs but little
from the last. Following down the creek, which, gradually increasing
in breadth as it extended northwards, was here of very considerable
dimensions, we saw many little islands, well-wooded elevations,
standing boldly out of its waters, which, together with the
hill-dotted country around, afforded a most agreeable prospect. Would
that my eyes had been strong enough to dwell, unshaded, upon such
scenery! but my French grey spectacles so excited the crowds of sable
gentry who followed the caravan, and they were so boisterously rude,
stooping and peering underneath my wide-awake to gain a better sight
of my double eyes, as they chose to term them, that it became
impossible for me to wear them. I therefore pocketed the instrument,
closed my eyes, and allowed the donkey I was riding to be quietly
pulled along. The evil effects of granting an indulgence to those who
cannot appreciate it, was more obvious every day. To secure speed and
contentment, I had indulged the pagazis by hiring double numbers, and
giving each only half a recognised burden; but what has been the
return? Yesterday the pagazis stopped at the eighth mile, because they
said that so large a jungle was in our front that we could not cross
it during daylight.
I disbelieved their story, and gave them to understand, on submitting
to their request, that I was sure their trick for stopping me would
turn to their own disadvantage; for if my surmise proved true, as the
morrow would show, I should give them no more indulgence, and
especially no more meat. On our arrival to-day there was a great
hubbub amongst them, because I ordered the Jemadar and Kirangozi, with
many of their principal men, to sit in state before me; when I gave a
cloth to the soldiers to buy a goat with, and, turning to the
Kirangozi, told him I was sorry I was obliged to keep my word of
yesterday, and, their story having proved false, I must depart from
the principle I had commenced upon, of feeding both parties alike, and
now they might feel assured that I would do nothing further for their
comfort until I could see in them some desire to please me. The screw
was on the tenderest part: a black man's belly is his god; and they no
sooner found themselves deprived of their wonted feast, than they
clamorously declared they would be my devoted servants; that they had
come expressly to serve me, and were willing to do anything I wished.
The village chief offered me a goat; but as it came at the last moment
before starting, I declined it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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