I Had Not The Presumption To
Publish My Intention, As The Sources Of The Nile Had Hitherto Defied All
Explorers, But I Had Inwardly Determined To Accomplish This Difficult
Task Or To Die In The Attempt.
From my youth I had been inured to
hardships and endurance in wild sports in tropical climates, and when
I
gazed upon the map of Africa I had a wild hope, mingled with humility,
that, even as the insignificant worm bores through the hardest oak, I
might by perseverance reach the heart of Africa.
I could not conceive that anything in this world had power to resist a
determined will, so long as health and life remained. The failure of
every former attempt to reach the Nile source did not astonish me, as
the expeditions had consisted of parties, which, when difficulties
occur, generally end in difference of opinion and retreat: I therefore
determined to proceed alone, trusting in the guidance of a Divine
Providence and the good fortune that sometimes attends a tenacity of
purpose. I weighed carefully the chances of the undertaking. Before
me - untrodden Africa; against me - the obstacles that had defeated the
world since its creation; on my side - a somewhat tough constitution,
perfect independence, a long experience in savage life, and both time
and means which I intended to devote to the object without limit.
England had never sent an expedition to the Nile sources previous to
that under the command of Speke and Grant. Bruce, ninety years ago, had
succeeded in tracing the source of the Blue or Lesser Nile:
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