reached Tripoli on January the 31st, 1850, having come circuitously by
way of Algeria and Tunis. Divers reasons, on which it is unnecessary to
enlarge, had prevented us from adopting a more direct route. However,
there had, properly speaking, been no time lost, and we had still to
look forward to inevitable delays. An expedition of the kind we were
about to undertake cannot be performed in a hurry, especially in Africa.
In that continent everything is carried on in a deliberate manner. The
climate is in itself suggestive of procrastination; and no one who has
there had to do with officials, even of our own country, until he has
himself felt the enervating influence of the atmosphere, can fail to
have been held in ludicrous suspense between indignation and surprise.

It must here be mentioned that, associated with me in this expedition,
were two Prussian gentlemen, Drs. Barth and Overweg, who had volunteered
to accompany me in my expedition in the character of scientific
observers.

The political and commercial nature of my Mission by no means excluded
such auxiliaries. It was desirable that every advantage should be taken
of this opportunity to explore Central Africa in every point of view;
and when the proposition came to me under the sanction of Chevalier
Bunsen, and received the approval of her Majesty's Government, I could
not but be delighted. It was arranged that these gentlemen should travel
at the expense and under the protection of Great Britain, and that their
reports should be duly forwarded to the Foreign Office.

Drs. Barth and Overweg, with European impetuosity, eager at once to
grapple with adventure and research, had pushed on whilst I waited for
final instructions from Lord Palmerston. They had arrived at Tripoli
about twelve days before me, and, as I afterwards learned, had usefully