requisite before proceeding to Africa, was not in any book.
The Europeans at Zanzibar knew as little as possible about this
particular point. There was not one white man at Zanzibar who
could tell how many dotis a day a force of one hundred men
required to buy food for one day on the road. Neither, indeed,
was it their business to know. But what should I do at all, at
all? This was a grand question.

I decided it were best to hunt up an Arab merchant who had been
engaged in the ivory trade, or who was fresh from the interior.

Sheikh Hashid was a man of note and of wealth in Zanzibar. He had
himself despatched several caravans into the interior, and was
necessarily acquainted with several prominent traders who came to
his house to gossip about their adventures and gains. He was also
the proprietor of the large house Capt. Webb occupied; besides,
he lived across the narrow street which separated his house from
the Consulate. Of all men Sheikh Hashid was the man to be
consulted, and he was accordingly invited to visit me at the
Consulate.

From the grey-bearded and venerable-looking Sheikh, I elicited
more information about African currency, the mode of procedure,
the quantity and quality of stuffs I required, than I had obtained
from three months' study of books upon Central Africa; and from
other Arab merchants to whom the ancient Sheikh introduced me,
I received most valuable suggestions and hints, which enabled me
at last to organize an Expedition.

The reader must bear in mind that a traveller requires only that