The Discovery of the Source of the Nile is a travelogue written by British explorer John Hanning Speke. It chronicles his third expedition to Africa, specifically focused on finding the source of the Nile River.
Here's a breakdown of the book's content:
- The Quest: Speke details his preparations and journey, starting from Zanzibar and venturing into the African interior.
- Lake Victoria: A key aspect of the book is Speke's exploration of Lake Victoria, which he believed (correctly) to be the source of the Nile. He even named some of the geographical features around the lake.
- Challenges and Encounters: The book likely describes the hardships Speke faced during the expedition, including encounters with local people and the difficulties of traversing the African terrain.
- Speke's Perspective: This is a firsthand account, so you'll get Speke's perspective on the exploration and his arguments for why Lake Victoria was the Nile's source.