Exploration of the Nile tributaries of Abyssinia.

The present work complements his earlier book The Albert Ny'anza, Great Basin of the Nile, by giving a summary of the Nile system derived from Baker's exploration of all the Abyssinian tributaries of the Nile.

Baker (1821-1893), a wealthy young man, had travelled extensively in the East and Asia Minor, mainly on hunting expeditions. Whilst in the Danube region, he bought a young woman, Florence, at a slave auction and she became his constant companion. Baker became increasingly intrigued by the prospect of exploring Africa. After John Hanning Speke and James Augustus Grant departed from Bagamoyo for Lake Victoria and the White Nile in 1860, Baker decided to launch his own expedition to discover the sources of the Nile River. He then planned to link up with Speke and Grant. The journey, which ultimately would take four and a half years, would bring him fame and fortune. More importantly, the expedition Baker and Florence, who were not married, to escape the harsh moral strictures of Victorian England. The discovery of the Albert N'yanza, the origin of the Nile, was the most remarkable achievement of Baker's adventurous career.