River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

From the New York Times bestselling author of DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC and RIVER OF DOUBT comes the gripping account of one of the greatest exploration achievements in history and its complex impact.

The world's longest river is the Nile. The magnificent civilization of ancient Egypt sprang on its lush floodplain, yet its headwaters' location remained a secret for millennia. A massive, maze-like wetland hindered Pharaonic and Roman efforts to locate it, and successive trips were unsuccessful. Ancient Egypt became very popular in the 19th century when the Rosetta Stone was found and translated. Concurrently, European nations launched expeditions with the goal of charting uncharted territories on Earth and expanding their colonies.

The Royal Geographical Society despatched two men, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, to collect the award on behalf of England. Burton was already well-known for becoming the first non-Muslim to enter Mecca while dressing as a leader of an Arab tribe. He was a renowned soldier, a multilingual man who essentially authored the book on sword-fighting tactics for the British Army. In addition, he was an iconoclastic atheist, erratic, and nuanced. Burton was Burton's opposite in terms of attitude and ideals from Speke, a young nobleman and Army officer eager to make his mark and enthusiastic about hunting.

The two men were at odds from the beginning, with Speke feeling subjugated by Burton's leadership and Burton taking issue with Speke's lack of familiarity with the people whose territories they were traversing. They would face extreme adversity, disease, and continuous failures. After two years, in the heart of Africa, Burton was too ill to continue, but Speke did, claiming to have located the source in a large lake he named Lake Victoria. Upon their return to England, Speke was quick to claim the glory and make fun of Burton. Burton refuted his assertion, so Speke set out on a second journey to Africa to establish it. To Speke's great jealousy, the two became into bitter rivals, with the public supporting the more charming Burton. Speke shot himself the day before their public argument.

However, a third individual participated in both missions; his identity remained hidden in imperial records, despite his far more remarkable achievements. This was Sidi Mubarak Bombay, who was sent to India as a slave from his East African town. Following the death of the guy who had bought him, he joined the army of the local Sultan and ultimately returned to Africa, where he established a fortune as a guide by using his ingenuity, language skills, and unwavering bravery. Without his gifts, neither of the Englishmen would have made it to the Nile's headwaters, much less lived.

Inside the Gods' River Another outstanding tale of bravery and adventure by Candice Millard is set against the background of the colonial powers' quest to plunder Africa.