Darkest Africa 4: Europeans, faaahsands of 'em...

On the twenty second day of the month of truce, Dhu al-Qada, in the year 1277*, my master, the most eloquent and munificent Shah Wadi-Wahdi refrained from making war upon the Dar al-Harb.  Instead, he and his entourage continued to recover in Zanjibaar from their recent exertions.  Whilst doing so, my master was interested to note the recent increase in European explorers in our own region and further afield in Zanj.  There was the unfortunate Smythe-Bletherington some months past, and after that- let me see, I would be referring to the scattered month, Sha'ban- we learned that Samuel Baker had embarked upon an expedition of exploration to- quoting the man himself- "discover the sources of the river Nile, with the hope of meeting the East African expedition under Captains Speke and Grant somewhere about the Lake Victoria".

Captains Speke and Grant.  Speke has declined to sport his rather natty safari waistcoat that has a pocket for every occassion.

It is gossiped in the market places that Baker is accompanied on his expedition by a female companion who was said to have been destined for the harem of the Pasha of Vidin, to be found on the Danube.  It would seem Baker rescued her and even now allows her to join him in his travels.  Furthermore it is said that some tribes the couple have encountered refer to her as anyadwe, daughter of the moon, such is the regard with which her long blonde hair is held.

For his part, Baker seems content to call her Flooey...

The happy couple. 

*Late 1861.  Pass the port, there's a good chap.