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First edition, second issue, in the red cloth, of Burton's sequel to First Footsteps in East Africa (1856), written after Speke had claimed the lion's share of the credit for the expedition's achievements. Shortly after returning from the Crimean War in February 1956, Burton began planning an expedition with J. H. Speke to explore the great lakes of central Africa and locate the source of the Nile. "The Royal Geographical Society approved the project, the government granted £1000 and the East India Company gave Burton two years' leave on full pay" (Howgego). The two men arrived in Zanzibar in late December 1856, where the expedition was delayed for several months, during which time Burton prepared for the trek inland. In June 1857, they finally sailed for Kaole and from there headed east. After numerous months of arduous travelling and illness, the expedition discovered Lake Tanganyika in February 1858; later, Speke would discover Lake Victoria while Burton recuperated at Tabora, an Arab slaving station. The return journey to Zanzibar and onwards to Aden was less pleasant, as Burton and Speke had "grown tired of each other's company and Speke's discoveries to the north now strained the relationship" (Howgego). They returned to England separately, Speke arriving in London on 8 May 1859 and Burton following a fortnight behind. "He was dismayed to find that Speke had lectured before the Royal Geographical Society, had proposed another expedition to Africa, and First edition, second issue, in the red cloth, of Burton's sequel to First Footsteps in East Africa (1856), written after Speke had claimed the lion's share of the credit for the expedition's achievements. Shortly after returning from the Crimean War in February 1956, Burton began planning an expedition with J. H. Speke to explore the great lakes of central Africa and locate the source of the Nile. "The Royal Geographical Society approved the project, the government granted £1000 and the East India Company gave Burton two years' leave on full pay" (Howgego). The two men arrived in Zanzibar in late December 1856, where the expedition was delayed for several months, during which time Burton prepared for the trek inland. In June 1857, they finally sailed for Kaole and from there headed east. After numerous months of arduous travelling and illness, the expedition discovered Lake Tanganyika in February 1858; later, Speke would discover Lake Victoria while Burton recuperated at Tabora, an Arab slaving station. The return journey to Zanzibar and onwards to Aden was less pleasant, as Burton and Speke had "grown tired of each other's company and Speke's discoveries to the north now strained the relationship" (Howgego). They returned to England separately, Speke arriving in London on 8 May 1859 and Burton following a fortnight behind. "He was dismayed to find that Speke had lectured before the Royal Geographical Society, had proposed another expedition to Africa, and was claiming by far the greater share of credit for his and Burton's accomplishments. Speke became the hero of the moment and continued to extol his own achievements in speech and print; Burton, though usually an avid controversialist, made no public attack against Speke for several months. Not until early 1860 did he set forth his position with the publication of The Lake Regions of Central Africa" (ODNB). The first issue, bound in purple cloth, sold poorly and few survive. Burton's own copy, at Kensington library, was in red cloth. READ MORE Two vols, octavo. Original red cloth, spines lettered in gilt, blind panels to boards, brown coated endpapers. Tissue-guarded wood-engraved chromoxylographic frontispieces and 10 plates, folding map outlined in blue, wood-engravings to text. Book labels of John Henry Elwes (1817-1891), father of the plant biologist and explorer Henry John Elwes (1846-1922), on front free endpapers verso; 1970s bookplate of Ronald Minton-Taylor (d. 1984). Cloth lightly soiled, spine ends fraying, extremities worn, especially on joints, Vol. II somewhat shaken: a very good copy. Abbey 275; Casada 42; Howgego IV B96; Penzer, p. 65.

A detailed account of Burton's explorations of the African lakes including Lake Tanganyika and the search for the source of the Nile.