A forced stay at ‘Biselli’s’

Shortly before his transfer from the lake at Meshra el-Rek to the mainland on the evening of 4 June, Heuglin writes to Petermann: ‘I am still at the Lake Req and have since then lived through quite difficult days. My illness had increased in two days time to such an extent, that I had given up all hope of recovery. Now thank God it goes better.’ Besides dysentery he suffered from scurvy and a precarious swelling of his legs; thanks to Petherick's attendance, however, a change for the better had set in and his courage for new enterprises had revived. It was useless to return. Here as well, there had been heavy rainfall. ‘I know very well what I am doing… Es muss sein.’

On 15 May, additional supplies had come from Khartoum to Meshra. Henriette also bought things she needed out of Petherick's stock, including his rubber boat. The boat from Khartoum also brought articles dispatched by Speke for Heuglin: a letter and a quantity of medicine and two camp beds. In his letter Speke argued that the last issue to be solved in the discovery of Africa was the source of the river Congo and he could imagine Heuglin as the only well-known European traveller there, while working his way from Lake Rek downwards, to be able to accomplish this mission in a glorious manner. In his answer to Speke some three months later, Heuglin argued that he unfortunately found himself not in the financial position to think about such an enterprise; he was hoping though, once having recovered, to enter the regions between the White Nile and the so-called ‘Central African Depression’ (see below for the letter).

After Alexine had hired 80 porters from the trader Ali Amuri during her stay in Meshra, together with an additional 100 obtained by Heuglin and the 130 porters of Petherick who had just brought a consignment of ivory to the Meshra, the Tinnes broke camp on 25 May. Heuglin was left behind, as he was too ill to be moved. He was supposed to follow the train once his condition permitted him to travel.