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

Millard continues to detail the deterioration of Burton and Speke’s relationship and The Dangers of Obsession, Arrogance, and Ignorance. Despite Speke accepting the job as Burton’s second-in-command for the second expedition, Speke still nursed a grudge against Burton over his words the night of the attack in Somaliland. Millard notes:

[Speke began] to rewrite the expedition in his own mind, making himself not simply a late addition to the group but its true commander. In his account of the attack, he would repeatedly refer to orders that he claimed to have given, decisions that he had made on behalf of the entire expedition, and feats of courage that he alone had performed (65).

To add to Speke’s simmering resentment, Burton also confiscated his journal and natural history specimens from Wady Nogal. While this was common practice, Speke took great offense, especially when he learned that Burton heavily edited his journal and added a preface that suggested Speke’s ignorance of the local cultures was the reason for the failed expedition to Wady Nogal. Speke raised his frustrations with Burton over these actions, but Burton “surprised, responded that it had been a legitimate and common use of the material, explaining that commanders often published their subordinates’ work following an expedition” (97). Burton’s words, which were meant to soothe Speke’s feelings, instead further enraged Speke. Burton began to realize that Speke allowed perceived slights to fester rather than raising them with people to try and find a solution.

An important character trait that Millard raises in this section is Burton’s inability to see people’s envy. It did not occur to Burton that Oliphant might think Burton had stolen his battle strategy ideas during the Crimean War. Oliphant once admired Burton. However, as soon as Oliphant thought Burton stole his ideas, this admiration morphed into envy. Millard notes, “it was this inability to see the jealousy directed toward him, or, if seen, to give it more than a moment’s thought, that would in the end be more dangerous to him than any expedition he would ever take, and would lead to incalculable loss” (72). After returning from the East Africa Expedition, Oliphant would help turn Speke against Burton. Oliphant told Speke that Burton would try and steal the next expedition from him, an event Speke was already concerned about. Speke betrayed Burton to prevent his fear from coming true. This betrayal would destroy Burton’s life.

Millard also explores the dangers of obsession through Isabel’s obsessive love for Burton. Despite barely knowing Burton, Isabel quickly became obsessed with marrying him. This obsession was partly driven by a prophecy from a Romani friend but also from Isabel’s desire to lead a life of adventure. She believed only Burton could give her the life she wanted. Isabel ultimately spent 11 years waiting for Burton to finish his travels to marry her. She sacrificed much, including her wealth, to be Lady Burton. 

The Royal Geographic Society also embodies this theme. Its leaders were obsessed with finding the Nile’s source before any other European country. While they tried to provide some financial support to their explorers, they expected them to succeed in finding the source regardless of any mishaps during the expedition. Burton was acutely aware of this reality, writing, “In these days every explorer of Central Africa is supposed to have set out in quest of the coy sources of the White Nile […] and when he returns without them, his exploration, whatever may have been its value, is determined to be a failure” (88). These high stakes helped further fuel the explorers’ obsessions.