They were both
born leaders of men, and for that reason indifferent followers,
incapable of running quietly in the official harness. Least of all
could they have worked together, for they were too like one another in
some things, and too unlike in others. Burton saw this from the first,
and later Gordon came to see that his view was the right one. But it
never prevented either of them from appreciating the great qualities
in the other.
The correspondence between Gordon and the Burtons was voluminous. Lady
Burton kept all Gordon's letters, intending to publish them some day. I
am only carrying out her wishes in publishing them here. Both Gordon and
Burton were in the habit of writing quite freely on men and things, and
therefore it has been found necessary to suppress some of the letters;
but those given will, I think, be found of general interest.
The first letter Gordon wrote to Burton was about fifteen months after
he had taken up the Governorship of the Equatorial Provinces. It was
as follows:
"BEDDEN, SOUTH OF GONDORKORO[1] 23 MILES, "July 17, 1875.
"MY DEAR CAPTAIN BURTON,
"Though I have not had the honour of meeting you, I hope you will not
object to give me certain information which I imagine you are most
capable of doing. I will first relate to you my proposed movements.
At this moment I am just starting from this station for the South.
You are aware that hitherto the Nile from about eighteen miles south
of Gondokoro to the junction of it with the Unyame Hor (Apuddo, Hiameye,
Dufte, or Mahade, as different people call it) has been considered
impassable and a torrential stream.
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