Not one native was procurable, all being under the influence of the traders, who had determined to render our advance utterly impossible by preventing the natives from assisting us.

All had been threatened, and we, perfectly helpless, commenced the desperate journey in darkness about an hour after sunset.
"Where shall we go ?" said the men, just as the order was given to start.
"Who can travel without a guide?
No one knows the road." The moon was up, and the mountain of Belignan was distinctly visible about nine miles distant.

Knowing that the route lay on the east side of that mountain, I led the way, Mrs.Baker riding by my side, and the British flag following close behind us as a guide for the caravan of heavily laden camels and donkeys.

And thus we started on our march into Central Africa on the 26th of March, 1863..