It was in vain that I implored her to remain, and that I painted the difficulties and perils still blacker than I supposed they really would be.

She was resolved, with woman's constancy and devotion, to share all dangers and to follow me through each rough footstep of the wild life before me.

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." Thus accompanied by my wife, on the 15th of April, 1861, I sailed up the Nile from Cairo.

The wind blew fair and strong from the north, and we flew toward the south against the stream, watching those mysterious waters with a firm resolve to track them to their distant fountain.
I had a firman from the Viceroy, a cook, and a dragoman.

Thus my impedimenta were not numerous.