Few narratives of travels have ever excited greater interest, or are better calculated to afford amusement, than that written by the subject of this chapter. No traveller ever possessed in a higher degree the confidence and courage requisite to enforce respect among rude nations; few were better qualified by talents of observation and general knowledge; and none, perhaps, has ever experienced more fully the reluctance with which mankind allow travellers the privilege of colouring the truth to give interest to their relation.

James Bruce, a gentleman of good family and fortune in North Britain, conceived in early life the project of examining the sources of the Nile, and thus solving what from the remotest times had been considered as the most interesting geographical problem. He travelled through most countries in Europe; and in Holland, where the oriental school of Erpenius and Schultens still flourished, he acquired a knowledge of the Arabic, and Geez or Ethiopic languages. He also applied himself to mathematics and to practical astronomy. The consulship of Algiers having become vacant in 1762, it was offered to Bruce, who accepted it with pleasure, and proceeded to his post, provided with a good collection of instruments for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus, and with the determination to make himself master of the Arabic tongue as it is spoken, being already well acquainted with the written language.