Bruce’s search for the source of the Nile

In 1768 James Bruce (1730-94) set out to find the source of the Blue Nile, spending five years in North Africa and Arabia. This map plots two routes around Lake Tana, starting from Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia, with the source shown bottom left. On his return to London in 1774 he claimed to be the first European to reach the source of the Blue Nile, but attracted attacks on his credibility. Affronted, Bruce did not publish his account until 1790 (persuaded by his friend Barrington); his 'Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile' contained this map.