ABSTRACT
In September 1877 the foreign secretary of the London Missionary Society entertained high hopes for the pioneer expedition making its way from the Indian Ocean to Lake Tanganyika. This, “a great experiment”, by introducing the South African bullock wagon into East Africa, would appreciably reduce the cost of transport and open a new highway for European civilisation into the interior. Clarification of goals and reorganisation of the expedition were needed, so, as the monsoon rains began, a temporary camp was established at Kirasa. While the expedition had suffered a serious setback, Edward Coode Hore found his responsibilities and his importance increasing. A conscientious worker from the start, Hore managed all aspects of the caravan except the oxen and wagons, and, as the great experiment failed, Hore returned to Zanzibar to hire more carriers.
