In 1888, the governor of Southern Sudan was forced into retreat by a revolt led by the Islamic holy man known as the "Mahdi." Volume 1 of this two-volume set details the political events that led up to the revolt, and the progress of Stanley from the mouth of the Congo River to Lake Albert.

This book is an illustrated version of the original In Darkest Africa by Henry M.Stanley. “Yambuya. midst of his garrisons, cheering and encouraging his valiant soldiers, pointing with hand outstretched to the direction whence the expected relief would surely approach if it were the will of God, and in the distance beyond I saw in my imagination the Mahdist hordes advancing with frantic cries and thrilling enthusiasm crying out, "Yallah, Yallah," until from end to end of the swaying lines the cry was heard rolling through the host of fervid and fanatical warriors, and on the other sides multitudes of savages vowed to extermination biding their time, and between them and us was this huge area of the unknown without a track or a path.”