**My Visit to Africa**

My name is John Bridle. I was born in Southampton into a poor little family as the 6th child. From childhood, I was never one to stay still and formal learning was never attractive to me. I always had a taste for exploring new places, so it was no surprise to my family when at the age of 17, I took to sea. The promise of seeing new lands and peoples was far too great to be resisted by my young and active mind. During the next few years, I sailed on every vessel I could find, from cargo to passenger to fishing schooners. Yes, I...