William George Browne (1768-1813) was one of those remarkable explorers who managed to journey deep into the African interior. At the Egyptian oasis of Siwa, he discovered an ancient temple related to Alexander the Great's visit to consult the fabled Oracle of Amun. Fearlessly, he then searched for further ruins in the inner desert but very nearly perished in the process. After studying Arabic in Cairo, he embarked on an 1,100-mile camel journey along the Forty Days Road. Browne was the first European to reach the Sultanate of Darfur. Here he faced constant intrigue and an almost unbearable...