| Description | Boswell's letter of 27 August reached him just has he had sent a short note on the same subject. Wayland had encouraged the African Prehistoric Research Expedition to come out after training in Cambridge, then to work on his collection of many thousands of artefacts. The Expedition and the Geological Survey would then work concurrently with the Government of Uganda providing facilities. The Expedition arrived in Uganda when Wayland was in England and was put up in a good Government house. Simmons assisted tham, before O'Brien 'put Simmons back up' and the result was that the Expedition wasted time. Before O'Brien left England, Wayland advised him on where to work and where not to - O'Brien ignored the advice and drew a blank on the locations he chose to visit. The Expedition eventually decided to go to Jinga and had free access to copy Wayland's notes, gathered over 16 years.They were given an experienced headman, tools, explosives and other facilities. Wayland discovered that it was flying under false colours, having represented itself as a British Museum expedition in the Uganda Journal. O'Brien claimed it not to be his fault, but was reluctant to correct it. Expedition members flew home by Imperial Airways to obtain more things (including Solomon) and returned to works that Wayland had previously examined for stone age material. There is more in the minor way, all annoying, and Wayland is about to recall the tools lent. He is glad that Solomon, with scientific training, is going to do something about the prehistory of Uganda. He thinks Boswell should know all this, since Solomon is his man. |