On the journey back to the coast, Speke became so sick that he nearly died. In his delirium, he spoke in detail of his resentment toward Burton, listing every complaint and railing at every insult. Burton was shocked, for he had known none of it. When Speke began to recover, he was unaware of what he had said.

Bombay took over as the expedition’s caravan leader, for Burton was tired of Said’s dishonesty. Said, in turn, tried to discredit Bombay. Burton received a letter indicating that Hamerton had been replaced by Rigby. When the expedition reached the coast, both Burton and Speke cheered, but back in Zanzibar, they were met with confusion due to a cholera outbreak.

Rigby was hardly welcoming, at least toward Burton, and Burton, still ill, fell into a depression. Speke and Rigby, however, became good friends, and Speke began to complain to Rigby all about Burton’s mistreatment of him, all the while asserting how indispensable he had been to the expedition. Rigby hinted that Burton might steal Speke’s share of the credit.

Rigby also refused to honor Hamerton’s financial offers, including the rewards to the men. Burton certainly could not pay them. He had already spent a large sum of his own money on the expedition and had little left. Bombay did receive his due, but the other men did not, including Said. Speke agreed with Burton on the point, Burton noted, and the rewards largely went unpaid. Burton and Speke left for Aden with Bombay bidding them farewell. While Burton remained in Aden, Speke returned to Britain, meeting up with Laurence Oliphant. Speke promised Burton that he would not go to the Royal Geographical Society until Burton could join him. Once away from Burton, though, Speke changed his mind. With Oliphant’s encouragement, Speke decided to go straight to the society to beat Burton in receiving the command of another expedition.