Bruce’s travels in Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia (Abyssinia) were the culmination of years of study, work and travel in Spain, Italy, North Africa, the Aegean and Asia Minor. During this time he learnt Modern Greek, Arabic and Amharic. He served as consul in Algiers from 1763 to 1765. Bruce set out on his travels to discover the source of the Nile in 1768. He visited Cyprus briefly before his arrival in Egypt; see pp. 3-5 in volume I.
Travels To Discover The Source Of The Nile, In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773. In Five Volumes. By James Bruce Of Kinnaird, Esq. F. R. S. Vol. I. ... [... Vol. II. ... Vol. III. ... Vol. IV. ... Select Specimens Of Natural History Collected In Travels to discover the Source of the Nile, In Egypt, Arabia, Abyssinia, And Nubia. Vol. V.] Edinburgh: Printed By J. Ruthven, For G. G. J. And J. Robinson, Paternoster-Row, London. M.DCC.XC.