In Syra, the principal island of the Cyclades, Parkyns met Richard Monckton Milnes who just like Parkyns was also planning from there go on to Istanbul and after that visit Egypt. Milnes invited Parkyns to accompany him, hence the first eighteenth months of his travels, Parkyns travelled in Europe and Asia Minor. In December 1842 both travellers arrived in Egypt. On 5 March 1843 Parkyns left Cairo alone on a journey of exploration into Abyssinia where he stayed among the Abyssinians for more than three years and not only observed their lives but also adopted their dress and customs. The rest of travelling he did in various parts of Nubia, Kordofa, and Egypt. Eventually he did not cross Africa and did not find sources of the White Nile but decided to stay in Abyssinia. During his travels there, Parkyns had a journal where he took notes which some time later became basis of his book. In Abyssinia Parkyns spent over three years which he described in his travel book "Life in Abysssinia : being notes collected during three years' residence and travels in that country." The first edition of the book was published in two volumes by the English publisher John Murray in 1853. It was dedicated to Lord Palmerston and made many references and comments on the quite famous Scottish traveller James Bruce who travelled to Abyssinia between the years 1768 and 1773. The second edition of Parkyns' book was published in 1868. The author wrote a completely new introduction which had to do with Abyssinian history and methods of government at a time of the Abyssinian expedition commanded by Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala. In short, Parkyns described the political changes which had occurred after he left the country. He was hoping to offer the Victorian reader "a tolerably accurate idea of Abyssinia and Abyssinians"  The book consists of 33 chapters which are divided in two volumes. Each of them covers different subjects – travel, manners and customs. The first volume describes the journey from the coast to the capital and Parkyns' visit to the northern provinces, encounters with others, learning local languages and gaining new experiences. The second volume describes Abyssinian manners and customs, natural history and Parkyns' route from Adoua to Abou Kharraz on the Blue Nile. In total there are 33 illustrations which Parkyns drew himself by using watercolors. A map at the end of his book shows a part of Abyssinia and a part of Nubia to illustrate the journey of Parkyns.