African wanderings; or, an expedition from Sennaar to Taka, Basa, and Beni-Amer with a particular glance at the races of Bellad Sudan
London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1852. 8vo. xi, [i], 267 pp., including half-title and appendix, plus leaf of publisher’s advertisements. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Publisher’s cloth, faded and stained; hinges loose, endpapers with additional publisher’s advertisements. Item #15302
First edition in English, translated from the German by J.R. Johnston. German diplomat and explorer Werne (1800-1874) recounts his travels in Africa during a time when that part of the world was primarily unexplored by white people. The author studied the social habits and characteristics of the various peoples inhabiting many regions of the Continent. His work describes life in Africa from a European perspective, with the author noting all the fascinating customs and rituals of the different tribes, languages, religions, and way of life for the African people in the mid-nineteenth century. Topics include, among many, food preparation, army rituals, medical practice in Arab villages, religion, use of tobacco, slavery, and living in extreme weather conditions. The appendix contains a list of the birds, animals and reptiles he encountered.
Price: $150.00