Auspices; the persons they
employed, were, in many respects, in general admirably calculated for
the ardous enterprize, and certainly by their labours have added not a
little to our knowledge of the geography, manners, trade, &c. of this
part of Africa. But it is to be regretted, that they were not qualified
to investigate the natural history of the countries they visited,
especially as these must be extremely rich in all the departments of
this branch of science. To these preliminary observations and general
character, we add the titles of the principal travels undertaken under
the auspices of the African Association.
643. African Association, their Proceedings for prosecuting the discovery
of the interior parts of Africa, containing the Journals of Ledyard, Lucas,
Houghton, Horneman, Nicholls, &c. 1810. 2 vols. 8vo.
644. Park's Travels in the interior districts of Africa, 1795-97, with
geographical illustrations, by Major Rennell, 1799. 4to.
645. The Journal of a Mission to the interior of Africa, in 1805. By Park,
1815. 4to.
In 1803, there was published at Paris, a French translation of
Horneman's Travels, with notes, and a memoir on the Oases, by Langles.
Those notes and memoirs were principally drawn from Arabian authors;
and, together with the rectification of the names of places, render the
translation valuable.
646. Jackson's account of Tombuctoo and Housa, with Travels through West
and South Barbary, and across the Mountains of Atlas, 8vo. 1820. - So long
as it is so extremely dangerous and difficult for Europeans to penetrate
into the interior of Africa, we must be content to derive our information
regarding it, from Africans who have travelled thither; and it is evident
that those will be best calculated to collect accurate information from
them, who are acquainted with their language and character, and who have
resided among them. On these accounts, Mr. Jackson's work is valuable and
important; the same remarks apply to his Account of Morocco, 1809. 4to.
647. Riley's Loss of the Brig Commerce, on the west Coast of Africa, 1815.
With an account of Tombuctoo and Wassanah, 4to.
648. Adam's Narrative of a Residence in Tombuctoo. 4to. If these Narratives
can be perfectly depended upon, they add considerably to our information
respecting the Great Desert and the interior of Africa.
649. Sammlung Merkwurdiger Reisen in das innere von Africa, heraus gegeben.
Von E.W. Kuher. Leips. 1790. 8vo.
650. Descrizione dell' Isola della Madera, scritta nella Lingua Latina dal
Conte Julio Laedi, tradotta in volgare da Alemano Fini. Plaisance, 1574.
4to.
651. Histoire de la premiere Decouverte et Conquete des Canaries, 1412. Par
J. Bethancourt: ecrite du temps meme. Par P. Bouthier, et J. Leverier.
Paris, 1630. 12mo. - This curious and rare work, depicts with great fidelity
and naivete, the manners, opinions, government, religion, &c. that
prevailed in the Canaries, when they were first conquered.
652. Essai sur les Isles Fortunees, et l'Antique Atlantide. Par Borry de
Saint Vincent. Paris, 1803. 4to. The author of this work resided for some
time in these Islands; and his work, besides historical information, bears
testimony to his having employed his residence in gaining minute
information respecting their soil, climate, natural history, and
productions; and likewise respecting the manners, &c. of the inhabitants.
There is much learned discussion respecting the origin of the Guanches, and
interesting information regarding their civilization and knowledge.
653. Noticias de la Historia general de las Islas de Canaria. Par D.J.
Dariera y Clavigo. Madrid, 1771. 3 vols. 8vo. Borry de Saint Vincent, who
derived much of his information from this work, justly characterizes it as
a valuable and accurate performance.
The Islands of Madeira, Teneriffe, St. Jago, &c. are described in many
Voyages to the East Indies, particularly in Barrow's Voyage to Cochin
China. In the first volume of Sir Hans Sloane's Jamaica, there is also a
good account of Madeira.
THE SOUTH OF AFRICA.
The Cape of Good Hope being generally visited by ships going to the East
Indies and China, there are many accounts of it and the adjacent
country, in the relation of voyages to those parts. Since it came into
the possession of the British, this part of Africa has frequently become
the ultimate and special object of travellers. The oldest accounts were
published in the Dutch and German languages.
654. Reise Beschriebung, 1660-1667 unter die Africanisken Vaelker besonders
die Hottentiten. Von. J. Breyer. Leips. 1681. 8vo.
655. Reise nach dem Vorgeberg der Guten Hopnung. Von Peter Kolb. Nuremberg,
3 vol. fol. - This voluminous work, originally published in Dutch, was
abridged and published in French, in 3 vols. 12mo. From this abridgment, an
English translation was published in 2 vols. 8vo. in 1738. Both the entire
and abridged work have been frequently published. The reason for this
popularity and general sale, must be sought in Kolben's work, being, for a
long time, the only detailed account of this part of Africa, and from its
enjoying a reputation for accuracy, which subsequent travellers have
destroyed, especially De la Caille, the celebrated astronomer, in the
following work.
656. Journal du Voyage fait au Cap de Bonne Esperance. Paris, 1673.
12mo. - This work is well known to astronomers; but it also deserves to be
perused by those who wish to detect the errors of Kolben, and by the light
which it throws on the manners of the Hottentots.
657. Description du Cap de Bonne Esperance. Amsterdam, 1778. 8vo. - This
work, translated from the Dutch, contains a Journal of Travels into the
interior, undertaken by order of the Dutch Governor. The first part gives a
short description of the Cape, and the adjacent districts, which seems
drawn from the authority of Kolben, in too many particulars; the second
part contains the Journal of the Travels: and it is more full and
instructive on objects of natural history, than on the customs and manners
of the people.
