Wanderings In West Africa is a travelogue written by Richard F. Burton, a British explorer and writer, detailing his experiences during his travels through West Africa in the mid-19th century. The book is divided into several sections, each focusing on a different region or country that Burton visited during his journey. Throughout the book, Burton provides vivid descriptions of the landscapes, people, cultures, and customs he encountered, as well as his own thoughts and opinions on various aspects of West African life. He ...
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Wanderings In West Africa is a travelogue written by Richard F. Burton, a British explorer and writer, detailing his experiences during his travels through West Africa in the mid-19th century. The book is divided into several sections, each focusing on a different region or country that Burton visited during his journey. Throughout the book, Burton provides vivid descriptions of the landscapes, people, cultures, and customs he encountered, as well as his own thoughts and opinions on various aspects of West African life. He also includes accounts of his interactions with local rulers, traders, and missionaries, as well as his observations on the slave trade and other forms of exploitation in the region. Overall, Wanderings In West Africa is a fascinating and informative account of one man's journey through a complex and diverse part of the world during a pivotal moment in its history.Two Volumes In One.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
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Richard Burton was not an unbiased observer, but he was an interested and educated one, so that in spite of his biases, he was a faithful and articulate observer of things that are no longer there.
His travels along the West African coast and through the offshore islands are well worth reading for those who would like to know what the area was like around 1860.
One aspect of the book I particularly enjoyed was the discussion of health concerns. Mr. Burton displays the ignaorance of his time but also some surprisingly correct instincts, such as a dislike of living in malarial swamps.
Another fascinating aspect is his meticulous accounting of the death rate of Europeans in the area, which was appalling.
All in all, this book is a treasure for readers interested in a slice of African history.
