Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa, Volume 2

About this book

A reprint of a classical work in the Cambridge Library Collection.

William John Burchell (1781–1863) is remembered for this outstanding geography of South Africa, published in two volumes in 1822–4 and later taken on Darwin's Beagle voyage. It covers the first year of Burchell's 4,500-mile expedition into southern Africa from 1811 to 1815, while 'botanist to the Cape Colony'. The author returned to England with 500 scientific and ethnographical drawings, many of them used as illustrations in the book, and about 63,000 natural history specimens including 120 animal skins and 265 species of bird. His preface emphasises that his journal is accurate, independent and free from prejudice; he also claims that, unlike many travelogues, his contains no 'indelicacies … offensive to decency'. Volume 2 covers February to August 1812, and focuses on ethnography. Burchell describes the indigenous peoples he encounters, and their way of life, including music and dance, and notes many local words for artefacts, animals and plants.

Contents

1. Journey from Klaarwater, to Kaabi's Kraal
2. Transactions at Kaabi's Kraal
3. Journey from Kaabi's Kraal, to the borders of the colony
4. Journey from the borders of the colony, to the village of Graaffreynét
5. Transactions at Graaffreynét
6. Return from Graaffreynét, to the boundary of the colony
7. Return from the colony, through the country of the Bushmen, to Klaarwater
8. Transactions at Klaarwater, after the return from Graaffreynét
9. Journey in the country of the Koras, from Klaarwater to Sensaván
10. Journey from Sensaván, to the Kamhánni mountains
11. Journey in the country of the Bachapins, from the Kamhánni mountains to the river Makkwárin
12. Occurrences and observations at the river Makkwárin
13. Journey from the river Makkwárin, to the town of Litakun
14. Reception at Litakun
15. Residence in the town of Litakun, and affair of the gun
16. Transactions and occurrences during the first residence at Litakun
17. General description of the town of Litakun
18. General description of the Bachapins

The itinerary, and register of the weather
The zoological and botanical index
The general index

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