The Great Thirst Land : A Ride through Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Kalahari Desert

Published by Cassell Petter & Galpin, London, Paris & New York, 1878  

condition is barely acceptable, front cover detached, rear cover partially detached, spine broken in half, frontispiece detached, ex-library with markings but all pages present and in good condition and a first or near first ed.

an antique hunting classic book....

From the web: 

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography volume 1 pages 601- 602: Although the volume contains a description of a hunting trip through the Kalahari, the greater part of the work consists of a narrative of travels and adventures in the Transvaal. The author, an experienced sportsman, made arrangements with another keen hunter for a shooting expedition in Tropical Africa," with the intention of disembarking at Cape Town and taking a coaster to Walvisch Bay. This plan, however, did not prove feasible, and they decided to proceed up country via Natal. The expedition was fitted out at Maritzburg, but the travellers were new to their business, and every obstacle seems to have been put in their way by traders whose object was to fleece them as much as possible. However, after many delays and disappointments, a start was actually made, and the recital of their breakdowns is very amusing. Unfortunately, Mr. Gillmore's fellow traveller became seriously ill, and eventually had to return to England, the former continuing the trip with the assistance of some Boers. He enjoyed a fair amount of shooting, but no great holocausts were made, the author observing, that he shot to fill the pot ; " when that is done I cease to take the lives of valuable food-furnishing animals." During the trek through the Transvaal, the Boers appear to have treated the traveller with hospitality; After many adventures the author started for the diamond fields, but was waylaid by footpads at Bloemhof, who robbed him of everything of value, and he had to walk 150 miles to Kimberley, where he arrived in a most deplorable condition. Here, however, his troubles were over, and after a short stay he left for Port Elizabeth, where he arrived in due course, " thoroughly broken down and worn out," in June 1876.y    Gillmore, Parker - "Ubique"