TRAVELS IN NUBIA

JOHANN LUDWIG BURCKHARDT

JOHN MURRAY: LONDON
1819

First edition.

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (1784-1817), Swiss by birth, travelled to London in 1806 with an introduction to Sir Joseph Banks, leading member of the African Association. Burckhardt thereafter devoted himself to the exploration of the interior of Africa, acquainting himself with the language and customs of Arabic peoples in order to pass through Islamic countries then hostile to Christians. Indeed, so proficient he became in the vulgar Arabic, and in his knowledge of the Qu'ran, that he was not only accepted as a true believer, but praised as a great Muslim scholar. In 1814 he became one of the first Christians to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca. In 1817, while at Cairo, Burckhardt contracted dysentry from which he died. He was buried as a holy pilgrim in the Muslim cemetery there.

Travels in Nubia was the first of several works based on Burckhardt's journals to be published by the African Society.

CONTENTS.
Memoir on the Life and Travels of John Lewis Burckhardt.
Journey along the Banks of the Nile, from Assouan to Mahass, on the frontiers of Dongola
Description of a Journey from Upper Egypt through the Deserts of Nubia to Berber and Suakin, and from thence to Djidda in Arabia.

APPENDIX.
No. I. Itinerary from the Frontiers of Bornou, by Bahr el Gha-zal, and Darfour, to Shendy
No. II. Some Notices on the Countries of Soudan, west of Darfour; with Vocabularies of the Borgho and Bornou Languages ; collected at Cairo from Negroe Pilgrims.
No. III. Translation of the Notices on Nubia contained in Makrizi's History and Description of Egypt, called El Khetat, etc; with Notes.

27 x 22 cm. xcii + 543 pp + 3 maps (2 folding).

Very good condition, recently rebacked with calf leather. Original paper covered boards worn and rubbed. Two contemporary library labels on the front pastedown and small library stamp to the 2 folding map. The larger map has an old repair and creasing to the edge,  and the smaller map a short closed tear to the margin. Folding maps have a little light foxing and there are a few occasional spots to the text but overall clean and tidy, no inscriptions or tears.