IN DARKEST AFRICA; Or the Quest, Rescue and Retreat of Emin Governor of Equatoria.
Charles Scribner's Sons. 1890 New York, 1st edn, 2 volumes, 547 & 540pp, illus, 3 end-pocket maps. Publisher's dark brown full leather, all edges gilt, marbled end papers, inner edges dentelles. Spine relaid, some edge wear to leather, 3 folded maps in rear pockets with tears and fold wear. Item #008066
In the late 1880s Henry Stanley had made a strong case in New York and London that Emin Pasha (Eduard Schnitzer), the beleaguered governor of equatorial Sudan, needed an expedition headed by Stanley (who else!) to relieve him from the hordes of the Mad Mullah. In Darkest Africa contains some of Stanley’s most celebrated writing, especially his account of the tortuous 450-mile passage through the dense Ituri rain forest. Stanley’s dealings with Emin Pasha (who proved resistant to being "rescued"), his abandonment of his own rear column and his wider motives for his mission have all come under suspicion then and since. It was also unclear why Stanley should choose just about the most difficult route possible to get to the southern Sudan (starting on the West Coast of Africa). Stanley set off originally with 646 men but only 246 survived to see the end of the expedition. Despite all this, or more likely because of all these events, this book remains as one of the great classics of African exploration. In the course of the journey Stanley discovered the great snow-capped range of Ruwenzori, the Mountains of the Moon, a new lake which he named Lake Albert and a large south-western extension of Lake Victoria. A classic work by Africa’s most famous explorer.
Price: $350.00