First Footsteps in East Africa
Or, An Exploration of Harar

A British explorer's 1856 account of the slave-trading city of Harar in East Africa, previously unvisited by Europeans.

Richard Burton (Author)

9781108030304, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 July 2011

706 pages, 4 b/w illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 4.3 cm, 0.93 kg

Sir Richard Burton (1821–1890), the famous Victorian explorer, began his career in the Indian army in 1842. While in India he developed his linguistic talent, mastering more than forty different languages and dialects. He turned to writing books in the 1850s and, over the remaining forty years of his life, published dozens of works and more than one hundred articles. In this book, first published in 1856, Burton recounts his travels to Harar, a city in East Africa notorious for its slave trade activity. His plan was a challenging one, as it was believed that no European had been there before; upon arrival he claimed to be an agent of the British government and presented himself to the ruler of Harar. Burton was allowed to spend ten days there, and his account give a fascinating glimpse into a then unknown city and culture.

Preface
1. Departure from Aden
2. Life in Zayla
3. Excursions near Zayla
4. The Somal, their origin and peculiarities
5. From Zayla to the Hills
6. From the Zayla Hills to the Marar Prairie
7. From the Marar Prairie to Harar
8. Ten days at Harar
9. A ride to Berberah
10. Berberah and its environs
Postscript
Appendices.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]