The Great Sahara
Wanderings South of the Atlas Mountains

First published in 1860, this is a scientist's account of his journey into the Sahara, transcribed from his journals.

Henry Baker Tristram (Author)

9781108050463, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 June 2012

482 pages, 26 b/w illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.61 kg

After sailing on a crowded steamer from Marseilles, Henry Baker Tristram (1822–1906) arrived in Algiers in the winter of 1856, and began preparations for an expedition into the Sahara. Although the northern areas had been well documented by the occupying French forces, the south was little travelled by Europeans. A keen naturalist and later a Fellow of the Linnaean Society, Tristram made meticulous preparations for collecting specimens, and kept a thorough journal as he travelled. This book, one of the first English reports of the South Sahara, published in 1860, is an almost exact transcription of that journal. Travelling with a tin of chocolate and a collection of fine silk handkerchiefs to trade, Tristram made notes on a host of topics, from the flight of flamingos to the government and customs of the native Touareg. His account is still a valuable resource for students of the history of science.

1. Steam from Marseilles
2. Preparations for travel
3. Sunday at Medeah
4. Departure from Boghar
5. Roman ruins
6. Laghouat
7. Departure from Laghouat
8. Sudden view of Berryan
9. A narrow escape
10. Mellika
11. Departure from Ghardaia
12. History and institutions of the M'zab
13. Stony desert
14. The Touareg
15. An early start
16. Tuggurt
17. History and description of Tuggurt
18. Starved out of Tuggurt
19. The warrior Sheik of Souf
20. St. Martin's brigade
21. Biskra.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]