The Lake Regions of Central Africa
A Picture of Exploration

The famous British explorer's 1860 account of a journey through Zanzibar and the lake region of eastern Africa (present-day Tanzania).

Richard Francis Burton (Author)

9781108031295, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

500 pages, 14 b/w illus. 6 colour illus. 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 2.8 cm, 0.63 kg

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–90) was an explorer who began his career in the Bombay 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 100 articles. In this two-volume work, published in 1860, Burton discusses geographical and ethnological matters, while also giving space to the 'picturesque points of view which the subject offers' in recounting his journey to Zanzibar and around the lakes in present-day Tanzania. Volume 2 sees Burton arrive at Lake Tanganyika, and much of this volume is dedicated to his exploration of this freshwater lake and investigation of the way of life of the inhabitants of its shores. He also includes an appendix of commerce in the region.

12. The geography and ethnology of Unyamwezi. The Fourth Region
13. At length we sight the Lake Tanganyika, the 'Sea of Ujiji'
14. We explore the Tanganyika Lake
15. The Tanganyika Lake and its Periplus
16. We return to Unyanyembe
17. The down-march to the coast
18. Village life in East Africa
19. The character and religion of the East Africans
their government, and slavery
Conclusion
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]