Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa
Being a Journal of an Expedition Undertaken under the Auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the Years 1849–1855

This pioneering work of African exploration and ethnography, cited by Darwin, is still considered an important source on African cultures.

Heinrich Barth (Author)

9781108029469, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 June 2011

708 pages, 51 b/w illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 3.9 cm, 0.89 kg

Born in Hamburg, Henry (Heinrich) Barth (1821–1865) studied history, archaeology, geography and Arabic. He joined James Richardson's 1849 expedition to Africa, which aimed to open the interior to trade and to study slavery. Following the deaths of Richardson (1851) and his colleague Overweg (1852), Barth led the expedition alone. His travels extended to Lake Chad in the east, Cameroon in the south and Timbuktu in the west. He was the first European to use the oral traditions of the local tribes for historical research, learning several African languages, and studying the history, resources and civilisations of the people he encountered. Barth's five-volume account includes plates, engravings and detailed annotated maps. Published in both English and German in 1857–1858, it is still regarded as a major source on African culture. Volume 4 follows Barth's challenging journey along the Niger to Timbuktu, and describes the city and its inhabitants.

53. Departure for Timbúktu. The hilly north-western provinces of Bórnu
54. The mountainous territory of Múniyó and its governor
55. Departure from Zinder. The border region between the Bórnu and Fulfúlde Empires. Second stay in Kátsena
56. Journey from Kátsena to Sókoto
57. Residence in Wurno
58. State of insecurity along the most frequented highroad. Gando
59. The province of Kebbi and its river. The valley of Fógha. Reach the Niger
60. The hilly country of Gurma
61. Province of Libtáko. South-eastern limit of the range of the commerce of Timbúktu
62. Unsettled provinces obstructed by nature, and infested by man. A'ribínda. Hómbori
63. Imóshagh or Tawárek encampments south of the Niger. Lakes and backwaters of the Great River
64. The network of creeks, backwaters, and lakes belonging to the Niger. Sarayámo. Navigation to Kábaba
65. Arrival at Kábara. Entrance into Timbúktu
66. General observations on the history of Songhay and Timbúktu
67. First month of residence in Timbúktu
68. First residence in the desert. Political combinations. Great Mosque. Ground plan of the town
69. Political state of the country. Dangerous crisis
Appendix.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]