Zanzibar 2 Volume Set
City, Island, and Coast

This two-volume memoir of 1872 chronicles Burton and Speke's 1857–9 expedition to find the source of the Nile.

Richard Burton (Author)

9781108031486, Cambridge University Press

Multiple-component retail product, published 25 August 2011

1092 pages, 11 b/w illus. 5 maps
21.6 x 14 x 6.3 cm, 1.39 kg

First published in 1872, this two-volume memoir by explorer, ethnographer and diplomat Sir Richard Burton (1821–90) was written while Burton and John Hanning Speke were making preparations for their expedition to solve one of the major geographical mysteries of the nineteenth century - the location of the source of the Nile. Burton and Speke arrived in Zanzibar in December 1856, and spent several months in preparations for their journey. During this time, Burton made detailed notes on his surroundings which were later developed into this book. Volume 1 focuses on 'The City and the Island'. Burton discusses the significance of the 'Nile question' as well as recording geographical, botanical, meteorological, and ethnographic observations. Volume 2 concerns the two expeditions of 1857–9, including the discovery of Lake Tanganyika and Speke's later independent discovery of Lake Victoria, which gave rise to a notorious dispute between the two men.

Volume 1: Preface
1. Prepatory
2. Arrival at Zanzibar Island
3. How the Nile question stood in the year of grace 1856
4. A stroll through Zanzibar City
5. Geographical and physiological
6. Visit to the Prince Sayyid Majid. The government of Zanzibar
7. A chronicle of Zanzibar. The career of the late 'Imam' Sayyid Said
8. Ethnology of Zanzibar. The foreign residents
9. Horseflesh at Zanzibar. The outskirts of the city, and the clove plantations
10. Ethnology of Zanzibar. The Arabs
11. Ethnology of Zanzibar. The Wasawihili and the slave races
12. Preparations for departure
Appendix. The Ukara or Ukerewe Lake. Volume 2: 1. From Zanzibar to Mombasah
2. Mombasah or Mvíta
3. Visit to the Kisulodi-ni mission house
4. The people of Mombasah. The Wanyike tribe
5. From Mombasah to the Panga-ni River
6. From Panga-ni Town to Tongwe outpost. The Baloch guard
7. The march to Fuga. Ascent of the highlands of East Africa. Presentation to King Kimwere
8. The march back. The hippopotamus hunt. The return to Zanzibar
9. Visit to Sa'adani, the copal field
10. The East African Expedition of 1857–9
11. To Kilwa, the end of the East African Expedition (1857–9)
12. Captain Speke
Appendices.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]