or An Exploration in Harar
THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO ATTEMPT TO ENTER HARAR
First Footsteps in East Africa or An Exploration in Harar
Longmans, 1856.
First edition. Original publisher's red cloth lettered gilt to the spine and blind floral border to the covers (Penzer's secondary binding, as usual). Four chromolithograph plates and two steel engraved maps and seven steel engravings in the text. A very good copy indeed, spine slightly browned and patches of wear to the joints and corners. Internally fresh with hinges perfect.
Commissioned by the British East India Company to explore the Somali region, Burton's first expedition into East Africa was made with the purpose of reaching the forbidden Islamic city of Harar. "No European had ever entered Harar, and its inhabitants believed that should any Christian do so, the city would fall." Disguised as a Turkish merchant Burton sailed from Aden in October 1854, moving without much difficulty through Somalia. However, as he approached the city he fell under suspicion of being a foreign spy. Reasoning that his Turkish identity would afford little protection from the Amir of Harar, who was notorious for capriciously executing people or leaving them to languish in his dungeons, he decided to present himself as a British agent on a diplomatic mission, forging a letter to that effect, in hopes that the Amir would be unwilling to offend the British government. The ruse was successful, he entered Harar on 3 January 1855 and was invited to meet the surprisingly young Amir. As Burton wrote "I was under the roof of a bigoted prince whose least word was death; amongst a people who detest foreigners; the only European that had ever passed over their inhospitable threshold, and the fated instrument of their future downfall." After ten days he left and returned to the coast Bebera. As was customary with Burton, he translated the experience directly into a book, which details the customs, government and trade of Harar, as well as descriptions of the lands through which he travelled.
Penzer p.60-63. Jason Thompson, ODNB
Stock ID: 37189
£3,000.00
