CAPE GOOD HOPE (Volume 1 & 2)

During the first 50 years of Dutch colonisation at the Cape of Good Hope many travellers arrived in Table Bay, on their way to the East; some came voluntarily, others by force of circumstances.

They came ashore, looked around, observed strange, indigenous people, interesting plants and animals; they visited the little settlement, met the local personalities, wondered at the way-of-life. They also consulted and negotiated with the Dutch official, and sought help in their difficulties.

And, most frequently they recorded their impressions so as to inform and astonish their friends in Europe with the wonders they had seen. These impressions were sometimes published; but more often the appeared in ships' log books and unpublished, and available to the researchers of today in archives and special libraries only.

Such recorded impressions are the subject matter of this book: Major Raven-Hart has selected, transcribed and meticulously translated a total of 104 accounts by visitors. They are taken from the original Dutch, French, Portuguese, Danish and German.

To accompany the translated texts and to help the reader enjoy and understand, Major Raven-Hart has provided background and context notes to descriptive contemporary happenings in Europe, official records by the Cape commanders and governor, and biographical notes on the writers.

There is also a unique index with over 2,200 entries, 65 engravings and maps.

Both volumes covered in removable "Plasti-Kleer" Book Jacket Cover. Weight 5kg.