MORRELL’S NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH AND WEST COAST OF AFRICA:

With a prefatory advertisement by Lieut. Petrie, R.N.  

And an appendix, comprising notices of natural and chemical history of Guano, analyses of numerous samples, and tables of the relative value of both the African and Peruvian kinds

vii + 144 pages, original brown cloth titled gilt on the upper cover, some light foxing but overall a very good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sydney) South African Bibliography, volume 2, page 57, ‘Morrell's work consists of a narrative of four voyages, the third of which is republished in this volume, together with some other interesting matter. The trip was undertaken in the schooner Antarctic, which left New York on June 25, 1828, and there is an account of the south-west coasts and islands, with details respecting the natural features of the places visited, and the instructions given for the navigation of the shores. There is also a description of the Cape Colony, together with some information relating to the Hottentots. Subsequently the author sailed to Angra Pequena, touching at “Possession Island” and “Ichaboe” the celebrated guano islands; he remarks of the latter that “the surface of this island is covered with bird's manure to the depth of 25 feet,” but although conversant with the qualities of guano, Morell does not appear to have understood its great value, and according to Lieut. Petrie, “he seems to have been but indifferently treated by his country. He was considered an enthusiast, and his plans for opening a trade to Africa were designated chimerical.”’