Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria: In the years one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, eight, and nine

First edition of this fascinating travel narrative about Africa.

Hardcover in original leather binding, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and red morocco spine label laid down, date in gold on base of spine.

Beautiful edition, pp. 171., illustrated with a large folding map showing Paterson\'s travels together with seventeen copper plates. Replaced end papers. Some foxing.

Colonel William Paterson, FRS (17 August 1755 – 21 June 1810) was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania.

One of the first English descriptions of the interior of South Africa. Paterson, later the governor of New South Wales, studied botany in London. His journey was patronized by Lady Strathmore, who had sent him to the Cape of Good Hope to collect plants for her estate. Mendelssohn II, p. 143: \"Mr. Paterson accompanied Colonel Gordon (Commander of the Troops of the Dutch East India Company in South Africa) and Jacob van Reenen in several trips to the interior. In the course of his travels the author penetrated as far as Namaqualand on the west, and the Great Fish River on the south-east. Although the principal feature of the work is a description of the botanical specimens collected and noted by Mr. Paterson, there are many interesting notes respecting the natives, with a few remarks on the Dutch colonists.\"

Extract from Third Journey, January 1779: \"The country here is extremely beautiful and picturesque, very hilly, and the hills are shaded with impenetrable woods; the vallies well watered and covered with grass, which affords excellent pasture for cattle. Great numbers of quadrupeds inhabit this neighbourhood, such as Lions, Panthers, Elephants, Rhinoceroses, Buffaloes, Spring Bocks, etc. At a little distance to the eastward are some Kraals belonging to the tribe of Hottentots, called Chonoacquas.\"