SPORT AND WAR (Presentation copy)

First edition: xviii,268 pages + 32 pages publisher’s catalogue, frontispiece, 6 plates, numerous black and white illustrations in the text, coloured folding map, uncut edges, rust cloth with a gilt vignette of an elephant on the upper cover, titled gilt on the spine - which is starting to fray, a good copy.

Half title reads: Fighting and Hunting in South Africa

Presentation inscription on a front free endpaper reads: This small volume is respectfully offered to the Right Hon Gathorne Hardy Secretary of State for War by his most obedient servant. John J Bisset Colonel 106 Regt. 22 Nov.1875

John Bisset arrived in South Africa as a child in 1820 and, having been commissioned as an ensign in the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1835, fought in the 6th, 7th and 8th Frontier wars. He became Commanding officer of his regiment and went on to be acting Governor of Natal in 1865. He also became colonel of the 106th Regiment of Foot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jarvis_Bisset

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography volume 1 page 128: Bisset joined the Bathurst volunteers as a boy of fifteen, on the proclamation of martial law, during the Kaffir War of 1834-5, and he soon received a commission, and gradually rose to high rank. A full account is given of the operations which led to the annexation of British Kaffraria and the surrender of Sandilli. There is a description of the visit of Prince Alfred to South Africa in i860, the author accompanying the Prince throughout his tour, and also on his second visit in 1867. General Bisset was appointed Lieut.-Governor of Natal in 1865. The volume concludes with some chapters on South African legends, and there are maps of S. E. Africa and British Kaffraria.

Note. In the evidence given by Lieut. -Gen. (then Major) Bisset before the " Select Committee on the Kaffir Tribes " (1851), he stated that he had practically lived at the Cape all his life, having been brought there when only a year old by his father, a half-pay officer in the Navy, who was one of the 1820 settlers. He maintained that the Dutch had always been ready to fight in defence of their property, but have " a dread of being made soldiers." He did not think that the trek of the Boers could be stopped, but was of opinion that Sir Harry Smith's measures had saved the Colony from much loss and devastation.