Travels and Researches among the Lakes and Mountains of Eastern and Central Africa

A hardcover octavo (155mm x 220mm) book in a library half-binding of red marbled boards with red leather spine and corners; gilt titles to the spine; without dust-wrapper thus. The book is in good condition, clean and firmly bound with no foxing or browning; black end-papers. The book has been expertly cleaned so there are no unsightly library labels, or pockets; there are four library stamps on the preliminary pages which do not detract from the appearance. There are twenty-two preliminary plus 417 pages of text, including an appendix; frontispiece and 43 engravings.

James Frederic Elton, Born 1840 was the second son of Lieutenant-colonel Roberts W. Elton of the 59th regiment, Bengal army. When the Indian Mutiny broke out in 1857, Elton entered the Bengal army and saw much active service. In 1860 Elton volunteered for service in China, and was present at the taking of Peking and other engagements. He left the British service, and in 1866 and joined the staff of the French army in Mexico during the reign of the Emperor Maximilian. On his return to England at the conclusion of the war, he published a graphic account of his adventures, entitled ‘With the French in Mexico’,.

In 1868 Elton went to Natal, and occupied himself in travelling about. An account of his travels, accompanied by an excellent map, was published by the Royal Geographic Society. Among many other adventures, including an appointment to settle differences with the Portuguese authorities, he was appointed in 1875 he was promoted to the office of British consul in Portuguese territory, with residence at Mozambique. He set off in 1877, to visit the British mission stations on Lake Nyassa, explore the lake and surrounding country and ascertain the possibility of a route from the north end of the lake to Quiloa, at which seaport he proposed to embark in a steamer for Zanzibar, hoping to reach the latter place in November or early in December. His mission to the chiefs and the circumnavigation of the lake were successfully accomplished, but with the land journey he encountered difficulties. The country was devastated by wars among the different tribes, porterage and food were often unobtainable, and Elton was compelled to travel by a circuitous route to the north". Although he struggled on until within a few miles of the town of Usekhe in Ugogo, he collapsed from his privations and malaria. He died on the 19th December 1877, aged 37, and was buried about two miles from his last camp, under a large baobab tree which overlooks the plains of Usekhe. His journals were edited and completed by H. B. Cotterill under the title of “Travels and Researches among the Lakes and Mountains of Eastern and Central Africa” .The maps and illustrations, including a preface, were prepared by Horace Waller.