IMPRESSIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA (1897)

Publisher's red cloth hardcover with gilt titles to spine.

xxv + 600pp + three fold-out maps at rear (Political, Rainfall & Orographical Maps of South Africa).

Contents clean with a neat inscription on the half-title page and three neat rubber stamps of the "Young Women's Christian Association" at the top of the half-title & title pages and on the rear endpaper (which do not affect the text). Binding is strong.

Bryce records his impressions of the social, economic, & political situations in South Africa, Matabeleland, German South-West Africa and Portuguese East Africa of the period. He describes the physical features, history and politics of South Africa from its earliest times to the 1890's.

Topics include:

The Original Abundance of Wild Animals in South Africa and their Extinction (The Elephant, Lion, Rhinoceros), Recent Attempts at their Protection, The Territories of the British South Africa Company, The Influence and Physical Conditions of the Savage Races, The Natives: Hottentots, Bushmen, and Kafirs (sic), Ancient Walls in Matabeleland and Mashonaland, The Great Zimbabwe, Theories as to the Original Builders of the Ancient Walls, The Careers of Dingiswayo and Chaka, The Results of the Zulu Conquests, War & Religion & Sorcery, Stagnation and Cruelty of Primitive Kaffir (sic) Life, The Afrikander Type of Life and Character, The Zulu War of 1879, Revolt of the Transvaal and its' Independence Restored, German Occupation of Damaraland, Kimberley and it's Diamond Fields, Chief Khama: his Town and his People, Bulawayo and Lobengula, Causes of the Matabele Rising of 1896, the Witwatersrand and its' Gold Fields, etc.