First Edition: 2 volumes, I. xxiv, 414. II. viii, 479 pages, 2 lithographic plates and frontispieces and 2 additional lithographic plates, half title page in volume I, simply bound in quarter black leather with gilt titling on the spines, marbled paper boards - corners bumped, untrimmed edges, some very light browning around the edges of the plates and text pages but generally the contents are clean and free of foxing.
Mendelssohn (Sydney) South African Bibliography, volume 1, pages 157/8, 'The author was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Leven, one of the ships of the expedition formed to carry out a survey of the eastern coasts of Africa; he was subsequently raised to the position of First Lieutenant and Assistant Surveyor of the. Barracouta, and in the course of the performance of his duties he compiled the journal from which this work has been written. The expedition arrived in Simon's Bay on July 8, 1822, and it is stated that the Commander obtained six natives from Lord Charles Somerset for use as interpreters, &c. On August 3rd the Barracouta sailed to survey the coast as far as Delagoa Bay, where the expedition arrived on September 27th, after having put in at Algoa Bay. There is an account of the operations, together with a description of the Bay, its islands, and rivers, the manners and customs of its natives, and also of the "wretched structure of mud and stakes," dignified by the name of the Portuguese Fort. During their stay at Delagoa Bay the crew was attacked by fever, and a large number of officers and men died, and there is an account of the remedies used by the Delagoans for curing the malady ; however, finding the place so deadly, Captain Owen decided to make for Madagascar. After some stay on the East Coast, including visits to "Johanna," Mozambique, and other places, the ship returned via Delagoa to the Cape, but by the time the Barracouta arrived at Simon's Bay no less than twenty-four officers and men had been lost by death. In the course of the next voyage, and during a call at Algoa Bay, Captain Owen visited Bethelsdorp and Uitenhage, on the invitation of Mr. Read of the London Missionary Society, but on his return he only remained two days in the Bay, sailing for Quilimane without delay. The expedition made another long stay on the East Coast, and there are full accounts of the countries, the coasts of which were surveyed. On their return to the Cape they called at Port Natal, where they were visited by Mr. Farewell, who, having been granted a large tract of country by King Chaka, had settled there. A disastrous sub-expedition was made from Quilimane by Messrs. Forbes, Brown, and Kilpatrick, who endeavoured to carry out a survey of part of the Zambesi, but who all three lost their lives in the attempt. After the arrival of Captain Owen in Simon's Bay, the charts of the East Coast were completed and sent to England, and a plan of Table Bay was then compiled. The ships, being refitted and remanned, the expedition proceeded to survey part of the West Coast, the narrative of Lieutenant Boteler ending with his arrival at Sierra Leone. On his return to England he was made a Commander, and some time after appointed Captain of the Hecla, with instructions to survey the Western Coast of Africa, from Cape Spartel to the Line. Captain Boteler succumbed to an attack of fever on this voyage, on November 28, 1829.’
Boteler’s manuscript was prepared for publication by an unnamed editor who explains the circumstances in his ‘Preliminary Remarks’ at the beginning of the first volume.
See also: Royal Museums Greenwich: Thomas Boteler’s African Adventure, Illustrations from his Narrative of the Voyage of H.M. Vessels Leven and Barracouta.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/library-archive/thomas-botelers-african-adventure
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (240 x 150 mm)
