Author: LATROBE, Christian Ignatius.
Title: Journal of a visit to South Africa, in 1815, and 1816, with some account of the missionary settlements of the United Brethren, near the Cape of Good Hope.
Description: London, L.B. Seeley & R. Ackermann, 1818. 4to. Later half calf, spine gilt, with red morocco title-labels. With folding map, 4 engraved plates and 12 handcoloured aquatint plates. (8),406 pp. First edition. - Latrobe was sent out to South Africa in response to the request of Moravian missionaries at Genadendal and Groenekloof for a minister to visit them. The Governor of the Cape had expressed a wish that a third station should be opened, and in order to choose a site the author travelled through a large part of the country right up to the Fish River. There is a full description of the district of Groenekloof, and of the missionary settlements, about thirty miles north of Cape Town also an account of the church and village of Caledon. Some information is afforded regarding the life of the up-country farmers at this period. In 1816 he started for a journey into the interior, the route taken from Genadendal being via Zwellendam, Zeekogat near George, Welgelegen, Uitenhage, to the Witte River, and then to the Little Fish River, returning via Plettenberg and Mossel Bays (Mendelssohn p.866-867). The book is much enhanced by the superbly coloured plates after sketches by the author himself and John Melville, Government Surveyor of the Cape, who accompanied him. Also included is a visit to St. Helena, and 'the first description of the fledgling colony' of Ascension Island (Howgego). - A good specimen of the early literature of missionary effort, giving a sufficiently vivid record of personal experiences, native customs, and objects of natural interest that come under his notice (Prideaux p.240). - A very attractive copy. Abbey, Travel, 325; Howgego, II, p.9; SAB III, p.59; Tooley 292; Gordon-Brown p.187.

Keywords: Africa Islands Jubileum cat. South Africa St. Helena West Africa mission