Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo, vol 1

Two Trips to Gorilla Land and
the Cataracts of the Congo
Volume 1
by Richard F. Burton

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Cataracts of the Congo Volume 1
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Title: Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo
Volume 1
Author: Richard F. Burton
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5760] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 27, 2002]
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Two Trips to
Gorilla Land
and the Cataracts of the Congo.
By
Richard F. Burton.
In Two Volumes
Vol. I.
London: 1876

"Quisquis amat Congi fines peragrare nigrantes, Africæ et Æthiopum
cernere regna, domus, * * * * * * * Perlegat hunc librum." Fra Angelus
de Map. Piccardus.
"Timbuctoo travels, voyages to the poles, Are ways to benefit mankind
as true Perhaps as shooting them at Waterloo."--Don Juan.

Trieste, Jan. 31, 1875. My Dear Sir George,
Our paths in life have been separated by a long interval. Whilst
inclination led you to explore and to'survey the wild wastes of the
North, the Arctic shores and the Polar seas, with all their hardships and
horrors; my lot was cast in the torrid regions of Sind and Arabia; in the
luxuriant deserts of Africa, and in the gorgeous tropical forests of the
Brazil. But the true traveller can always appreciate the record of
another's experience, and perhaps the force of contrast makes him most
enjoy the adventures differing the most from his own. To whom, then,
more appropriately than to yourself, a discoverer of no ordinary note, a
recorder of explorations, and, finally, an earnest labourer in the cause
of geography, can I inscribe this plain, unvarnished tale of a
soldier-traveller? Kindly accept the trifle as a token of the warmest
esteem, an earnest of my thankfulness for the interest ever shown by
you in forwarding my plans and projects of adventure; and, in the
heartfelt hope that Allah may prolong your days, permit me to
subscribe myself,
Your sincere admirer and grateful friend, RICHARD F. BURTON.
Admiral Sir George Back, D.C.L., F.R.S., Vice-Pres. R.G.S., &c.

Preface.

The notes which form the ground-work of these volumes have long
been kept in the obscurity of manuscript: my studies of South America,
of Syria and Palestine, of Iceland, and of Istria, left me scant time for
the labour of preparation. Leisure and opportunity have now offered
themselves, and I avail myself of them in the hope that the publication
will be found useful to more than one class of readers. The many who
take an interest in the life of barbarous peoples may not be displeased
to hear more about the Fán; and the few who would try a fall with
Mister Gorilla can learn from me how to equip themselves, whence to
set out and whither to go for the best chance. Travelling with M. Paul B.
du Chaillu's "First Expedition" in my hand, I jealously looked into
every statement, and his numerous friends will be pleased to see how
many of his assertions are confirmed by my experience.
The second part is devoted to the Nzadi or lower Congo River, from the
mouth to the Yellala or main rapids, the gate by which the mighty
stream, emerging from the plateau of Inner Africa, goes to its long
home, the Atlantic. Some time must elapse before the second
expedition, which left Ambriz early in 1873, under Lieutenant Grandy,
R. N., can submit its labours to the public: meanwhile these pages will,
I trust, form a suitable introduction to the gallant explorer's travel in the
interior. It would