Proceedings of the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa [1790]Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa
History
Proceedings of the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa [1790]
Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa
Africa -- Description and travel
To the British _Traveller_, a desire of exchanging the usual excursion
from Calais to Naples, for a Tour more extended and important, and of
passing from scenes with which all are acquainted, to researches in
which every object is new, and each step is discovery, may recommend
the Kingdom of Fezzan. If Antiquities be his favourite pursuit, the
ruins which shadow the cottages of Jermah and of Temissa, promise
an ample gratification: or if the study of Nature be his wish, the
expansive scenes and numerous productions of that uninvestigated
soil may equally promote his entertainment and his knowledge. But if
a spirit of more adventurous research should induce him to travel
with the Merchants of Fezzan, discoveries of superior value may
distinguish and reward his toil. The powerful Empires of Bornou
and Cashna will be open to his investigation; the luxurious City of
Tombuctou, whose opulence and severe police attract the Merchants
of the most distant States of Africa, will unfold to him the causes
of her vast prosperity; the mysterious Niger will disclose her
unknown original and doubtful termination; and countries unveiled
to antient or modern research will become familiar to his view. Or
should he be willing to join the Cairo Caravan, the discovery of
the antient scite, and of whatever else may remain of the Temple
of Jupiter Ammon, may perhaps be attempted with success: for the
same causes which gave birth to the springs, and, by their means,
to the luxuriant vegetation of the antient domains of the Temple,
must still continue to distinguish the fortunate soil; and there seems
no reason to doubt that the hospitable convent of Huaddy L’Ottrón,
or the neighbouring Republic of See-wah, will not only furnish a place
of convenient departure and of easy retreat, but will also supply
the requisite information, and the necessary aid. At this time,
an Interpreter, who is equally acquainted with Arabic and English,
may be found in London; and, at all times, the Cities of Tripoli,
of Tunis, and of Ceuta, afford a number of Mahometans who are almost
as conversant with the Italian or the Spanish, as with the Arabic,
their native language.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account