Hugh Clapperton Into The Interior Of Africa: Records Of The Second Expedition 1825-1827 (Sources For African History, 2)

"Hugh Clapperton, Scottish explorer and diplomat, made two expeditions into the interior of West Africa, the first across the Sahara Desert and the second inland from the Bight of Benin. His first expedition in 1822-24, crossed the Sahara to Borno. A second expedition, also an official mission of the British Government, was undertaken in 1825-27 and is the subject of this volume. Clapperton's diaries have been transcribed and reproduced in a form as close as possible to the original raw material."--Jacket

This definitive edition of Clapperton’s second journey, is a compilation of the various diaries, remark books, letters, maps, and other documents that survived Clapperton’s death in 1827. Hitherto, it has been necessary to rely on the original published version (Journal of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa), edited by John Barrow of the Admiralty and published by John Murray in 1829. The present volume differs from the 1829 edition by including material that was previously omitted and offering detailed annotation and commentary. The account reproduced in the new edition adheres as closely as possible to the original sources.
A comprehensive introduction provides information on Clapperton’s life, an account of previous European missions into the interior of West Africa, an assessment of Clapperton’s contribution to geographical “discovery,” details on Clapperton’s methods of journal-keeping, and a discussion of the publication history of the 1829 edition. The introduction offers a commentary on the principal themes on which Clapperton’s records shed original light - the coastal slave trade, abolitionist issues in the Sokoto Caliphate, the history of the states of Oyo, Nupe and Sokoto, and information on travel and trade in the interior of West Africa. The text itself is annotated, with observations on differences between the original sources and the published version of 1829.
The volume includes six appendices of official documents relating to the expedition, its preparation and progress. These include the correspondence of various members of the expedition, letters in Arabic with a commentary, annotated itineraries of travel, and a note on contemporary medicines. Also included is a collection of maps from Clapperton’s earlier mission in 1824-26 - the first known route-maps of the central Sudan, now in the collection of the Royal Geographical Society, London. The book is illustrated with previously unpublished sketches and maps from Clapperton’s remark books and a dozen sketches drawn by one of the co-editors when tracing Clapperton’s footsteps across Nigeria from Badagry to Sokoto in the early 1990s. There is an extensive bibliography.
This comprehensive edition of Clapperton’s last journey will appeal equally to scholars of pre-colonial Africa, specialists in Yoruba studies, and students of European travel and exploration.

List of Illustrations — Original Documents and Maps 9 Preface 11 Introduction: The Records of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa by Captain Hugh Clapperton, R.N. (1825-1827) 15 The Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa 93 Chapter 1 Voyage to the Bight of Benin and arrival in Badagry 93 Chapter 2 Journey from Badagry over the Kong Mountains to the city of Eyeo or Katunga 119 Chapter 3 Residence at Eyeo-Ile or Katunga, the capital of the Youriba 157 Chapter 4 Journal of proceedings from Katunga, or Eyeo, to Bousa on the Niger, or Quorra, the place where Mungo Park perished 181 Chapter 5 Journey from Boussa, across the ferry of the Quorra, by Guarri and Zegzeg, to the city of Kano 221 Chapter 6 Journey from Kano to the camp of Bello, and from thence to Soccatoo 281 Chapter 7 Residence at Soccatoo, till the death of the author 315 Appendices 361 I Preparations and Progress of the Mission 361 II Correspondence of Robert Pearce, Thomas Dickson and James Houtson 429 III Arabic Correspondence 454 IV Clapperton's Cartography and Itineraries 483 V Contemporary Maps 499 VI Medical Supplies 531 Bibliography 537 Index 547