The Project Gutenberg EBook of Great African Travellers, by W.H.G. Kingston

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Title: Great African Travellers
From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley

Author: W.H.G. Kingston

Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21391]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT AFRICAN TRAVELLERS ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Great African Travellers, from Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley, by
W.H.G. Kingston.

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At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the coastal parts of Africa
were of course well-known, and in any of the territories round the
coasts there were European officials, such as consuls, and European
traders. This becomes very apparent as you read this book, as many of
the travels described involve sorties from an existing European base.

On the other hand the very sources of the various major rivers were not
on the map, and the object of many of the travellers was to find these
sources, for instance that of the Nile, or rather, that of any one of
its major components, such as the Red Nile and the Blue Nile.

On the whole the various regions they passed through had already a
settled African regime. In most cases this regime was friendly, but in
some cases the opposite was the case. These explorations and travels
could only take place if the native rulers could be brought to give
assistance, and in most cases this was forthcoming. On the other hand
some of the lesser-known early travellers were murdered, and the goods
they travelled with, stolen. It is really only those travellers who
were able to complete their self-imposed tasks, and return to Britain,
that have become famous.

Written in an easy style, this book is a good read, and very worth the
while of even today's teenagers. There are too many names to make an
audiobook very easily, so we have not done so, and have no comments on
that.

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GREAT AFRICAN TRAVELLERS, FROM MUNGO PARK TO LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY, BY
W.H.G. KINGSTON.

FROM MUNGO PARK TO LIVINGS