Laing, Major Alexander Gordon

Travels in the Timanne, Kooranko, and Soolima Countries, in Western Africa

Hardcover, London: John Murray, 1825. First Edition. Octavo, pp. Xii, 465. Fold-out map of Laing's route opposite full title page, 7 plates of African tribespeople. Re-bound in modern full calf binding with gilt titles. Binding and endpapers fine, scattered age spotting to text, scattered purple ink underlining in text. In 1822 Andrew Laing explored the interior of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone Colony had been established in 1808 and was a coastal colony made up almost entirely of Freetown and its beautiful natural harbor. Laing stopped a long war in the interior of the country, opened up commerce (by convincing the Africans to abandon the red rice crops they favored for the white rice and coffee the British preferred and could sell in Europe) , and made progress in abolishing the slave trade. In today's terms, Laing explored the territories of the Temne, Koranko, and Mandigo people of central, northern, and far northeastern modern Sierra Leone. Laing won praise and promotion from the governor. Laing found the source of the Rokel River, the largest river in Sierra Leone. It flows from the high interior plateau of the Loma Mountains in the far northeast of modern Sierra Leone to the Atlantic and the harbor serving Freetown. During his explorations of the Rokel and the surrounding country, Laing came very close to finding the source of the Niger, Africa's third largest river. Although he did not actually see the source of the Niger, he was able to ascertain its approximate location. Laing intended to write this book in 1823, but was interrupted by his service in the Ashanti War 1823-1824. He wrote the first 5 chapters during breaks in his front line service. Back in London at the end of 1824, Laing finished writing, but publication was interrupted when he was ordered to Tripoli. The Africa Association and the Secretary for the Colonies decided Laing would be the perfect man to become the first European to enter the fabled city of Timbuktu and return alive. He almost made it - Laing was the first European to cross the Sahara from north to south, and he did enter Timbuktu and stay there for 38 days. He was wounded 24 times and lost his right hand along the way. He was murdered 3 days after leaving Timbuktu. His notes from the trip were lost. Laing's friend, Captain Sabine, supervised the printing and publication of this book. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 465 pages. [Item #77212]

Price: $2,500.00