Travels in West Africa

by Mary H. Kingsley

Overview

Mary H. Kingsley (1862-1900) was an English writer and explorer who, in 1893, set out to complete the work of her father in the study of sacrificial rites and fetishes. She arrived in Sierra Leone and spent the next four years living with local people, learning the skills necessary to survive the African jungles. Although she was trained as a nurse, most people at the time were shocked that a single, unaffiliated woman would brave such dangerous expeditions. After a second trip to Africa, Kingsley published her first major work, "Travels in West Africa" (1897). The book was an immediate best-seller, and popular for its honest and realistic depiction of life as a native African and British imperialistic influence. Kingsley's works drew attention to native religion and law in West Africa, prompting the formation of activist groups after the author's sudden death from Typhoid on her third trip to Africa.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412165297
Publisher:	eBooksLib
Publication date:	04/21/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	526 KB

About the Author

Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862-1900) was an English writer and explorer who greatly influenced European ideas about Africa and African people. Kingsley was born in Islington. She was the daughter of George Kingsley (himself a travel writer) and Mary Bailey, and the niece of Charles Kingsley. Her father was a doctor and worked for George Herbert, 13th Earl of Pembroke. Her mother was an invalid and Mary was expected to stay at home and look after her. Mary had little formal schooling but she did have access to her father's large library and loved to hear her father's stories of foreign countries. Her father died in February 1878. Her mother also died just five weeks later. Freed from her family responsibilities, and with an income of £500 a year, Mary was now able to travel. Mary decided to visit Africa to collect the material she would need to finish off a book that her father had started on the culture of the people of Africa.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I
LIVERPOOL TO SIERRA LEONE
CHAPTER II
THE GOLD COAST
CHAPTER III
FERNANDO PO AND THE BUBIS
CHAPTER IV
LAGOS BAR
CHAPTER V
VOYAGE DOWN COAST
CHAPTER VI
LIBREVILLE AND GLASS
CHAPTER VII
THE OGOWÉ
CHAPTER VIII
TALAGOUGA
CHAPTER IX
THE RAPIDS OF THE OGOWÉ
CHAPTER X
LEMBARENE
CHAPTER XI
FROM KANGWE TO LAKE NCOVI
CHAPTER XII
FROM NCOVI TO ESOON
CHAPTER XIII
FROM ESOON TO AGONJO
CHAPTER XIV
BUSH TRADE AND FAN CUSTOMS
CHAPTER XV
DOWN THE REMBWÉ
CHAPTER XVI
CONGO FRANÇAIS
CHAPTER XVII
THE LOG OF THE Lafayette
CHAPTER XVIII
FROM CORISCO TO GABOON
CHAPTER XIX
FETISH
CHAPTER XX
FETISH-( Continued)
CHAPTER XXI
FETISH-( Continued)
CHAPTER XXII
FETISH-( Continued)
CHAPTER XXIII
FETISH-( Concluded)
CHAPTER XXIV
ASCENT OF THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS
CHAPTER XXV
ASCENT OF THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS-( Continued)
CHAPTER XXVI
THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS-( Continued)
CHAPTER XXVII
THE GREAT PEAK OF CAMEROONS-( Concluded)
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE ISLANDS IN THE BAY OF AMBOISES
APPENDIX
I. TRADE AND LABOUR IN WEST AFRICA
II. DISEASE IN WEST AFRICA
III. DR. A. GÜNTHER ON REPTILES AND FISHES
IV. "ORTHOPTERA, HYMENOPTERA, AND HEMIPTERA"
V. THE INVENTION OF THE CLOTH LOOM
INDEX