Chapter I: Front Matter

AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

LONDON:
SPOTTISWOODES and SHAW,
New-street-Square.

AFRICAN WANDERINGS;

OR,

AN EXPEDITION FROM SENNAAR TO TAKA, BASA,
AND BENI-AMER,

WITH A PARTICULAR GLANCE AT
THE RACES OF BELLAD SUDAN.

BY
FERDINAND WERNE,
AUTHOR OF
“EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF THE SOURCES OF THE WHITE NILE.”

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
BY
J. R. JOHNSTON.

LONDON:
LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
1852.

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

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Although of late years much has been done to explore that least known quarter of our globe, Africa, and many works of deep interest, valuable information, and exciting incident have appeared, recounting bold and enterprising expeditions into that country, none of them surpasses the “Feldzug nach Taka,” lately published by Herr Werne, nor does any of them treat of those almost unknown districts of Africa into which his wanderings led him. In a recent number of “Blackwood’s Magazine,” in which Mr. Werne’s work was ably analysed, the writer says of it:—

“In various respects, Mr. Werne’s ‘Feldzug’ is one of the most curious books of travel and adventure that, for a very long time, has appeared. It has three points of particular attraction and originality. In the first place, the author wanders in a region previously unexplored by Christian and educated travellers, and amongst tribes whose bare names have reached the ears of but few Europeans. Secondly, he campaigns as officer in such an army as we can hardly realise in these days of high civilisation and strict military discipline,—so wild, motley, and grotesque are its customs, composition, and equipment,—an army whose savage warriors, strange practices, and barbarous cruelties, make us fancy ourselves in presence of some fierce Moslem horde of the middle ages marching to the assault of Italy or Hungary. Thirdly, during his long sojourn in the camp, he had opportunities such as few ordinary travellers enjoy, and of which he diligently profited, to study and note down the characteristics and social habits of many of the races of men that make up the heterogeneous population of the Ottoman Empire.”

Under the sanction of such high authority, the translator ventured to think that an English version of Mr. Werne’s work would not prove unacceptable to the readers of the “Traveller’s Library,” and he now offers these AFRICAN WANDERINGS to the public.

CONTENTS.

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