ADAMS (Robert).
The Narrative of Robert Adams, a Sailor who was wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Year 1810, was detained three years in slavery by the Arabs of the Great Desert, and resided several months in the city of Tombuctoo.
Adams sailed on the Charles from New York, bound for Gibraltar. The ship was blown off course and wrecked on the West Coast of Africa, where the crew were enslaved by Arabs and both the Captain and Mate were killed. Adams was taken to Timbuctoo, where he spent several months, before being ransomed by the British Consul, Mr Dupuis, at Mogadore. His account is one of the first to describe the city.
Prior to its 1816 publication, Adam’s account was verified by both Banks and Barrow and some members of parliament with a vested interest in Africa. However, a lengthy and damning review appeared in the July 1817 issue of The North-American Review and Miscellaneous Journal which not only took issue with the veracity of the account but of Adams himself.
Howgego II, R24; Anon., [review] “The Narrative of Robert Adams, a Sailor, who was Wrecked on the Western Coast of African in the year 1810 …” in The North-American Review and Miscellaneous Journal, Vol. 5, No. 14 (July 1817), pp.204-224.
