[COOKE (Lieut.-Col. Anthony Charles).]
Routes in Abyssinia.
A rare issue of the Routes in Abyssinia, probably preceding the one of November 1867, which is 252pp and includes two maps.
This account was produced on the eve of the 1868 relief campaign. Colonel Henry James, Director of the War Office Topographical and Statistical Department, opens this work with the following: “The object of this compilation is to collect together the information on the routes in Abyssinia which is scattered through the works of different travellers.” It includes extracts from the works of Salt, Bruce and of a more contemporary nature, Dr. Beke and Münzinger, extracted from the Abyssinian Blue Books.
This digest was printed to assist Sir Robert Napier and his men while abroad. Some of the routes, such those described by Don Alonzo Mendez, Krapf and Beke were hitherto unpublished.
Before entering the War Office Cooke had distinguished himself at the Siege of Sebastopol, directing the right attack. He was later to Command the RE in Bermuda and at Aldershot. This copy formerly was part of the library at the Malta Garrison.
