A scarce guide to Aden, designed for European visitors to the port city. This second edition is a revised and slightly enlarged version of the first (Bombay, 1891), adding three nicely produced maps and a new chapter on surrounding countries.
The unidentified author appears to have been a resident of Aden and felt a guidebook was required for the “European strangers” (p.iii) arriving daily by steamship. The preface assumes the majority of those visitors found their stay unenlightening but that “The political, military and commercial importance of Aden, its physical peculiarities, and historic remains, should, on the contrary, render even a flying visit extremely interesting.” (ibid.).
Despite the implied brevity of its title the guide is very thorough, giving an excellent account of Aden at the turn of the century. We learn of its history (largely from British annexation in 1839 onward), topography, climate, population, institutions and trade. The visitor is also given tips for amusement and sport, from lawn tennis to butterfly hunting, and itineraries for exploring the town, crater, isthmus, Jebel Shamsan and steamer point.
Scarce. LibraryHub locates just one copy in the UK, at the British Library. OCLC adds five more, at the German National Library of Economics (ZBW), Princeton, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, the University of Adelaide and the Qatar National Library.
