Through Masai Land: A Journey of Exploration Among the Snowclad Volcan

THOMSON (Joseph).

Through Masai Land: A Journey of Exploration Among the Snowclad Volcanic Mountains and Strange Tribes of Eastern Equatorial Africa.

Being the Narrative of the Royal Geographical Society’s Expedition to Mount Kenia and Lake Victoria Nyanza, 1883-1884.

First edition. 2 folding maps numerous plates and illustrations in the text. 8vo. Original pictorial cloth, gilt, joints wearing, but a very good copy. xii, 583pp. London, Sampson, Low et al, 1885.

£3,000.00

Only found with some difficulty, Thomson’s account of his second expedition is an extremely important book. It details the author’s journey from Mombassa through what was to become British East Africa and Kenya. Sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society Thomson was the first European to cross the hostile Masai land to the Victoria Nyanza, confirming Krapf’s sighting of Mount Kenya.

“The first British traveller to march across the Masai country from one end to the other … He overcame the fierce adherence of the Masai to their Monroe Doctrine not by force of arms, nor by mere sophistry, not by political argument. On the contrary he broke down their resistance by means of some aperient salts, a magnetic machine, and two false teeth” (Treves).

Czech, p164; Treves, F., Uganda for a Holiday (London, 1910) p.88.

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