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A Scottish botanist in the interior of South Africa

PATERSON, William.
A narrative of four journeys into the country of the Hottentots, and Caffraria, in the years 1777, 1778, 1779.

Large folding engraved map (56 x 34 cm.) of the <I> Southern extremity of Africa, </I>and 19 fine engraved and hand coloured plates, 15 depicting plants (one of which is misbound), 2 depicting animals, one depicting <I>"Hottentots" </I>and one <I>"Boshiesmens habitations".</I>

The second edition, corrected. London, printed for J. Johnson, 1790. Large 4to. Contemporary calf, spine ribbed and gilt in compartments with red morroco title label lettered in gold, the sides with blind tooled filet border, g.e. Large folding engraved map (56 x 34 cm.) of the Southern extremity of Africa, and 19 fine engraved and hand coloured plates, 15 depicting plants (one of which is misbound), 2 depicting animals, one depicting "Hottentots" and one "Boshiesmens habitations". XII, 175, (2) pp.

Second edition of the journals describing the explorations of the Scottish botanist and military officer, William Paterson (1755-1810) in South Africa. The first edition was published in 1789 and was one of the first English descriptions of the exploration of the interior of South Africa. Paterson, later to become governor of New South Wales, studied botany at Syon House in London. His journey, divided into four separate tours, was patronised by Lady Strathmore, who had sent him to the Cape of Good Hope to collect plants for her garden and estate.
The first part of his travels was between October 1777 and January 1778, when he was accompanied by Captain Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch (of Scottish descent) explorer and later Commander of the Dutch garrison at the Cape of Good Hope. The second journey lasted from May to November in 1778, the third from December 1778 to March 1779 and the fourth from June to December 1779. In the course of his travels the author penetrated as far as Namaqualand in the west and the Great Fish River in the south-east. Although the principal feature of the work is a description of the botanical specimens collected and noted by Mr Paterson, there are many interesting notes respecting natives, with a few remarks on the Dutch colonialists.
The book is a journal describing topography, plant and animal life and the habits and appearance of the natives. Paterson is said to have brought the first giraffe skin back to England and his collection of botanical specimens remains at the Natural History Museum in London. He died on his way back from New South Wales in 1810, having discovered and named the Grose River and found several new plant species, the seeds of which he sent to Sir Joseph Banks for Kew Gardens. The Journals were published in German and French in 1790.

Good copy.- (Rebacked).

Howgego, P 28; NDB 44, pp. 26-28; Mendelsohn, II, pp. 143-144 (only 1st ed. with only 17 plates); see also H.B. Carter, Sir Joseph Banks, pp. 283,358-9, 427, 436, 437.

Related Subjects: 18th Century Botany Exploration History South Africa Travel & Voyages

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