Dutch translation of an important and famous account of the Royal Danish Expedition (1761-67) to the Middle East, Egypt, Persia and India, the first scientific expedition to this area. The original German edition was published in Copenhagen in 1744-1778 under the title Reisebeschreibung nach Arabien und anderen umliegenden Ländern.
''In volume II, p. 317 he [Niebuhr] begins his description of the journey from Beit el Fakih in the coffee mountains. This is accompanied by three engravings'' (Hünersdorff). There are some 40 other references to coffee in this work, including the journey from Sana'a to Mocha. The plates include many views of cities, antiquities and statues, natives in traditional dress, hieroglyphs, Arabic script, musical instruments, a reception with the Iman of Sana'a (Yemen) and views of the mosque in Meshed Ali. The 31 maps and plans show Constantinople, the Nile, Dschidda (Jeddah) in the province of Mecca, Bombay, the palace of Persepolis, Muscat, the Persian Gulf, Baghdad, Mosul, etc. Niebuhr's map of Yemen, the first accurate map of the area ever made, remained the standard for the next 200 years.
''The expedition had been proposed ... for the purpose of illustrating certain passages of the Old Testament... The idea rapidly blossomed into a fully-fledged scientfiic expedition.'' (Howgego). Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815) was the sole survivor, and his work represents an important contribution to the study of the Middle East.
Bindings slightly worn. Large-margined copy of a famous account of a scientific expedition to the Middle East, Egypt, Persia and India in fine condition. Howgego, to 1800, N24; Hünersdorff, Coffee, p. 1081; Tiele, Bibl. 796; cf. Atabey 873-874; Cox I, pp. 237-238; Gay, Bibl. de l'Afrique et Arabe 3589.