1907 From the Niger to the Nile

Description

Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

This expedition was designed to survey Northern Nigeria and to show that Africa could be travelled from west to east using its waterways. The surveys created by the expedition of Lake Chad were an incredibly valuable tool as they enabled geographers to form an idea of periodical variations and other physical conditions to which the lake has in accordance with periods of heavy rainfall or drought. Other individuals on this expedition were Captain Claud Alexander, Captain GB Gosling, P A Talbot and Jose Lopes. After reaching Ibi the group split and explored differing areas. Boyd Alexander traveled alone by Loko on the Benue, Keffi, the Kachia and Panda Hills, and Bauchi to Yo. He met with Talbot, Gosling and Lopes at Maifoni and then reached Lake Chad by way of Kukawa and Kaddai (DNB). Two of the expedition party died during this trip, including Claud Alexander, Boyd's brother. Alexander wrote this work in memory of his fallen companions which discusses their meetings of various natives, fauna and plants. Prior owner's inscription to the recto of front endpaper, 'Quentin A Biddulph'. Antoher prior owner's inscription to the bottom of front endpaper, 'V J A Flynn April 1962'. Collated, volume II is complete. Frontispiece, 23 plates and a folding map to volume II. Volume I is lacking the map to the rear. Volume I has a frontispiece and 24 plates. Plate 'The Personnel of the expedition' is not listed as a plate to the contents page, so contents page states there being a frontispiece and 23 plates for this volume. Pages 111-112 and the plate between 112 and 113 are misbound between pages 124 and 125. No pages 115-116 due to a misprint in the numbers, work does not appear to be lacking a leaf.