Eleven Years in Central South Africa - Thomas Morgan Thomas

Condition: Good. DJ is good apart from some handling marks. Book is clean and tight with some light foxing on bottom text block. Fold out map intact.
Format: Hardcover with DJ
Published: 1970 (Books of Africa)
Pages: 418
ISBN:

The missionary party of which Thomas Morgan Thomas was a member were the first permanent white settlers in Matabeleland. They founded their London Missionary Society Mission Station at Inyati in 1859 during the reign of Mzilikazi with whom Thomas developed a friendly relationship. He served as physician to the King and was present at the coronation of his successor, Lobengula.

These important events in Matabele history are described with great interest as are the country, its people and their customs. He presents an informative picture of missionary life and of Rhodesia prior to the Occupation. Although the Mission made no evident progress in the spiritual field, Thomas established an accord with the Matabele which was to redound to the benefit of those who followed. The author gives detailed notes on the fauna and flora encountered on their long trek from Cape Town to Matabeleland and on his hunting expedition to the Zambezi.

This elusive work contains drawings by his wife, and copies of sketches by Thomas Baines, of which the illustration on the dust jacket, depicting Lobengula, is one. The book was originally published in Welsh, the first English edition appearing in December, 1872.