Paterson`s Cape Travels, 1777 - 1779 Forbes, Vernon S., Rourke, John

Paterson's Cape Travels, 1777 - 1779. Forbes, Vernon S.; Rourke, John. Published by The Brenthurst Press, 1980. 

Paterson's account of his exploratory and plant gathering journeys in South Africa, A Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and C**, was first published at London in 1789. Paterson s actual ms account on which the London edition was based was discovered in mysterious circumstances in the middle of the 20th century and acquired for the Oppenheimer Library. This book is, therefore, the first publication of Paterson s original ms and retains the peculiarities of his style and grammar which were due to deficiencies in his education . The notes for this edition include a biographical sketch of William Paterson, who is pictured in the frontispiece later in life in the uniform of the Lt. Governor of New South Wales, an appreciation of his work as a plant collector (As a twenty-one year old assistant gardener, he was sent out from Scotland to South Africa), and an account of his writing and drawings. In that context, then, the editors present An account of four journies into the southern parts of Africa , Paterson s original manuscript. Details of Paterson s botanical illustrations and the locations where they are held occupy several appendices. That text is united here with selections from the three hundred or so watercolour sketches of Paterson s Cape travels.