The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions (Kongo) 1901

The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions

Reprinted from "Purchas His Pilgrimes"

Edited, with Notes and a Concise History of Kongo and Angola by E.G. Ravenstein

Published: The Hakluyt Society, London, 1901

Edition: First Edition

Pages: xx + 210 + 20 Publisher's Advertisements and book list (untrimmed), without two folding maps (no sign of any back pocket mentioned in the copy on sale for R10 000 on Abebooks), illustrations (Zebra), headpieces, bibliography, glossary, index. original blind-stamped cloth, gilt vignette on front cover and gilt lettering on spine.

One of the first descriptions of zebra, hippos, gorillas and chimpanzees. Battell died back in England after bringing back a Negro boy who said he has been captured by gorillas.

Battell, an Englishman, was captured by the Portuguese and spent 18 years in the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Congo, where he recorded his observations and experiences including trading, the Gagas, wars, cannibalism, customs, religions, witchcraft, one of the first recorded observations of the zebra and hippopotamus in English, with a good introduction and appendices on other travels in the Congo, Angola, list of Kong kings, governors, historical material, etc. In the famous "Purchas his Pilgrimes," published in 1625, Battell is referred to: "The strange adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh in Essex, sent by the Portugals prisoner to Angola, who lived there and in the adjoining regions near eighteen yeeres. . . .Of the Provinces of Bongo, Calongo, Mayombe, Manikesocke, Motimbas; of the Ape Monster Pongo, their hunting; Idolatries; and divers other observations."

Adventures between 1589 and 1610, edited, with notes and a concise history of Kongo and Angola. With part of Anthony Knivet's account of his activities in the same countries, from the same source.