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Semple, Robert : Robert Semple's Walks & Sketches at the Cape of Good Hope

(Cape Town: A. A. Balkema, 1968)

A text facsimile of the London second edition of 1805, with a new introduction by Frank R. Bradlow. The original title reads: 'Walks and Sketches at the Cape of Good Hope; To which is subjoined, A Journey from Cape Town to Blettenburg's Bay.' 12mo; white rexine-backed marbled boards, lettered in gilt on spine; pictorial dustwrapper; pp. (iv) + 32 + (ii) + 198; frontis. portrait. Dustwrapper a little sunned on spine panel; earlier owner's name on front pastedown; old tape marks to rear free endpaper; trace of foxing to half-title and top edge. Very good condition. 'The work contains an interesting account of Cape Town and its surroundings at this period, and much information is afforded with reference to the country and its inhabitants during the period of the first British occupation. It is remarked that "there is perhaps no set of people on the face of the globe whose character is more difficult to catch or describe than that of the inhabitants of the Cape. ... They are neither English, nor French, nor Dutch. Nor do they form an original class of Africans, but a singular mixture of all together, which has not as yet acquired a consistence." ... The additional pages in the second edition present an interesting account of the country between Cape Town and Blettenburg's Bay, with many particulars respecting the white inhabitants. The author makes special mention of the hospitality shown him ... ' - Mendelssohn II, pp. 303-4.

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