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BURTON, Sir Richard Francis (1821-1890). Autograph manuscript, "Capt. XI Mr., Mrs. & Master Gorilla," n.p., ca. 1876.
In English, with some passages in Greek, seven pages, six at 341 x 213mm and one, 212 x 170mm. with two leaves bearing additional leaves affixed and additional editorial notes in blue grease pencil (mild soiling at margins).
A rare, early draft manuscript from Burton's 1876 African travelogue, Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo, based on his travels to East Africa sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society in 1856-60 to determine the source of the Nile. Burton, together with John Hanning Speke undertook two treks into the interior from Zanzibar. Due to illness, Burton was unable to accompany Speke on the second journey which reached Lake Victoria. Upon their return to London, the two became embroiled in a lengthy and public quarrel that damaged both of their reputations. Notwithstanding the rivalry, the expedition gave Burton a great deal of material that produced two books, beginning with Zanzibar, City, Island, and Coast in 1872 as well as Two Trips in 1876. The manuscript appears to be a very early draft, mostly deleted from the published work and which would have appeared between the second and third paragraphs opening the chapter if retained. The deleted passage expounded upon Burton's claim that Admiral Hanno of Carthage was the first to 'discover' the great apes and discusses other mentions of the animal by ancient writers. Instead, the entire passage was cut, and the next paragraph moved on to Andrew Battel's late sixteenth-century description of the animals. Following his death in 1890, Burton's widow Isabel burned many of his papers, but significant portions of his manuscripts survived, most of which can be found at the Huntington Library. Only a few examples remain in private ownership. Provenance: Christie's, New York, 8 November 1995, lot 10.