First edition of Langlès' translation from German, accompanied by 2 large folding maps on strong paper. Langlès is also responsible for the various notes and the memoir on oases, composed from Arabic authors. Another French edition appeared in 1802 and was made from the faulty English translation. Introduction by William Young, president of the African Society of London. Several memoirs expand the edition: Clarifications on the geography of Africa by Rennel. Memoir on oases. Observations on the language of Syouah. Notice on the Berber language (Conjugation, grammar, vocabulary).
Contemporary half green calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Gilt title. Split to lower joint at head for 3 cm. Paper losses to marbled paper on lower board. Good copy, very fresh.
Hornemann entered the service of the African Society of London with the mission to complete the discovery of North Africa through Egypt. After learning Arabic, he went to Cairo and met General Bonaparte who facilitated his entry into North Africa. Passing himself off as a Mohammedan merchant, he joined a caravan in 1798, which allowed him to reach the oases of Siwa, Aujilla and Mourzouq. He lived there until June 1799, then he reached Tripoli from where he sent the account of his adventures to London. The British consul in Tripoli was led to think that in June 1803, Hornemann was in Caina (Katsina), in Northern Nigeria, in good health and venerated as a marabout. A report would later say (in 1819) that the explorer had gone among the Nupe people, where he had died.
