It was towards noon on March 1, 1898, that I first found myself entering the narrow and somewhat dangerous harbour of Mombasa, on the east coast of Africa. The town lies on an island of the same name, separated from the mainland only by a very narrow channel, which forms the harbour; and as our vessel steamed slowly in, close under the quaint old Portuguese fortress built over three hundred years ago, I was much struck with the strange beauty of the view which gradually opened out before me. Contrary to my anticipation, ...
Read More
It was towards noon on March 1, 1898, that I first found myself entering the narrow and somewhat dangerous harbour of Mombasa, on the east coast of Africa. The town lies on an island of the same name, separated from the mainland only by a very narrow channel, which forms the harbour; and as our vessel steamed slowly in, close under the quaint old Portuguese fortress built over three hundred years ago, I was much struck with the strange beauty of the view which gradually opened out before me. Contrary to my anticipation, everything looked fresh and green, and an oriental glamour of enchantment seemed to hang over the island. The old town was bathed in brilliant sunshine and reflected itself lazily on the motionless sea; its flat roofs and dazzlingly white walls peeped out dreamily between waving palms and lofty cocoanuts, huge baobabs and spreading mango trees; and the darker background of well-wooded hills and slopes on the mainland formed a very effective setting to a beautiful and, to me, unexpected picture.The harbour was plentifully sprinkled with Arab dhows, in some of which, I believe, even at the present day, a few slaves are occasionally smuggled off to Persia and Arabia. It has always been a matter of great wonder to me how the navigators of little vessels find their way from port to port, as they do, without the aid of either compass or sextant, and how they manage to weather the terrible storms that at certain seasons of the year suddenly visit eastern seas. I remember once coming across a dhow becalmed in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and its crew making signals of distress, our captain slowed down to investigate. There were four men on board, all nearly dead from thirst; they had been without drink of any kind for several days and had completely lost their bearings. After giving them some casks of water, we directed them to Muscat (the port they wished to make), and our vessel resumed its journey, leaving them still becalmed in the midst of that glassy sea. Whether they managed to reach their destination I never knew.As our steamer made its way to its anchorage, the romantic surroundings of the harbour of Mombasa conjured up, visions of stirring adventures of the past, and recalled to my mind the many tales of reckless doings of pirates and slavers, which as a boy it had been my delight to read. I remembered that it was at this very place that in 1498 the great Vasco da Gama nearly lost his ship and life through the treachery of his Arab pilot, who plotted to wreck the vessel on the reef which bars more than half the entrance to the harbour. Luckily, this nefarious design was discovered in time, and the bold navigator promptly hanged the pilot, and would also have sacked the town but for the timely submission and apologies of the Sultan. In the principal street of Mombasa-appropriately called Vasco da Gama Street-there still stands a curiously shaped pillar which is said to have been erected by this great seaman in commemoration of his visit.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African to cart. $7.02, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 84 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Man-eaters of Tsavo: and Other East African to cart. $9.40, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 252 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African to cart. $39.66, fair condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo: and Other East African to cart. $49.00, good condition, Sold by Dunaway Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Saint Louis, MO, UNITED STATES, published by Macmillan and Co..
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good unmarked copy in burgundy covers with gilt titles and decoration on spine and front cover; slightly browned pages; acceptable dust jacket (rare) with nibbled edges and spine ends missing and cracks to front leading edge.
Add this copy of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African to cart. $50.00, fair condition, Sold by Chapter 1 Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA, published 1966 by Macmillan & Co.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair in Poor jacket. Reprint. 350 Pages. The jacket is shelf rubbed and edge worn, with closed tears and chips along the edges. There is a large chip on the top front of the jacket. It is protected in cellophane. The boards are strong and sturdy. Internally, Minor foxing, lightly tanned pages. There is a previous owners inscription on the front end page. clean and complete. Tightly bound. r*05/05/2022. [Ak]
Add this copy of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African to cart. $182.00, very good condition, Sold by Kenya Books - Kenya & Africa rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brighton, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1908 by Macmillan.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. No Jacket. 339pp, 114 illustrations, map. Foreword by well-known hunter-explorer F.C. Selous. Original blue cloth gilt, with bright gilt titles and vignette of lion's head on front board. Unmarked. privately (not institutionally) owned. A nice copy of an early edition of this East African classic, published within a year of the sell-out first edition, with which it is identical. Top edge gilt VG+. SR23.