Joseph Thomson — Through Masai Land

London, Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1885. First edition. Leather. The first edition of Joseph Thomson's recollections of his travels through Africa, including meeting the Maasai tribe, an illustrated work. The first edition.Illustrated with a frontispiece, two cloth-backed folding maps, fourteen plates, and in-text engravings. Collated, complete.This book documents James Thomson's time with the Maasai People, a Nilotic group who live in central and southern Kenya, and northern Tanzania. This document of the tribe and of Thomson"s travels inspired many, including Henry Rider Haggard, who used the book as inspiration for his 1885 novel "King Solomon"s Mines". Thomson was outraged at being characterised in Haggard"s novel, and wrote his own rivel novel "Ulu: An African Romance", which unfortunately failed to sell.Interestingly, in the preface to a later revised edition, Thomson defended himself against critics, saying that as he had been exploring, he hadn"t the opportunity to "acquire the graces of literature, or an elegant style. I have poured this narrative forth red-hot, without any delicate weighing of words, or conning over of sentences, content that my meaning be expressed, whatever might be its guise".An ex-institutional copy of the Free Public Library in Sydney, with stamps throughout. In a half calf binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, rubbed. Spine is faded. Institutional gilt to the front joint. Minor bumping to the extremities. Small tear to the head of the spine. Hinges are starting but firm. Institutional and booksellers labels to the front paste down, and a prior owner's ink inscription. Internally, binding is strained in places, with a few pages detached but present, and a little edge worn. Pages are bright and generally clean with scattered spots. Chip to the half-title. Institutional stamps throughout. Prior owner's ink inscription to the head of the title page. Good Only . Ill.: Not Stated. Good Only .