AFRICA THROUGH WESTERN EYES

Part 3: Papers of Cameron, Cruikshank, Livingstone, Moffatt, Park and Stanley from the National Library of Scotland

David Livingstone (1813-1873) is one of many Scots who played a major part in the development of modern Africa. As a missionary, an explorer, a doctor and a scientist, he pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge about Africa, fought against the slave trade and championed the Christian colonisation of central and eastern Africa. There are records of his travels in South Africa, East Africa and of his trans-African travels, as well as letters (32 from Stanley), sketches and maps. There are also letters and papers of Robert Moffat (1795-1883), his father-in-law, who was a pioneer missionary in the area north of the Orange River and travelled extensively on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Livingstone's first draft of Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa is included, as is his African journal, 1862-1863, and notes for his last journal. Of related interest is the journal of J Walker, who accompanied Henry Morton Stanley on his expedition for the relief of Emin Pasha.

Earlier still was Mungo Park (1771-1806), the ill-fated explorer of the Niger. In one of his letters he records, "The Greatest part of the Soldiers died on the March during the Rains. We succeeded in gaining the friendship of Mansong King of Bambara who was quite delighted with the hope of English Vessels coming up the Joliba." His accounts of exploration can be compared with the extensive records of Verney Lovett Cameron (1844-1894) who was the first European to cross Africa from east to west (from Zanzibar to Benguela via the Zambesi).

The papers of Brodie Cruikshank (1814-1854), a Gold Coast trader, provide a different perspective and include a detailed account of Fante customs and religion based on twenty years' experience.

The National Library of Scotland also houses some important records concerning the Boer War and we include four volumes of Boer War letters, a diary and other related materials.