Missionary Labours and Scenes in Southern Africa

Scarce first edition (second thousand) of Scottish missionary Moffat's travels to Southern Africa, 624pp. with fold-out map between pp.18/19, and engravings by G.Baxter. Dedication from Moffat to HRH Francis-Albert-Augustus-Charles-Emanuel (Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha), and preface by Moffat, dated May 24, 1842.

Condition: the book is in its original binding, half-morocco, spine title and ruling gilt; the leather spine and corner pieces are scuffed, light blue end-papers foxed, potrait frontispiece and title page quite heavily spotted, but contents clean and binding tight - making this a very good copy. The engraving pages (similar grammage/quality to frontispiece, i.e. thicker) are all spotted/foxed, and the fold-out map is in good condition.

Note: Born 21 December 1795, Ormiston, East Lothian, Scotland. Died: 9 August 1883 (aged 87), Leigh, Kent, England. Religion: Congregationalist.

In 1820 Moffat and his wife left the Cape and proceeded to Griquatown, where their daughter Mary (who was later to marry David Livingstone) was born. The family later settled at Kuruman, to the north of the Vaal River, among the Batswana people. Here they lived and worked passionately for the missionary cause, until in 1870 they returned to Britain. During this period, Robert Moffat made frequent journeys into the neighbouring regions as far north as the Matabele country. The results of these journeys he communicated to the Royal Geographical Society (Journal 25-38 and Proceedings ii). Whilst in Britain on leave (1839–1843) an account of the family's experience, Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa (1842) was published. He translated the whole of the Bible and The Pilgrim's Progress into Setswana. Besides his early training as a gardener and farmer, and later as a writer, Moffat developed skills in building, carpentry, printing and as a blacksmith. On his return to England he received a testimonial of £5000.[citation needed] - source: wikipedia