The Discovery of River Gambra (1623) by Richard Jobson. Edited by DAVID P. GAMBLE and P. E. H. HAIR 1999. pp. xvi + 341. 2 colour plates, 13 half tone plates and illustrations, 8 line drawings, 3 maps. ISBN 0 904180 64 6.
The Discovery of River Gambra (1623) by Richard Jobson.
Edited by
DAVID P. GAMBLE and P. E. H. HAIR
1999. pp. xvi + 341. 2 colour plates, 13 half tone plates and illustrations, 8 line drawings, 3 maps. ISBN 0 904180 64 6.
English, and first published in 1623; his journal, first published by Purchas in 1625; and a petition. Including translations of earlier Portuguese accounts of the river.
Published by the Hakluyt Society. Click on the link for details of this book and a full bibliography of the Hakluyt Society's publications.
In 1623 Richard Jobson published an account of a 1620–1621 English voyage up River Gambra, during which a party, led by himself, penetrated to a point some 460 miles up-river. The purpose of the voyage was to make contact with the gold trade of the West African interior, but in this there was little success. However, Jobson’s account of the river, its commerce, natural history, peoples, religions and polities, was the earliest to appear in print, in this fullness of detail, in any language. It was also the earliest detailed account of any part of Black Africa, by an Englishman.
Jobson’s account, almost entirely original, has special interest in its author’s observations on the African scene, particularly those on the African peoples and individuals encountered. Jobson discusses such topics as local agriculture and trade, the role of Islam, political culture, and the position of women. Despite the limits of his experience, his observations are seemingly accurate and generally perceptive, as well as being (perhaps unexpectedly) often tolerant and even sympathetic.
Contents
List of maps and illustrations; Preface; Part I: Jobson’s texts: Introduction; The sources; The English and River Gambia: English trading voyages to Senegambia 1587–1621; The 1618 and 1619 English voyages to River Gambia;The English in River Gambia 1620–1621; Richard Jobson; The African setting: the River; The African setting: polities and peoples; The Golden Trade; or, A Discovery of the River Gambra (1623); Jobson’s large journall (1620–1621); Jobson’s petition (?1626); Appendix A Jobson’s itinerary; Appendix B The middle river base; Appendix C Text of the Gerbier map, in translation; Appendix D Account of the Upper River by Governor MacDonnell, 1848; Part II: Other early sources on River Gambia: Cadamosto (1455 and 1456 voyages); Usodimare (1455 voyage); Diogo Gomes (1455/1456 and (?) 1458 voyages); Duarte Pacheco Pereira (c. 1508); Valentim Fernandes (c. 1508); Joao de Barros (1552); Francisco de Andrade (1582); André Álvares de Almada (c. 1594); André Donelha (1625); Francisco de Lemos Coelho (1669/1684); Bibliography; Maps of the Gambia 1468–1980; List of marginal notes (side notes); Index.