Across East African Glaciers, An Account of the First Ascent of Kilimanjaro
London: George Philip & Son, 1891.
First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Translated from the German by E.H.S. Calder. xx, 404 pp, with color frontispiece and 20 additional plates (including 8 real photographs), illustrations in the text, and 3 folding maps. Index, bibliography, and detailed appendices on the geology, geography, flora (mosses, lichens), and insects of the region. Expertly recased, preserving the original pictorial cloth and endpapers. Boards somewhat rubbed, with one pale stain to the front board, but still attractive and quite sound, with all the maps and plates in excellent condition. Hans Meyer was a geologist and experienced climber who made four trips to the Kilimanjaro region in 1887-1889 culminating in his successful ascent--the first undisputed summit of Kibo, the highest of the mountain's three peaks--in 1889. In an earlier attempt, Meyer and his companion Oscar Baumann had the misfortune to arrive in the midst of an Arab revolt against German traders on the East African coast. They were captured and held hostage until a substantial ransom was paid. Meyer's ultimate success has been attributed to his recognition that the greatest obstacle to achieving the summit was the lack of food in the upper regions. He brought a sizeable and well organized party and established several camps on the mountain, allowing him to make multiple attempts at the summit without descending to the base. His lively and highly readable account of the expedition is arguably the most important work on African mountaineering.
Item #12569
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