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The Narrative of an Explorer in Tropical South Africa
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1853 edition by John Murray, London.
- GenresAfrica
346 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1853
About the author
Francis Galton
102 books71 followersSir Francis Galton, FRS was an English Victorian polymath: anthropologist, eugenicist, tropical explorer, geographer, inventor, meteorologist, proto-geneticist, psychometrician, and statistician. He was knighted in 1909.
Galton produced over 340 papers and books. He also created the statistical concept of correlation and widely promoted regression toward the mean. He was the first to apply statistical methods to the study of human differences and inheritance of intelligence, and introduced the use of questionnaires and surveys for collecting data on human communities, which he needed for genealogical and biographical works and for his anthropometric studies.
He was a pioneer in eugenics, coining the term itself and the phrase "nature versus nurture". His book Hereditary Genius (1869) was the first social scientific attempt to study genius and greatness.
As an investigator of the human mind, he founded psychometrics (the science of measuring mental faculties) and differential psychology and the lexical hypothesis of personality. He devised a method for classifying fingerprints that proved useful in forensic science. He also conducted research on the power of prayer, concluding it had none by its null effects on the longevity of those prayed for.
As the initiator of scientific meteorology, he devised the first weather map, proposed a theory of anticyclones, and was the first to establish a complete record of short-term climatic phenomena on a European scale. He also invented the Galton Whistle for testing differential hearing ability.
He was cousin of Douglas Strutt Galton and half-cousin of Charles Darwin.
Galton produced over 340 papers and books. He also created the statistical concept of correlation and widely promoted regression toward the mean. He was the first to apply statistical methods to the study of human differences and inheritance of intelligence, and introduced the use of questionnaires and surveys for collecting data on human communities, which he needed for genealogical and biographical works and for his anthropometric studies.
He was a pioneer in eugenics, coining the term itself and the phrase "nature versus nurture". His book Hereditary Genius (1869) was the first social scientific attempt to study genius and greatness.
As an investigator of the human mind, he founded psychometrics (the science of measuring mental faculties) and differential psychology and the lexical hypothesis of personality. He devised a method for classifying fingerprints that proved useful in forensic science. He also conducted research on the power of prayer, concluding it had none by its null effects on the longevity of those prayed for.
As the initiator of scientific meteorology, he devised the first weather map, proposed a theory of anticyclones, and was the first to establish a complete record of short-term climatic phenomena on a European scale. He also invented the Galton Whistle for testing differential hearing ability.
He was cousin of Douglas Strutt Galton and half-cousin of Charles Darwin.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 1, 2017
What a truly strange character Francis Galton is. He is forgotten now days, but he was very well-known during his day. He was an intelligent man and made "important contributions in many fields of science, including meteorology (the anti-cyclone and the first popular weather maps), statistics (regression and correlation), psychology (synaesthesia), and criminology (fingerprints)."
He did a lot of things, but he was especially known for his idea of Eugenics. Karl pearson (One of Francis Galton's notable students) once said that Francis Galton would be as well remembered and loved as his cousin, Charles Darwin, but this never turned out to be so. Of course, Karl Pearson never foresaw the holocaust, for the idea of Eugenics passed into unpopularity, and it's founder became a forgotten man.
But before Francis formulated his idea of Eugenics, he was out exploring parts of Africa. There was vast uncharted areas of Africa in the early 19th century, which Francis wished to explore and map. He managed to explore parts of south west Africa (modern Namibia). Francis Galton also wished to hunt 'big game' in Africa.
Of course, this account is everything you expect from a narrative written in the Victorian era: racist and kind of sexist. His description of his first encounter with the a native tribe sets out the tone for the rest of the narrative.
"They had Hotttenot features, but were of a darker colour, and most ill-looking appearance: some had trousers , some coats of skins, and they clicked, and howled, and chattered, and behaved like baboons. This was my first impression."
He was especially mean to the Damara tribe which he constantly calls disgusting and deceitful. He seemed to greatly detest them. He even compares them to dogs and said that they would be better off if they were enslaved. However, he does find them attractive.
"I must say that these savages are magnificent models for sculptors, for they are tall, cleanly made, and perfectly upright; their head is thrown well back, and their luxuriant; but wolly hair is clustered round an open forehead; their features are often beautifully chiselled."
Francis did greatly like the Ovampo tribe, for he saw them as more 'civilized' since they farmed the land.
"I should but little compassion if I saw all the Damara under the hand of a slave-owner, for they could hardly become more wretched than they are now, and might be made less mischievous; but it would be a crying shame to enslave the Ovampo."
There was a lot of interesting (and strange) anecdotes throughout the narrative. For instance, he seemed to have a strong fascination and admiration for a Hottentot women's backside. He even measured her backside by using a sextant. It's a funny story.
"The sub-interpreter was married to a charming person, not only a Hottentot in figure, but in that respect a venus among Hottentots. I was perfectly aghast at her development, and made inquiries upon that delicate point as far as I dared among my missionary friends. The results is, that I believe Mrs. Petrus to be the lady who ranks second among all the Hottentots for the beautiful outlines that her back afford. I profess to be a scientific man, and was exceedingly anxious to obtain accurate measurements of her shape; but there was greatly difficult in doing this. I did not know a word of Hottentot, and could never therefore have explained to the lady what the object of my foot-rule could be; and I really dared not ask my worthy missionary host to interpret for me. I therefore I felt in dilemma as I gazed at her form, that gift of bounteous nature to this favored race, which no mantua-maker , with all her crinoline and stuffing, can do other wise than humbly imitate. The object of my admiration stood under a tree, and was turning herself about to all points of the compass, as ladies who wish to admired usually do. Of a sudden my eye fell upon my sextant; the bright thought struck me, and I took a series of observations upon every direction..."
I had a good laugh reading that, especially when I think of a Victorian person doing something like that, as people tend to imagine them as being very prudish. The narrative was an insightful look at how explorers managed to explore Africa. I also liked the insight into African society before colonization (although people should be aware of bias). Nevertheless, Francis's narrative certainly made an intriguing read.
Interesting fact: Although Francis Galton was obsessed with Eugenics (and with the idea of only the 'fit' having children), he never ended up having any children of his own. It's not known why he never conceived any children and he never eluded to it. It's been speculated that either his wife was barren or he was infertile. Some suggest he was infertile because he caught venereal disease from a prostitute while touring the middle east, where he sowed his wild oats as a youngster in the 1840s. So the founder of Eugenics never had any children. Isn't that ironic?
He did a lot of things, but he was especially known for his idea of Eugenics. Karl pearson (One of Francis Galton's notable students) once said that Francis Galton would be as well remembered and loved as his cousin, Charles Darwin, but this never turned out to be so. Of course, Karl Pearson never foresaw the holocaust, for the idea of Eugenics passed into unpopularity, and it's founder became a forgotten man.
But before Francis formulated his idea of Eugenics, he was out exploring parts of Africa. There was vast uncharted areas of Africa in the early 19th century, which Francis wished to explore and map. He managed to explore parts of south west Africa (modern Namibia). Francis Galton also wished to hunt 'big game' in Africa.
Of course, this account is everything you expect from a narrative written in the Victorian era: racist and kind of sexist. His description of his first encounter with the a native tribe sets out the tone for the rest of the narrative.
"They had Hotttenot features, but were of a darker colour, and most ill-looking appearance: some had trousers , some coats of skins, and they clicked, and howled, and chattered, and behaved like baboons. This was my first impression."
He was especially mean to the Damara tribe which he constantly calls disgusting and deceitful. He seemed to greatly detest them. He even compares them to dogs and said that they would be better off if they were enslaved. However, he does find them attractive.
"I must say that these savages are magnificent models for sculptors, for they are tall, cleanly made, and perfectly upright; their head is thrown well back, and their luxuriant; but wolly hair is clustered round an open forehead; their features are often beautifully chiselled."
Francis did greatly like the Ovampo tribe, for he saw them as more 'civilized' since they farmed the land.
"I should but little compassion if I saw all the Damara under the hand of a slave-owner, for they could hardly become more wretched than they are now, and might be made less mischievous; but it would be a crying shame to enslave the Ovampo."
There was a lot of interesting (and strange) anecdotes throughout the narrative. For instance, he seemed to have a strong fascination and admiration for a Hottentot women's backside. He even measured her backside by using a sextant. It's a funny story.
"The sub-interpreter was married to a charming person, not only a Hottentot in figure, but in that respect a venus among Hottentots. I was perfectly aghast at her development, and made inquiries upon that delicate point as far as I dared among my missionary friends. The results is, that I believe Mrs. Petrus to be the lady who ranks second among all the Hottentots for the beautiful outlines that her back afford. I profess to be a scientific man, and was exceedingly anxious to obtain accurate measurements of her shape; but there was greatly difficult in doing this. I did not know a word of Hottentot, and could never therefore have explained to the lady what the object of my foot-rule could be; and I really dared not ask my worthy missionary host to interpret for me. I therefore I felt in dilemma as I gazed at her form, that gift of bounteous nature to this favored race, which no mantua-maker , with all her crinoline and stuffing, can do other wise than humbly imitate. The object of my admiration stood under a tree, and was turning herself about to all points of the compass, as ladies who wish to admired usually do. Of a sudden my eye fell upon my sextant; the bright thought struck me, and I took a series of observations upon every direction..."
I had a good laugh reading that, especially when I think of a Victorian person doing something like that, as people tend to imagine them as being very prudish. The narrative was an insightful look at how explorers managed to explore Africa. I also liked the insight into African society before colonization (although people should be aware of bias). Nevertheless, Francis's narrative certainly made an intriguing read.
Interesting fact: Although Francis Galton was obsessed with Eugenics (and with the idea of only the 'fit' having children), he never ended up having any children of his own. It's not known why he never conceived any children and he never eluded to it. It's been speculated that either his wife was barren or he was infertile. Some suggest he was infertile because he caught venereal disease from a prostitute while touring the middle east, where he sowed his wild oats as a youngster in the 1840s. So the founder of Eugenics never had any children. Isn't that ironic?
September 17, 2019
Galton simply is not the storyteller that his traveling companion, Charles John Andersson, was. Andersson wrote LAKE NGAMI and it is superior in every way to this account. But, I am glad I found this and acquired it and finished reading it. It has some interesting information and despite it being “just okay,” I recommend it to anyone who has read LAKE NGAMI by Andersson.
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