GENERAL RESOURCES - Book Reviews
The Art of Rough Travel
By Sir Francis Galton
http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1413
Reading this book was so much fun! The first edition was written in 1855 and this is a compilation of the fifth edition written in 1872. About one-third the length of current editions available only in unabridged facsimile reproductions, it is an interesting historical document that offers an early glimpse into the culture of outdoor recreation. We found it entertaining and a great glimpse into instructions for the Victorian male. It highlights the amusing and the practical while losing extraneous material and minutia such as how many fleabites he endured on one trip and how many bush ticks bit him on another.
The Art of Travel recounts Galton's adventures as one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of southwestern Africa. His quaint advice on interacting with "savages," handling elephants, and stopping asses from braying will make you laugh. But you'll want to take notes on his instructions on how to find water in the desert, navigate by the stars, or follow tracks in the dark.
...Fiftysense Product Review Panel