The Commissions of W. C. Palgrave, Special Emissary to South West Africa 1876-1885

(Cape Town: Van Riebeeck Society, 1991) 0620160799. Second Series No. 21. 8vo; original dark grey cloth, lettered in gilt on spine, with gilt publisher's device to upper cover; laminated pictorial dustwrapper; pp. xxxiv + 441 + (ix); endpaper map; colour frontis. tipped in; map; plates. Near-fine condition. "William Coates Palgrave was active in the former South West Africa (now Namibia) over a period of 25 years. He spent some eight years in the country as private individual before becoming a civil servant in Griqualand West. This prepared him for his work as Special Commissioner to Hereroland (or Damaraland, as it was called) and Namaland, undertaking five consecutive commissions in all on behalf of the Cape Government. This volume contains the official journals, or in some cases minutes and reports, which were produced by various secretaries during these commissions. The main theme of Palgrave's instructions and work was an endeavour to introduce British influence in the territory - an endeavour which was interrupted by the beginning of the German colonial period from 1884/1885. In a way the occupation of SWA by British South Africa in 1914-1915 would symbolise a resumption of the earlier efforts by Palgrave. The realities of a SWA on the brink of colonisation come alive in this record of discussions between Palgrave and the eminent tribal leaders of the period on the issues of the day, giving a unique insight into the character and dyanamics of a society in a crucial stage of its history." .