Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire, Usually Called the Congo, in South Africa, in 1816, under the Direction of Captain J. K. Tuckey, R. N. to Which is Added the Journal of Professor Smith by Tuckey, Captain J. K. ; Chetien Smith - 1818

New York: Kirk & Mercein. Very Good+. 1818. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, pp. Lxxxi, 410. Twelve illustrations in the text, 1 large fold-out map, appendix. Bound in modern half-leather with green marbled paper covered boards. Gold spine titles to leather spine. Binding is bright with minor wear. Some offsetting in the text. Large folding map has a 4 inch tear repaired with tape. Captian Tuckey was sent to explore the Congo River, on a ship named Congo, in 1816. At the time, very little was known about the Congo and some European geographers believed there was a connection between the Congo and the Niger. Tuckey did not get very far. He sailed up the Congo from its mouth on the Atlantic, but soon realized the lower river is not navigable due to cataracts (later named the Yellala Falls). Tuckey explored the river up to Isangila finding ruins of the Portuguese colony and Catholic missions. Tuckey and most of his officers and crew died of fever. What success they had was mostly negative - the lower Congo was definitely not navigable, and the fever and sickness threat was formidable. The survivors did bring back a substantial number of botany specimens. Both Tuckey and Professor Chetien Smith (mission botanist) wrote journals during their explorations. This book contains both journals and a lengthy introduction about the mission. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 410 pages .