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BROWNE, W. G. Travels in Africa, Egypt, And Syria, From the Year 1792 to 1798.
London: Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies... 1806. Second edition, enlarged. 4to., cont. leather, (xxxvi), 632pp. With 3 folding maps, 1 plate and frontis. This copy has been professionally rebacked, bookplate otherwise a nice copy.
George William Browne [1768-1813], oriental traveler. Educated at Oxford, Browne was pursuing a career in law until "his thoughts were diverted by reading Bruce's travels and the first report of the African Association, and he resolved to devote himself to the exploration of Africa." He arrived at Alexandria in 1792, and after two month's residence, proceeded westward along the coast to visit the ruins at Siwah. He subsequently spent time in Cairo, studying Arabic and investigating the political and social condition of the country, and visited the principal remains of Egyptian antiquity, at that time little known to Europeans. He was prevented entry into Nubia, so he set about exploring the vast Roman quarries at Cosseir on the Red Sea, which he explored in the disguise of an oriental. Browne then decided to accompany the great Soudan caravan to Darfur, a country not previously described by any European, from which he hoped to penetrate into Abyssinia. After encountering great hardships he reached Darfur in 1793, only to become ill with dysentery, be robbed of all his possessions and then be detained by the Sultan. Finally the Sultan released him and Browne returned with the caravan in 1796, having gained much information, particularly on the course of the Nile. Browne journeyed through Syria and through Asia Minor to Constantinople and returned to England in 1798. Browne published an account of his travels in the above work, first issued in 1800. From 1800-1802 Browne traveled in the Levant and Turkey. In 1812 he set out to explore the Tartary by way of Persia. Traveling through Asia Minor and visiting Armenia, he proceeded safely as far as Tabriz, which he left towards the end of the summer of 1813. According to one of the servants accompanying him, Browne was murdered by bandits a few days out of Tabriz. Browne's body was not recovered and there remained doubts about accounts of his death.