The True Life of Capt. Sir Richard F. Burton

by Georgiana M Stisted

Overview

Sir Richard Burton was an explorer, linguist, scholar, soldier, anthropologist, and writer. Burton used his own resources to fund expeditions to map new trade routes, identify and catalogue natural resources, and analyze political, religious, and economic systems in foreign countries. He is probably best known for his expeditions with John Hanning Speke to find the source of the Nile, which he accomplished in 1858. He is also known for the first English translations of the "Kama Sutra" and the "Arabian Nights". This biography was written by Burton's niece in an effort to "tell the truth concerning one who can no longer defend himself" and to "supply.the story of a great traveler's life in popular form." It is, simply, quite a journey to follow of one of the 19th century's most intriguing characters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596050136
Publisher:	Cosimo Classics
Publication date:	06/30/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.98(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER III "THE voyage soon re-established Burton's health. When he sailed, his fellow-passengers believed he would never reach home alive, and it was with considerable difficulty that he contrived to write a few words of farewell to his mother and sister. But within less than a fortnight a marked improvement took place. For some constitutions sea air is the best of remedies; in Burton's case it almost always produced such a magical effect, that, when indisposed, he frequently arranged to travel by water, even though the sea route were twice as long as the overland. Nor was it an unpleasant mode of treatment. He was never sick, never even uncomfortable during the roughest weather; and he often dined tete-a-tete with the captain in the height of a gale which had prostrated every other landsman on board. As he grew stronger and the Eliza, favoured by fair winds, scudded on her homeward way, his thoughts became entirely centred on the fast approaching meeting with his relatives. Seven years had gone by since he sailed for Bombay in the John Knox. A chapter of accidents had prevented his seeing Edward Burton, stationed at Ceylon with " the 37th," although the two brothers had been most anxious to spend some time together, and, with this end in view, had made plan after plan; while, as for other members of his family, those were days before cheap winter trips to the Presidencies enable us to visit our friends in India, whenever affection or restlessness prompts us thus to expend our money and our energies. Happily, as yet death had made no gaps in the home circle. His mother,though ailing, lived some years longer, his father's health was no worse, while his sister, married in 1845, hadtwo children. By the time he landed, his longing for the sight of a familiar face had grow...