We
reached Glass Town before midday, and after five hours, covering
some twenty-two direct geographical miles, I found myself with
pleasure under the grateful shade of the Factory. It need hardly
be described, as it is the usual "bungalow" of the West African
shore.
Twelve days had been expended upon 120 miles, but I did not
regret the loss. A beautiful bit of country had been added to my
mental Pinacothek, and I had satisfied my mind to a certain
extent upon that quaestio, then vexata, the "Gorilla Book." Even
before my trip the ethnological part appeared to me trustworthy,
and, if not original, at any rate borrowed from the best sources.
My journey assured me, from the specimen narrowly scrutinized,
that both country and people are on the whole correctly
described. The dates, however, are all in confusion: in the
preface to the second edition, "October, 1859," became "October,
1858," and we are told that the excursions were transposed for
the simple purpose of taking the reader from north to south. As
in the case of most African travels, when instruments are not
used, the distances must be reduced: in chapter xii.
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