Travels, between the years 1765 and 1773, through part of Africa, Syria, Egypt, and Arabia, into Abyssinia, to discover the source of the Nile : comprehending an interesting narrative of the author's adventures in Abyssinia, and a circumstantial account of the manners, customs, government, religion, history &c &c of that country : being the substance of the original work / by the late James Bruce.

  • Bruce, James, 1730-1794.
Date:
[1812]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels, between the years 1765 and 1773, through part of Africa, Syria, Egypt, and Arabia, into Abyssinia, to discover the source of the Nile : comprehending an interesting narrative of the author's adventures in Abyssinia, and a circumstantial account of the manners, customs, government, religion, history &c &c of that country : being the substance of the original work / by the late James Bruce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    at intervals to study^ and amused himself with comparing part of the Ethiopia translation of the Bible with the ori- ginal languages. This collation he undertook at the request of persons not less eminent for their high rank in the church than for their learning and piety. Conformably with the advice of his friends, he was preparing for the press a second edition of his travels in octavo, when death suddenly prevenied the execution of that plan. On the 26th of April 1794, having had company at his house, he was going down stairs, about eight o’clock in the evening to hand a lady to her carriage, when his foot slipped, and he fell head- long from about the sixth or seventh step from the ground. He was taken up insensible, with no marks of contusion, one of his hands only being a little hurt. Such, however, was the injury which he had received, that though medical assistance was immediately procured, he survived but a few hours, and expired early the next morning. On the 1st of . May his remains were deposited in the church-yard of Lar- hert, in the tomb which he had there erected to the memory of his second wife and her child. Over the vault is a beau- tiful monumental structure of iron, cast at the neighbouring foundefy of Carron (in which concern Mr. Bruce had a share) and adorned with emblematical figures and Greek inscriptions: perhaps the most ingenious work of the kind that was ever executed. On the north side is the inscription for Mrs. Bruce, and on the south side the following epitaph : In this tomb are deposited the remains of James Bruce, Esq. of Kinnaird, Who died on the 27th of April, 1794, In the 64th year of his age. Elis life was spent in performing useful and splendid actions ; He explored many distant regions, He discovered the fountains of the Nile, He traversed the deserts of Nubia. He was an affectionate husband. An indulgent parent. An ardent lover of his country. By the unanimous voice of mankind, Elis name is enrolled with those. Who were conspicuous For genius, for valour, and for virtue. If: