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.

    22/516 (page 14)
    It would perhaps have been impossible to have found a person better qualified by nature and art for the difficult hazardous enterprize which he undertook then Mr. Bruce. His stature was six feet four inches, his person well-propor- tioned, and his strength correspondent to his size. He ex- celled in all corporeal accomplishments^ being a hardy, practised, and indefatigable swimmer, trained to fatigue and exercise of every kind ; and his long residence among the Arabs had given him a more than ordinary facility in manag- ing the horse. In the use of fire-arms, and also in handling the spear and lance on horseback, his dexterity was uncom- monly great. In qualifications of a different kind he equalled, if not surpassed the generality of travellers. He possessed an excellent memory, and a vigorous and well cul- tivated understanding. He found but little difficulty in ac- quiring languages, and understood French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the two first of which he spoke and wrote with facility. Besides Greek and Latin, which he read well but not critically, he knew the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Sy^ riac; and was perfect master of the Arabic, Ethiopic, and Amharic. During the greater part of his life he had applied to the study of astronomy and other branches of mathema- tical science. His abilities in drawing were great, and his taste in this particular excellent. He had also gained suf- ficient knowledge in physic and surgery to recommend him among the barbarous nations whom he visited. If his temper was irritable and passionate, his heart was warm, his affections were ardent, and his moral feelings ex- tremely acute. His friendships therefore were sincere, and, in general, permanent; but from his constitutional temper sometimes interrupted by suspicion. From the same reason his enmities were occasionally capricious, though in general well-founded. His love of ancestry, and the pleasure whicli he took in relating his own exploits, scarcely deserve notice as imperfections, though they were certainly prominent features in his character. With this propensity, however, he joined a fixed regard for honour, justice, and integrity. His