Heinrich Barth and the Western Sudan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to and to acknowledge work of Heinrich Barth?traveller, geographer, historian and linguist?whom Lord Rennell has described as perhaps greatest traveller there has ever been in Africa. As a centenary lecture it might have been given in either of two preceding years or in one that follows. Towards close of year 1855 Barth returned to this country after more than five years of extensive journeyings through Sahara and Western Sudan. In 1856 he was awarded Patron's Gold Medal by Royal Geographical Society. The following year he published first three volumes of journals of his travels, completing them in 1858 with two more volumes.1 In same year he addressed Royal Geographical Society. That these centenaries should pass unacknowledged would indeed be unfortunate; that they might do would not be sur? prising for, of major African explorers, there is no doubt that Heinrich Barth has been much neglected in this country. He deserves greater attention, at least equal to what has been given to other African explorers of nineteenth century. This paper attempts to make good neglect to some extent; it is not a definitive assessment of work of Heinrich Barth in Western Sudan but has been written to mark a centenary and to east some light on his character and achievements. Only source materials in English have been consulted. Barth's published journals are most important, and also some study has been made of Foreign Office papers relating to expedition in Public Record Office. These are to be found among papers of British Consulate at Tripoli which acted as intermediary between Barth in field and Foreign Office in London. Much work remains to be done on these papers, particularly on Barth's original dispatches from Western Sudan. Viewed in historical perspective it is clear that Barth's travels took place in parts of which European explorers had been penetrating for more than fifty years.2 By end of first half of nineteenth century Western Sudan was not almost totally unknown, as was interior of south-central which Livingstone was then proceeding to reveal. The African Association, formed in 1788 and amalgamated with Royal Geographical Society when latter was founded in 1830, had been respon? sible for promoting exploration in West and for encouraging British Govern? ment to give some support to this work. There were many names associated with these early expeditions; many were almost total failures, but there were several great jour? neys accomplished. Mungo Park in 1795-97 and in 1805 established direction of flow of River Niger, navigating a considerable part of its upper and middle sections, but losing his life during his second journey and therefore leaving no record of it. Laing, in 1822, penetrated to Timbuktu but failed to return. Denham, Clapperton and Oudney, 1822-5, crossed Sahara and discovered Lake Chad, proving it not to be the great sink of Africa into which Niger flowed. On this and on a subsequent journey (then accompanied by Richard Lander and penetrating inland from Badagry) Clapperton visited Kano and Sokoto, dying near latter place in 1827. ^n tnat Year and one following Frenchman, Rene Caille, penetrated to Timbuktu and re? turned across Sahara to tell tale of his travels. Of major significance was journey of Lander brothers in 1830 by canoe on Niger from Bussa to sea in