TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA, to the sources of the Senegal and Gambia, Performed By Command of the French Government, in the Year 1818...edited by T.E. Bowdich, Esq., conductor of the mission to Ashantee.

London: Printed for Henry Colburn and Co., 1820. First edition in English. With a large folding map, stipple-engraved frontispiece and six uncoloured aquatint plates. 4to, antique three-quarter calf over marbled boards, lettered in gilt on the spine. xii, 380 pp.; includes itinerary and vocabulary lists. A very handsome and well preserved copy. Quite clean throughout. A small repair to the lower outside corner of the title-page. SCARCE FIRST EDITION. “It was at first my intention, when I set out for the interior of Western Africa, to explore anew the countries which Mungo Park had visited; but being soon convinced of the impossibility of making discoveries, or even of traveling at all in that quarter, I resolved to strike out a new track; and after penetrating into the continent, I followed a line parallel to the meridian. The regions which I had to traverse in pursuing this direction, were almost unknown, and afforded scope for observations equally numerous and interesting. Thus the result answered my expectations, and I attained, in a great measure, the object which I had in view. Well-informed persons to whom I communicated the notes made in my journal, encouraged me to arrange them and to publish a narrative of the events, which during my enterprize had involved me in so many dangers. From the following sheets the reader will perceive that the manner in which I was obliged to travel, prevented me from prosecuting my researches so far as I could have wished.” Abbey, Travel 273.
This volume is filled with the author’s descriptions of history, geography, animals, religion, culture and his experiences in tribal kingdoms. Mollien got to know the peoples of various tribes in equatorial Africa, as well as their royalty.