in the years 1818, 19, and 20; accompanied by geographical notices of Soudan, and of the course of the Niger. With a chart of the routes, and a variety of coloured plates, illustrative of the costumes of the several natives of Northern Africa.
London, Murray, 1821
In 1818, Lyon (1795-1833) was sent along with Joseph Ritchie by Sir John Barrow to find the course of the Niger River and the location of Timbuktu. The expedition was underfunded and lacked support. A year later, due to much officialdom they had only got as far as Murzuk where they both fell ill. Ritchie never recovered and died there, but Lyon survived and travelled a little further around the region. Exactly a year to the day he left, he arrived back in Tripoli. Lyon travelled in Arabic dress, and being fluent in Arabic, was able to gain insights missed by more conventional travellers. On his return, he travelled on Parry's expedition to the Arctic as Commander on board the Hecla
The hand-coloured plates, after drawings by Lyon, are particularly attractive.
First edition. 4to., xii, 383 pp., large folding map hand-coloured in outline (neat repair to fold), 17 hand-coloured lithographed plates by M. Gauci after drawings by the author, nineteenth century brown half morocco gilt, top edge gilt, lightly rubbed, a very good example.
Abbey Travel 304; Tooley 311; Hilmy I, 397; Colas 1920; Blackmer 1044; Playfair, Tripoli, 147.
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