The Lives of Celebrated Travellers

Page
Born at Kinnaird-Educated at Harrow-Wishes to become a
clergyman - Returns to Scotland-Becomes a sportsman-
Studies the law-Marries-Loses his wife-Visits Spain and Por-
tugal-Returns through Germany and Holland-Projects an
expedition against Spain-Is appointed consul of Algiers-
Travels in Italy-Arrives in Algiers-Disputes with the dey-
Leaves Algiers-Visits Tunis and Tripoli - Is shipwrecked
and plundered by the Bedouins-Embarks Bengazi for Cara-
mania-Sails for Syria-Visits Palmyra-Embarks for Egypt-
Cairo Transactions with the bey-Anecdote-Ascends the
Nile-The Ababdè Arabs-The Tigrè chief-Assuan-Descends
the Nile-Proceeds to Kosseir-Adventure among the Arabs
-Visits the mountains of Emeralds-Crosses the Red Sea to
Jidda-Anecdote-Surveys the Red Sea-Arrives at Masuah
-Is in extreme danger Escapes and enters Abyssinia-
Crosses Mount Tarenta-Arrives at Dixan-Slave trade-Rich
Scenery-Fair in the forest Adowa-Palace of Ras Michael-
Ruins of Axum-Beautiful scenery-Live cow eating-Monks of
Waldubba-Crosses Mount Lamalmon-Arrives at Gondar-The
book of the prophet Enoch-Visits the queen mother-Becomes
a physician, and excites the jealousy of the monks-Has an in-
terview with Ras Michael-Triumphal entry of the Ras into
Gondar-Beautiful wife of the Ras-Is promoted to a high office
at court-Shoots through a shield and a table with a piece of
candle-Profligate manners of the Abyssinians-Is appointed
governor of a district-Visits the great cataract of the Nile-
Sets out to discover the source of the Nile-Is entertained by a
rebel chief-Placed under the protection of the Gallas-reaches
the sources of the Nile-Returns to Gondar-Leaves Abyssinia-
Traverses the deserts of Nubia-Reaches Assuan-Descends the
Nile-Embarks for Marseilles-Arrives in England-Publishes
his Travels-Dies

245

THE LIVES

CELEBRATED TRAVELLERS.

JOSEPH PITTON DE TOURNEFORT.
Born 1656.-Died 1708.

TOURNEFORT was born at Aix, in Provence, on the 5th of June, 1656. He received the first rudiments of his education at the Jesuits' College of that city; where manifestations of his passion for botany, to the gratification of which he devoted the whole of his life, appeared at a very early age. As soon as he beheld plants, says Fontenelle, he felt himself a botanist. He desired to learn their names ; he carefully observed their differences, and sometimes absented himself from his class in order to botanize in the country, preferring nature to the language of the ancient Romans, which at that time was regarded as the principal object of education. Like the majority of those who have distinguished themselves in any department of science or art, he was his own master, and in a very short time had

made himself acquainted with the plants found in the environs of his native city.

For the philosophy then taught in the schools he had but little predilection. Being in search of nature, which was almost wholly banished from the prevailing systems, he considered himself fortunate in discovering accidentally among his father's books, the works of Descartes, which appeared to contain the philosophy which he sought. He was not, however, permitted to enjoy this gratification openly; but his ardour and enthusiasm were apparently exactly proportioned to the mystery by which it was attended.

Tournefort being designed by his father for the church, of course included theology in his studies, and even went so far as to enter into a seminary. But his natural inclinations prevailed. The fathers and the doctors of the Sorbonne were less attractive than the plants of the field; and when he should have been engaged with

Councils, classics, fathers, wits,

he stole away to the garden of an apothecary of Aix, who delighted in the same studies, and there pursued in secret the course he had chosen for himself. But the treasures of the apothecary's garden were soon exhausted. It therefore soon became necessary to discover a wider field; and as botanists, like most other mortals, consider stolen joys the sweetest, he occasionally penetrated into forbidden grounds, and exposed himself to the suspicion of having less exalted views than those by which he was really actuated. In fact, being one day discovered in a garden by some peasants, he was taken for a robber, and narrowly escaped the fate of St. Stephen.

There is something in the circumstances under

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Books

The Lives of Celebrated Travellers, Volume 2