1652 and so forth

(Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1973) 0798103337. 4to; original blue boards; pictorial dustwrapper; pp. 234 + (ii), incl. index; cartoon illustrations. Dustwrapper very slightly rubbed to lower panel, with trace of wear to head of spine panel; edges, endpapers and outermost leaves a little foxed. Very good condition. 'Readers who have come to expect of Jose Burman entertainingly told home truths about history will not be disappointed with this volume. In this book the author has gathered humorous incidents of South African history, from Jan van Riebeeck to the Boer War. Wittily illustrated by Jackson, these little-known facets of history not only throw light on the past, but make amusing and interesting reading. Here you will meet Noah's Wildebeest, the baboon that sounded the Castle alarm, the Battalion of Illegitimates, and the horse "Cracker" that broke in recruits for the Natal Mounted Police; you will learn how Anders Sparrman made "snake-juice", of the night Sir John Barrow was saved by a Hottentot girl's steatopygia, how the Royal Navy drank tea instead of rum, Prince Alfred's adventures at Howick, and much besides. So, in the author's word, "join in enjoying a laugh at History".' .