Details
WILLIAM COTTON OSWELL (1818-93)
Autograph letter signed to Captain [F.] Vardon, Colesberg [Cape Province South Africa], 14 January 1852. stating that when he had more time he would give hima an account of his last journey, although 'I just remember that Livingstone has written a long letter to you so I shall not bore you with a repetition', referring to a rough sketch he was enclosing [not present] of the country 'we saw, & heard of' but asking him to see that this was neither copied nor published, 'first approximations are often wide enough', and noting that a 'Quebaoba' [rhinoceros] had been shot with a horn measuring 4 feet 9 inches, 3 pages, 4to, integral address panel addressed to Capt Vardon, 25th Madras N[ative] I[nfantry], Madras, postmarks, some strengthening of folds.
Oswell and Vardon had explored together in Africa in 1845-46, tracing the course of the Limpopo River and discovering its tributary, the Mokolwé. In 1849 Oswell agreed to provide some financial backing for the journey Livingstone planned in search of Lake Ngami. Oswell accompanied Livingstone into the interior, travelling along the north-east border of the Kalahari desert and sighting Lake Ngami for the first time in August. The Kuabaoba, or straight-horned rhinoceros, discovered on this journey was named Oswellii in his honour. Oswell was again with Livingstone in June 1851 when the Zambesi was first sighted and he helped to pay for Livingstone's family to return to England in 1852. Vardon wrote, 'I know not a finer field anywhere for the enterprising traveller than the interior of South Africa'. (The Athenaeum, 19 January 1850, p.74.)
Autograph letter signed to Captain [F.] Vardon, Colesberg [Cape Province South Africa], 14 January 1852. stating that when he had more time he would give hima an account of his last journey, although 'I just remember that Livingstone has written a long letter to you so I shall not bore you with a repetition', referring to a rough sketch he was enclosing [not present] of the country 'we saw, & heard of' but asking him to see that this was neither copied nor published, 'first approximations are often wide enough', and noting that a 'Quebaoba' [rhinoceros] had been shot with a horn measuring 4 feet 9 inches, 3 pages, 4to, integral address panel addressed to Capt Vardon, 25th Madras N[ative] I[nfantry], Madras, postmarks, some strengthening of folds.
Oswell and Vardon had explored together in Africa in 1845-46, tracing the course of the Limpopo River and discovering its tributary, the Mokolwé. In 1849 Oswell agreed to provide some financial backing for the journey Livingstone planned in search of Lake Ngami. Oswell accompanied Livingstone into the interior, travelling along the north-east border of the Kalahari desert and sighting Lake Ngami for the first time in August. The Kuabaoba, or straight-horned rhinoceros, discovered on this journey was named Oswellii in his honour. Oswell was again with Livingstone in June 1851 when the Zambesi was first sighted and he helped to pay for Livingstone's family to return to England in 1852. Vardon wrote, 'I know not a finer field anywhere for the enterprising traveller than the interior of South Africa'. (The Athenaeum, 19 January 1850, p.74.)