3-021-165 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Grass of the Desert, a scene of travel in South Africa, from a sketch by Mr. Thomas Baines, F.R.G.S., 1865. 'Amongst the new books of last season...was the narrative, by Mr. Thomas Baines, of his explorations in South-west Africa, comprising a journal of fifteen months' travelling...Mr. Baines...is one of the most indefatigable and persevering of those bold pioneers of science and civilisation who have done such important service of late years in this direction...The Engraving entitled "The Grass of the Desert," gives a strong idea of the thick growth of rank and luxuriant vegetation in some parts of this tropical region, as it appeared when Mr. Baines and Mr. James Chapman, his comrade, made their return journey from the Zambesi to the west...They found the grass springing up no less than 12ft. high, and as thick as a man's little finger, along the track which they had made in their journey of the year before, and which could only be discerned, with some difficulty...As the waggons moved on through this gigantic herbage, nothing could be seen in front but the heads of the leading oxen and the native driver by their side. An elephant, though close at hand, could scarcely be perceived even by a man on horseback'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.