Russell E. Train Africana Collection (Smithsonian. Libraries) Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Manuscripts (document genre), 10 x 15.25 in.)
Container:
Item M155a
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1874, Summer
Scope and Contents note:
Outlines specifications for three boats that are wanted: firstly, "1 Yarmouth Yawl about 40 feet long" (". . . If I can get such a boat it will be far better than a Steam Launch for the soft gales of Zanzibar . . ."); secondly, "a Captains Gig from 20 to 23 feet long" (". . . I want her to row up rivers. The Yawl will take me to the mouths of rivers but the Gig must be taken up to the haunts of slavers... a peculiar feature of this gig is that she must have three bulkheads . . . so that if a hippopotamous attacks her & smashes her bows the boat will not sink."); and, thirdly, "Wanted from John [altered to James) Messenger Boat Builder. Teddington near London 1 boat built in sections. . .", of which Messenger has a model (" This boat must be shipped after me to Zanzibar as I only need her for Exploration of lakes in Inner Africa. When I start for the interior the two other boats will be sold to highest bidder").
General note:
On blue paper. The memorandum is illustrated with a sketch diagram of the second boat. M155a is the accession number in the Russell E. Train inventory list of the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History.
Collection Rights:
The collection is housed in the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, which is open to researchers Monday through Friday in the afternoons, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.; morning visits are by appointment only. Please call (202) 633-1184 or email AskaLibrarian@si.edu for an appointment.
