Maclure H R Illus (1 results)

First edition, inscribed "J.H. from H.P-H." on the title page. Major General Richard Pope-Hennessy led the punitive Sotik Massacre, killing approximately 1,850 members of the Kipsigis tribe. "H. P-H" may be his younger brother Hugh. We have traced one institutional copy, at Duke University. In early 1905 members of the Kipsigis (Sotik) tribe raided Maasai lands, taking over 20,000 cows and many captives. After a short attempt at negotiation the British East Africa Protectorate led a violent and disproportionate campaign to recover what was stolen. As noted by Professor Paul Chepkwony, Governor of Kericho County, Kenya: "The Sotik massacre has been erased from the history books, not just of the United Kingdom but from Kenya as well. [It] would today be classified as genocide and a crime against humanity. Approximately 100,000 Talai people were forcibly removed to Gwasi, which they knew was unfit for human habitation. This was heartless racism of the highest order" (Society of Black Lawyers, p. 2). In this copy, the caricature sketches on the first page are annotated in pencil with the names of officers and soldiers. Many of these are mentioned in a flippant and triumphalist London Gazette report, published in 1908. This mentions an assistant political officer named Herbert Reginald McClure, a naval veteran and "clever artist and cartoonist" (Foran, p. 268) who spoke Maasai and was reportedly critical of their forced relocation. One of McClure's caricatures can be found in Meinerzthagen's East Africa Diary (p. 268). Meinertzhagen was himself removed from the Sotik operation on 21 May 1905. Along with his own actions against the Nandi Resistance, these expeditions formed part of a greater programme of highlands genocide enacted by British forces. Robert Foran, A Cuckoo in Kenya: The Reminiscences of a Pioneer Police Officer in British East Africa, 1936; Society of Black Lawyers, "Press Release: Historical Injustices, The Sotik Massacre, Blood Tea and Land Alienation", 23 July 2020. Octavo, pp. 16. Illustrations throughout. Original red paper wrappers, red string binding, wrappers lettered and decorated in black. Signed "Osborne 24/ix/06" on the title page, perhaps G. H. Osborne, District Commissioner of Machakos. Strong vertical crease, wrappers soiled, fore edges with colour bleed from wrappers, minor foxing internally: a very good copy.…