The Art of Rough Travel : From the Peculiar to the Practical Advice from a 19th Century Explorer

The first abridged (and thus digestible) edition of a classic 19th Century manual for the backcountry traveler—its advice is both deliciously bizarre and surprisingly relevant for 21st century adventurers. · A novelty item at 124 pages—one-third the length of current editions available only in unabridged facsimile reproductions · An interesting historical document that offers an early glimpse into the culture of outdoor recreation · Guaranteed to both entertain and instruct "Carrion is not noxious to starving men." This is one of the countless potentially useful bits of information contained within Sir Francis Galton’s fascinating but unwieldy (366 pages) The Art of Travel. First published in 1855, the book became a bible of self-sufficiency for a host of now famous explorers including Sir Richard Burton. Galton’s work is now available in a condensed edition that highlights the amusing and the practical while losing extraneous material and minutia such as how many fleabites he endured on one trip and how many bush ticks bit him on another.

The Art of Travel recounts Galton’s adventures as one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of southwestern Africa. His quaint advice on interacting with "savages," handling elephants, and stopping asses from braying will make you laugh. But you’ll want to take notes on his instructions on how to find water in the desert, navigate by the stars, or follow tracks in the dark.

Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) was an English explorer, scientist, mathematician, writer, and inventor. A cousin and contemporary of Charles Darwin, he was a genius in his own right; among his many accomplishments, he pioneered the art of finger-printing.