Danakil Diary

This is a sort of diary of an exploration and hunting trip led by the young Thesinger to the southern Danakil region of Abyssinia in 1934. It's fascinating to read his nonchalance, e.g. "As I was going to bed I killed two tarantulas in my tent" (p. 154); "The Abyssinians did the wedding dance... The Danakil encored them repeatedly. They don't seem to have any good dances of their own" (p. 149). "One of the negadis has had toothache. Asked us to take it out. Daniel tried with some wire cutters, but unfortunately only broke the tooth" (p. 54). One is not surprised to learn that he is entirely successful in avoiding unfortunate incidences with the natives, and even makes friends with the French. For indeed, he is the best they breed: "In 1917, owing to the war... my father took his leave in India, where his brother, Lord Chelmsford, was Viceroy... I rode about on elephants and was taken on a tiger shoot." (p. xv.) But it is strange to reflect that there then seems to have been a perfectly functioning railway from Djibouti to Addis, which is only now being reopened, and by the Chinese.

It portrays a way of exploration now well in the past. An engaging read.

terrific book, thank you

Early Thesiger but none the worse for that, diary form a little "highlights only" but does take you on the journey

Spannend und authentisch; für den ethnologisch interessierten ausgiebiger als der Bericht von Nesbitt, allerdings auch nicht so mystisch; Thesiger hatte gegenüber Nesbitt einen privilegierten Start in mehrfacher Hinsicht: er konnte von den Berichten Nesbitt's lernen UND die politisch und sozial einflussreiche Stellung seines Vaters ( britischer Konsul ) gab im enorme Sicherheit und einen nicht zu unterschätzenden logistischen Vorteil bei der Organisation der Expedition; absolut lesenswert und eine Fundgrube für freaks der exotischen Reiselektüre