All posts by Hans Henrik

Africa

Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire

Leave a comment

Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire, Congo River, is the publication of the logbooks of Captain J. K. Tuckey and the journals of Professor Smith who lead the scientific work on the expedition. The journey took place in 1816 in order to gain knowledge about the interior of Africa. At that time it was still a mystery where the River Zaire had its beginning. It was still suggested that River Zaire was a branch of the River Niger. The problem that explorers of the time was faced with was the rivers strong current and massive “floating islands” of vegetation. The river is the second largest in the world when it comes to discharge volume. Captain Irby, who commanded the Amelia some years before, with difficulty succeeded in getting his ship 48 or 50 miles up the river.

The book has some interesting observation, for instance about the bantu-people who addresses the expedition by canoes to sell pigs, goats, eggs and once also a elephant’s tooth and a boy. Diseases were widespread and at most times more than half of the crew were sick.

Download the free PDF e-book here (632 pages/30 Mb):

 Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire

America

A Year in a Yawl

Leave a comment

A Year in a Yawl: A true tale of the adventures of four boys in a thirty-foot yawl. From the log of Capt. Ransom. A Year in a Yawl is the true tale of four adventurous boys who spend a year sailing a thirty foot yawl. The four teenagers sailed from Lake Michigan to New Orleans, around Florida, up the East coast to the Erie Canal, and back home. The yawl, two-masted sailing ship, was designed and built by the Captain, and crewed by his friends.

This version of the book was published in 1901 and written by Russel Doubleday.

Download it here (407 pages/30MB):

 A year in a Yawl

America, The New World

Hiram Bingham III: Across South America

1 Comment

Many people believe that the (re)discoverer of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham III was the real-world model for Indiana Jones – and whether or not that is true, well, who knows?

Actually, Bingham was not an archeologist by training. But he was a seasoned traveler and well acquainted with South America, when he by equal measure chance and stubbornness stumbled upon the ruins of the famous Inca city in 1911.

He had, in fact, traveled the continent of South America extensively in the years before. His travels resulted in this book “Across South America – An Account of a Journey From Buenos Aires to Lima By Way of Potosi.”

It’s a really great book, well written and illustrated with many of the photos taken during the journey.

Download it here for free (486 pages / 21 MB):

Across South America by Hiram Bingham III

America, The New World

The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

Leave a comment

The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca. This expedition was a total disaster. The story has it all. Great expectations, five Spanish galleons and 600 men heading for the New World with guns, golden dreams and civilisation building ambitions. In April 1528 they landed near St. Petersburg. This was the first mistake. They believed they were in Mexico. Instead they were in the midst of severely hostile natives. A storm destroyed their fleet and the group began wandering north, still with no clue where the were. Next the reached the land of the Apalachee indians in the merciless swamps of Florida. Again many men lost their lives and commander Pánfilo de Narváez decided to get the hell out of there on improvised rafts. Then a hurricane hit the gang. Only 86 survived and they reached another bad decision: To walk to Mexico in search for Spanish settlements. It took them 8 years only 4 survived the hunger, enslavement by indian tribes and all the abominations you can possibly imagine. #shouldhavestayedhome

Download the free e-book about the expedition here (262 pages/9.2MB):

 The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

 

 

Oceans

The Bombard Story

Leave a comment

The Bombard Story is the account of Alain Bombard’s amazing journey in 1952 across the Atlantic on a small 14-foot inflatable boat. Alain Bombard left without food or fresh water and sailed 4.400 kilometers. He lost 25 kg. but proved his point: Man can actually survive on ocean water for an extended period of time!

In this small vessel Bombard sailed across the Atlantic – without freshwater

As a doctor, Bombard was concerned about the hundreds of deaths at sea every year related to sailors drinking ocean water. He developed the theory that humans can not just survive but live for years on seawater. This sounds very strange, but his big idea was to begin drinking seawater, while you are still hydrated – and in small quantities. It turns out that saltwater is only dangerous if you are dehydrated and suddenly drink large amounts of it. – The way shipwrecked sailors typically would do when they run out of fresh water. From the book:

For some time I had made a study of the resistance of the human organism to privations and had convinced myself that it was possible for an individual to survive beyond the limits normally assigned by physiological science. I had paid particular attention to the case histories of political deportees, prisoners, and undernourished populations. But, with my background as a doctor, for whom the teachings of science remain a dead letter unless they can find practical application, my theoretical studies only seemed to lead to the question: ‘What use can made of this knowledge?’

Bombard ate spoonfuls of plankton that he collected in a fine net and he also drank juice made from pressed fish he caught along the way. Sound disgusting, but the man survived and he might have discovered an important piece of knowledge for survival on the ocean.

Download the free PDF e-book here (223 pages/38MB):

 The Bombard Story 1953

 

Arctic, Europe

Journey To Iceland

Leave a comment

Journey to Iceland with the subtitle – And Travels in Sweden and Norway was published in English in 1852. The Author is the amazing female explorer Ida Laura Pfeiffer, born in Austria. She was maybe the first female explorer and she was quite famous for her travel books, describing amazing expeditions to Southeast Asia, the Americas, Middle East, and Africa. She travelled around the world twice alone. This book is interesting to me because it is one of a very few old travel books that describe my own backyard, the Nordic and Scandinavian countries. She describes Denmark as a country that cares of the poor, no beggars in the streets as seen in every other Europen capital. Fun fact: Pfeiffer is referenced as “Madam Pfeiffer” in Thoreau’s book, Walden.

Download the Public Domain PDF e-book, Journey to Iceland here (376 pages/17MB):

 Journey to Iceland

Asia

A Conquest of Tibet

Leave a comment

A Conquest of Tibet by Svend Hedin is the amazing tale of a journey to the inner Tibet. The book was published in 1935 and was instantly a success. Hedin had the decades before published books from his fascinating and perilous adventures in remote and unknown areas of Asia. Every child knew his name in his homeland Sweden, and his books were translated into many languages. A Conquest of Tibet was his second adventure in Tibet and here he tells the story of everyday life in the forbidden country of the Dalai Lama. At that time only a very few Europeans had ever crossed the dangerous, and icy passes, fewer still had ever penetrated to the holy city of Lhasa. Svend Hedin had a sense of putting himself in dramatic situations and in the book you will find accounts of barbaric savages attacking, hordes of yaks charging and strange customs of the forgotten people at the top of the world. The books is richly illustrated by Hedin himself. From the book:

“I counted a dozen horsemen with bifurcated guns thrown over their shoulders. Islam, Parpi, Lobsang and I took a stand on the crest of a small hill eight feet high, back of which the other men and the caravan had cover. We were eight against twelve, three guns against a dozen. But ours were the better weapons. We threw off our fur coats. The men from East Turkestan were in fearful anguish, and as for myself I found the situation far from reassuring. The Tanguts could readily secure reinforcements from the nearby valleys and annihilate us, or in any event fleece us of everything even to the bare skin of our bodies. On the surface I indicated no apprehension, but calmly lit my pipe.”

Download the free PDF e-book here (398 pages/11MB):

 A Conquest of Tibet

Arctic

Arctic Survival and Jungle Survival

Leave a comment

Sometimes, reading about adventures won’t do the trick. We need to get out there. These two books will give you a basic understanding of survival on both the practical and psychological level. Arctic Survival and Jungle Survival is a compilation of two books. The first, Arctic Survival, was a pamphlet approved by the American Air Ministery and was a mandatory part of the emergency packs on military planes operating in the Arctic in the 1950′. As you might have guessed, it is all about survival, keeping warm, and optimize the chances of being found in time. In the Arctic your worst enemy is yourself. Panicking and bad decisions due to stress can be fatal, and this book will teach how to avoid the most common pitfalls.

How to build iglos

In the second book, Jungle Survival, your worst enemy is dangerous animals. You will learn how to deal with snakebites, mosquitos, and find food.

Download the two books here in one PDF file:

 Arctic Survival and Jungle Survival

Africa, America, Antarctic, Asia, Australia, Europe, Inuit, The New World

The Gift

Leave a comment

The Gift – Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies is the anthropological classic on economy, society and sociology by the french sociologist Marcel Mauss. The book investigates the gift as predecessor for modern societies economies by comparing habits from a range of traditional societies all over the world. Marcel Mauss describes how the people of Polynesia used gifts as a donation of authority and circulation of wealth and tributes. He compares the habits between eskimo tribes from North-East Siberia and West Alaska shows how gifts are the foundation for everything from marriage, war and peace and even religion in the form of sacrifices to the Gods. Marcel Mauss  concludes: “In any society it is in the nature of the gift in the end to being its own reward.”

From the book:

“I have never found a man so generous and hospitable that he would not receive a present, nor one so liberal with his money that he would dislike a reward if he could get one. Friends should rejoice each others’ hearts with gifts of weapons and raiment, that is clear from one’s own experience. That friendship lasts longest—if there is a chance of its being a success—in which friends both give and receive gifts. A man ought to be a friend to his friend and repay gift with gift. People should meet smiles with smiles and lies with treachery.”

Download The Gift here (136 pages/6MB):

 The Gift

America, Arctic, Europe, Inuit, Oceans, The New World, Thule

The Voyages of the Norsemen to America

Leave a comment

THE VOYAGES OF THE NORSEMEN TO AMERICA is an impressive historical presentation of the travels by the Vikings to America. The book was written by the dane William Hovgaard and published in English in 1914. His aim was to collect all the historical facts and evidences from various sources, and up to today Voyages of Norsemen is the authoritative compilation of historical descriptions of the travels of the Vikings to Iceland, Greenland and Vinland. The book is richly illustrated with maps and photos from expeditions to places where the Norsemen according to the sagas have been. William Hovgaard has many interesting points and for instance he draws similarities between popular folk games played by Norsemen in Iceland and Inuit games, and thereby supports written sources about Viking travels to remote parts of Greenland and Canada. The book goes into details of the following Viking voyages to America:

List of Viking voyages to America:

  • Bjarni’s Voyage (985 or 986)
  • Leif’s Return Voyage from Norway (1000)
  • Leif’s Voyage of Exploration to Vinland (1001)
  • Thorvald’s Voyage
  • Thorstein’s Voyage
  • Karlsefni’ s Expedition

Download the free PDF e-book here (408 pages/28MB):

 Voyages of Norsemen

Asia

The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian

Leave a comment

Marco Polo is probably one of the best-known explorers of all time. He was born in the year 1254 in Venice and joined his father’s trade business. In the company with his father Niccolò and uncle, Maffeo, Marco initiated a great journey along the Silk Road in 1271.

Finally, the delegation reached their destination and met the great Kublai Khan himself. The journey was never meant to last more than a few years, but extended into a 25-year long adventure, where Marco became a trusted advisor and servant to the Khan.

Marco Polo was the first Westerner to visit the far East. He described in detail the intricate workings of mighty China and traveled far and wide as a trusted envoy of the Khan. Amongst many other places, he visited and described Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian tells the complete story of Marco Polos life, his meeting with the eastern cultures – and how he succeeded in returning home at last.

Download the free e-book here in full length (477 pages/31MB) :

The Travels of Marco Polo

Middle East

Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”)

Leave a comment

In Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the British archaeologist, army-officer, diplomat, and writer T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”) tells vividly and engaging about his service as a liaison officer with the rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in the latter part of the first World War.

Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence was based in Jordan as a member of the British Forces and helped organize, carry out and sometimes even lead attacks on the Ottoman forces from Aqaba in the south to Damascus in the north.

His dramatic adventures during the war earned him international fame and became the basis of the 1962 epic historical drama “Lawrence of Arabia” where the role of Lawrence was played by Sir Peter O’Toole; the movie won seven Oscars!

After the war, T.E. Lawrence wrote and translated several books, corresponded with writers, artists, and politicians while working as an ordinary aircraftsman for the Royal Air Force, where he participated in the development of rescue motorboats.

Unfortunately, Lawrence did not live to see old age, as he was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident at the age of 46.

Download Seven Pillars of Wisdom as a PDF for free here (63,6 MB):

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Asia

Riddles of the Gobi Desert

Leave a comment

Riddles of the Gobi Desert by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. Sven Hedin’s fourth expedition from 1927 and 1935 to Asia led him to Mongolia, the Gobi Desert and Xinjiang. The goal was to map the areas, search for remains of ancient sites and to conduct meteorological research. Hedin’s mapping leter led to the construction of chinese roads to some of the isolated and mountainous areas. The expeditions took place in disputed areas and Hedin was attacked by villains and arrested by the Chinese General Ma Zhongying. When he was released he went to Beijing to meet with President Lin Sen.

The long travel was expensive and left Hedin in a difficult financial situation. After his return to Europe, he held 111 lectures in 91 German cities as well as 19 lectures in other countries. He met Adolf Hitler in Berlin before his lecture there on 14 April 1935.

Download the free PDF e-book here (422 pages/26MB):

 Riddles of the Gobi Desert

Africa

Travel in South Africa by O. Zachariah

Leave a comment

Travel in South Africa by O. Zachariah was published in 1926. Zachariah was very enthusiastic about South Africa and especially the modern means of transport that makes it easy to travel far and fast by train. During a few months, he visited the entire country, and in this book, he praises what he saw.  He writes about everything from politics, history, and people to more poetic descriptions of the landscapes and views. From the book:

“As the steamer approaches Table Bay, and the mountains, which rise sheer from the sea, are seen in more detail, the scene is one to hold the attention. Foremost is Table Mountain, its summit sometimes further beautified by the familiar cloth of cloud. Surrounding ranges extend as far as the eye can see. And at the base of Table Mountain is Capetown.”

Zachariah was not the least keen of the food on the steamer back and forth from England. The book includes a typical dinner menu en-route:

He writes: “In the evenings there are concerts and dances, and the ship’s orchestra also enlivens the proceed-
ings. Travel to, and in, South Africa is no longer a hardship, it has become a pleasure.”

Download the free PDF e-book here:

 Travel in South Africa PDF

Australia

The Amateur Tramp – The man who walked around a continent

1 Comment

The Amateur Tramp – A Walk of Ten Thousand Miles Around Australia. Thousands of people have climbed the highest peaks of the Himalayas. Hundreds have visited all nations on UN’s list and 12 made it all the way to the moon. But this guy..!

In 1921, Aidan de Brune packed his backpack and walked around the entire continent of Australia by the coastline. We are (almost) sure he is the only person who ever did that. Even more impressive, he did it all alone and without assistance.

The amazing adventure was documented by himself along the way as he wrote articles about it for the Australian newspaper Daily Mail along the route.

The route around Australia

The walk took about two and a half year, and the accomplishment made Aidan de Brune famous. This book about the walk is written by Colin Choat, who kindly allowed us to post the book here.

Download ‘The Amateur Tramp’ here:

The Amateur Tramp