The Land of Midian (Revisited).

Inscribed copy. Burton's second expedition to Midian, the area of north-west Arabia on the opposite bank of the Red Sea from the Sinai Peninsula, resulted in increased geographical knowledge, particularly regarding the western fringe of the peninsula north of Muelah and of the interior south of that place beyond the plateau. He mapped a 600-mile route through the northern and southern Midian recording its ancient cities. For the Khedive he brought back twenty-five tons of minerals to be assayed.

Inscribed on the half-title in Burton's hand: 'To my friend J. J. Aubertin/ [in Arabic] Abdullah' (Burton travelled in Arabia using the name Sheikh Abdullah). Aubertin, a traveller and writer, who translated an edition of The Lusiads, was Superintendent of the São Paolo Railway in Brazil from 1860 to 1869. Isabel Burton, an old friend of Aubertin, met up with him in Paris in 1869 and travelled with him to Vichy to meet Richard.

First edition. 2 vols, 8vo, xxviii, 338; vii, 319 pp., 32 pages ads dated 9.78 at end, inscribed by Burton on the half-title 'To my friend J. J. Aubertin/ [in Arabic] Abdullah'; folding map, 6 coloured plates, 10 plain plates (inscriptions), illustrations in the text, half-titles to both volumes, original yellow ochre cloth gilt, pictorial vignette to covers, light wear, a very good copy.

Penzer 96-97; Casada 44, Spink 61.