Pascoe, Prince of Gobir

The life story of a real early 19th century African, Pascoe, originally Abubakar, was a British navy seaman for 15 years. He then travelled extensively with a series of exploring expeditions. The first was with a colourful engineer, actor and pioneering discoverer of tombs and monuments of ancient Egyptian pharoahs. The second, after half died within a month, penetrated far into present day Nigeria, Pascoe's home country. Next he canoed with two brothers all down the river Niger to discover its then unknown end in a delta with outlets to the sea. The disastrous final one used newly-invented steam boats.The story, told as if by himself,shows him developing cooking skills, then becoming a valued expedition menber,after some earlier troubles.

Lupton draws on writings of contemporary explorers and on an unpublished 15-page manuscript written in 1823, saying how he found it. He flavours the narrative with his experience of working for 35 years in Nigeria, and his imagination.

Action packed,including Pascoe's seven marriages, travelling blocked by slavers, a poison ordeal, escape form captivity and encountering pirates. Striking characters include The Fat Man who steals all the food, the Widow Zuma, the Elderly Lady Elephant,the sea captain who answers an appeal for help by swearing, the chief who never pays his debts, and finally his poisoner.Although coming after 1807 when Britain ended its slave trade, slavery pervades the book, up to Lupton having his hair cut in 1964 by a man born as a Portuguese slave.

This book may appeal to anyone interested in old Africa or in personal relations with a racial aspect.