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袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍
小锌芯胁薪械薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁褨 写芯 写懈泻芯褩 锌褉懈褉芯写懈 褨 写芯斜褉芯谐芯 谐褍屑芯褉褍 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 锌褉芯 芯写薪褍 蟹 锌械褉褕懈褏 屑邪薪写褉褨胁芯泻 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌芯谐芯 蟹芯芯谢芯谐邪, 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈泻邪 褨 蟹邪褏懈褋薪懈泻邪 褌胁邪褉懈薪 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写邪 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 写芯 笑械薪褌褉邪谢褜薪芯褩 袗褎褉懈泻懈 褍 1949 褉芯褑褨. 孝邪屑, 薪邪 褋褏懈谢邪褏 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褋褜泻懈褏 谐褨褉, 胁懈褋芯泻芯 薪邪写 胁芯谢芯谐懈屑懈 谢褨褋芯胁懈屑懈 薪械褌褉褟屑懈 械泻胁邪褌芯褉褨邪谢褜薪懈褏 写卸褍薪谐谢褨胁, 胁褨薪 芯褋械谢懈褌褜褋褟 褍 屑褨褋褌械褔泻褍 袘邪褎褍褌. 袡芯谐芯 卸懈褌褌褦褉邪写褨褋薪懈泄 锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢褜 褨 屑褨褋褑械胁褨 屑懈褋谢懈胁褑褨 褋褌邪薪褍褌褜 锌芯屑褨褔薪懈泻邪屑懈 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 褍 锌芯褕褍泻邪褏 褉褨写泻褨褋薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪 写谢褟 泻芯谢械泻褑褨褩 袥芯薪写芯薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 蟹芯芯锌邪褉泻褍. 袧褨褔薪褨 谢芯胁懈 褉褨写泻褨褋薪芯褩 胁芯谢芯褏邪褌芯褩 卸邪斜懈, 褍 褔懈褦 褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 薪褨褏褌芯 薪械 胁褨褉懈胁, 写芯胁谐褨 锌芯褕褍泻懈 褌邪褦屑薪懈褔懈褏 谢械褌褞褔懈褏 褕懈锌芯褏胁芯褋褌褨胁, 锌芯谢褞胁邪薪薪褟 薪邪 蟹芯谢芯褌褍 谢褨褋芯胁褍 泻褨褕泻褍, 蟹邪胁芯褉芯卸褍褞褔械 泻褉邪褋懈胁褨 褌褍屑邪薪薪褨 褋胁褨褌邪薪泻懈 褍 薪械 蟹胁芯褉褍褕械薪芯屑褍 褑懈胁褨谢褨蟹邪褑褨褦褞 谢褨褋褨 鈥� 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪邪 写懈泻邪 袗褎褉懈泻邪 胁褨写泻褉懈褦 褋胁芯褩 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褨 写芯锌懈褌谢懈胁芯屑褍 胁褔械薪芯屑褍鈥�
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1954
69 people are currently reading
1,055 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Durrell
211听books1,663听followersGerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell was born in India in 1925. His elder siblings are Lawrence Durrell, Leslie Durrell, and Margaret Durrell. His family settled on Corfu when Gerald was a boy and he spent his time studying its wildlife. He relates these experiences in the trilogy beginning with My Family And Other Animals, and continuing with Birds, Beasts, And Relatives and The Garden Of The Gods. In his books he writes with wry humour and great perception about both the humans and the animals he meets.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
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March 18, 2022
'You no go shout me like dat, ma friend. You no savvay dat I be Bafut Beagle?鈥�
Follow the adventures of Gerald Durrell as his Bafut Beagles collect rare African animals.
Google Bafut now, a real African place, then travel back over half a century and discover a life far away from our civilized cities.
Its not what you know, but who you know...
鈥楾here is only one person you have to worry about in Bafut, and that鈥檚 the Fon,鈥� he said; 鈥榞et him on your side and the people will help you all they can.鈥�
鈥業s he the chief?鈥�
鈥楬e鈥檚 the sort of Nero of this region,鈥� said the D.O., marking a large circle on the map with his finger, 鈥榓nd what he says goes. He鈥檚 the most delightful old rogue, and the quickest and surest way to his heart is to prove to him that you can carry your liquor. He鈥檚 got a wonderful great villa there, which he built in case he had any European visitors, and I鈥檓 sure if you wrote to him he would let you stay there. It鈥檚 worth a visit, is Bafut, even if you don鈥檛 stay.鈥�
鈥榃ell, I鈥檒l drop him a note and see what he says.鈥�
鈥楽ee that your communication is 鈥� er 鈥� well lubricated,鈥� said the D.O.
鈥業鈥檒l go down to the store and get a bottle of lubrication at once,鈥� I assured him. So that afternoon, a messenger went off to the mountains, carrying with him my note and a bottle of gin.
Witchcraft with camera...
After a time I decided to try to take some photographs of the pagan tribesmen, so I set up the camera and started to focus it. Immediately, pandemonium broke loose; the tribesmen with one accord dropped their goods and chattels and fled for the nearest shelter, screaming wildly. Rather bewildered by this, for the average African is generally only too pleased to have his photograph taken, I turned to a Hausa standing close by and asked him what was the matter. The explanation was interesting: apparently the pagans knew what a camera was, and knew that it produced pictures of the people it was pointed at. But they were firmly convinced that with each photograph taken the photographer gained a small portion of his subject鈥檚 soul, and if he took many photographs he would gain complete control over the person in question. This is a good example of witchcraft being brought up to date..
I did manage to get a few shots of them, by the simple method of standing sideways on, looking in the opposite direction, and taking the photographs from under my arm.
The dancing monkey...
...she then showed me what could be done by a really experienced dancing monkey, and she twirled and leapt and bounced until I felt quite dizzy. I had been attracted to her from the first, but this wild dervish dance was irresistible, and I felt that I simply had to buy her. I paid her owner twice what she was worth and carried her off triumphantly. I bought her a bunch of bananas at one of the stalls, and she was so overcome by my generosity that she repaid me by wetting all down the front of my shirt. I rounded up the staff and the driver, all breathing corn beer, and we climbed into the lorry and continued our journey. The monkey sat on my knee, stuffing her mouth with bananas and uttering little cries of excitement and pleasure as she watched the scenery out of the window.
The Bafut Beagles are named...
I employed, as well as the four hunters the Fon had supplied, a pack of six thin and ungainly mongrels, who, their owners assured me, were the finest hunting dogs in West Africa. I called this untidy ensemble of men and dogs the Bafut Beagles. Although the hunters did not understand the meaning of this title they grew extremely proud of it, and I once heard a hunter, when arguing with a neighbor, proclaim in shrill and indignant tones, 鈥榊ou no go shout me like dat, ma friend. You no savvay dat I be Bafut Beagle?鈥�
Marriage...
The Fon gave an order. A young girl of about fifteen left the dancers and approached the dais where we sat. She was plump and shining with oil, and clad in a minute loin-cloth which left few of her charms to the imagination. She sidled up to us, smiling shyly, and the Fon leant forward and seized her by the wrist. With a quick pull and a twist he catapulted her into my lap, where she sat convulsed with giggles.鈥楴a for you, dis woman,鈥� said the Fon, with a lordly wave of one enormous hand, 鈥榥a fine one. Na my daughter. You go marry her.鈥�
The unprincipled cook...
Five shillings was a large sum to pay for a frog.
鈥業 no forget,鈥� said Jacob, slyly grinning up at me.
鈥楾hat I do not doubt,鈥� I said severely; 鈥榶ou鈥檙e a thoroughly unprincipled West African Shylock.鈥�
鈥榊es, sah,鈥� Jacob agreed unemotionally. It was impossible to crush him: if he did not understand you he simply played safe and agreed with all you said.
After being bitten by a poisonous snake Gerald eventually saw a doctor...
鈥榃hat have you been bitten by?鈥� he inquired.
鈥楬ow did you know I鈥檇 been bitten?鈥� I asked, rather startled by this rapid diagnosis.
鈥榊our pupils are tremendously distended,鈥� explained the doctor with professional relish. 鈥榃hat was it?鈥�
鈥楢 snake. I don鈥檛 know what kind, but it hurts like hell. I don鈥檛 suppose there was really much use in my coming in to you. There鈥檚 no serum to be had, is there?鈥�
鈥榃ell!鈥� he said in a pleased tone of voice. 鈥業sn鈥檛 that a strange thing? Last time I was on leave I got some serum. Thought it might come in useful. It鈥檚 been sitting in the fridge for the last six months.鈥�
鈥榃ell, thank heaven for that.鈥�
鈥楥ome into the house, my dear fellow. I shall be most interested to see if it works.鈥�
鈥楽o shall I,鈥� I admitted.
As we all know Gerald recovered and went on collecting animals and writing even more amusing stories.
Enjoy!
February 1, 2018
袣薪懈卸泻懈 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写邪 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 褌芯 褋褍褌褌褦胁邪 褔邪褋褌懈薪邪 褔懈褌邪褑褜泻芯谐芯 "屑芯谐芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯" 褍卸械... 邪, 褏芯谢褦褉邪, 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟, 21 褉褨泻, 邪谢械 屑芯卸褍 锌芯屑懈谢懈褌懈褋褟. 袉 胁褌褉械褌褦 褨 褑褜芯谐芯 褉邪蟹褍 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯屑褍 锌械褉械泻谢邪写褨* - 胁褋械 芯写薪械 "屑芯褦 胁褋械": 谐褍屑芯褉 (薪械 褌邪泻懈泄 褟写褍褔懈泄, 褟泻 胁 锌褨蟹薪褨褕懈褏 泻薪懈卸泻邪褏, 邪谢械 胁卸械 胁懈写薪芯, 褖芯 斜褍写褍褌褜 谢褞写懈), 褑褨泻邪胁芯谐芯 褎芯褉屑邪褌褍 "邪薪谐谢褨泄褋褜泻褨褋褌褜", 褋褌褉邪褕械薪薪邪 蟹邪谢褞斜谢械薪褨褋褌褜 褍 胁褋械 卸懈胁械 (褨 谢褞写械泄 屑懈 蟹 褑褜芯谐芯 褋锌懈褋泻褍 锌芯泻懈 褖芯 薪械 胁懈泻褉械褋谢褞褦屑芯) 褨 薪械 屑械薪褕 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜薪懈泄 褌邪谢邪薪褌 蟹薪邪褏芯写懈褌懈 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 薪邪 胁谢邪褋薪褍 写褍锌褍. 袗 褖械 褌褉芯褏懈 械褌薪芯谢芯谐褨褩, 斜邪谐邪褌芯 械褌芯谢芯谐褨褩 褌邪 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌 薪械薪褍写薪懈褏 锌械泄蟹邪卸薪懈褏 蟹邪屑邪谢褜芯胁芯泻. 袉 褖械 泻邪蟹泻芯胁芯-械锌褨褔薪懈泄 谐褨褉褋褜泻懈泄 袣邪屑械褉褍薪, 褟泻芯谐芯, 屑芯卸械, 胁 褌邪泻芯屑褍 胁懈谐谢褟写褨 胁卸械 泄 薪械 褨褋薪褍褦.
袥褞斜谢褞. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 谢褞斜谢褞. 袧械褏邪泄 薪邪胁褨褌褜 胁 褑褨泄 泻芯薪泻褉械褌薪褨泄 泻薪懈卸褑褨 蟹邪谐懈薪褍胁 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 薪邪褌芯胁锌 屑懈褕芯泻-褋褌褉懈斜褍薪褑褨胁.
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* 褖芯写芯 锌械褉械泻谢邪写褍: 卸芯胁褔 蟹邪蟹写褉芯褖褨胁 褉械谐褍谢褟褉薪芯 锌褨写褋褌褍锌邪谢邪 锌褨写 谐芯褉谢械褔泻芯 - 褟 褌械卸 褏芯褔褍 芯锌械褉褍胁邪褌懈 褌邪泻芯褞 写褨褦褋谢褨胁薪芯褞 褋懈薪芯薪褨屑褨褦褞!
袥褞斜谢褞. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 谢褞斜谢褞. 袧械褏邪泄 薪邪胁褨褌褜 胁 褑褨泄 泻芯薪泻褉械褌薪褨泄 泻薪懈卸褑褨 蟹邪谐懈薪褍胁 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 薪邪褌芯胁锌 屑懈褕芯泻-褋褌褉懈斜褍薪褑褨胁.
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* 褖芯写芯 锌械褉械泻谢邪写褍: 卸芯胁褔 蟹邪蟹写褉芯褖褨胁 褉械谐褍谢褟褉薪芯 锌褨写褋褌褍锌邪谢邪 锌褨写 谐芯褉谢械褔泻芯 - 褟 褌械卸 褏芯褔褍 芯锌械褉褍胁邪褌懈 褌邪泻芯褞 写褨褦褋谢褨胁薪芯褞 褋懈薪芯薪褨屑褨褦褞!
October 10, 2017
校褋械-褌邪泻懈 薪褨褏褌芯 褌邪泻 薪械 锌懈褕械 锌褉芯 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褟泻 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写 袛邪褉褉械谢谢.
笑械泄 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯泻谢邪胁 褍褋械 褋胁芯褦 卸懈褌褌褟 蟹邪褉邪写懈 锌芯褉褟褌褍薪泻褍 褉褨写泻褨褋薪懈褏 胁懈写褨胁, 斜褍胁 锌芯 胁褨薪褑褟 褋锌芯胁薪械薪懈泄 谢褞斜芯胁褨 写芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯 卸懈胁芯谐芯. 袧邪 褖邪褋褌褟, 屑邪褌褨薪泻邪-锌褉懈褉芯写邪 薪邪写褨谢懈谢邪 泄芯谐芯 褖械 泄 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈褑褜泻懈屑 褌邪谢邪薪褌芯屑 褨 褔褍写芯胁懈屑 锌芯褔褍褌褌褟屑 谐褍屑芯褉褍, 褌芯屑褍 泄芯谐芯 泻薪懈谐懈 褋褌褉邪褏 褟泻 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈. 袥褞斜谢褟褔懈屑 芯泻芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褦 胁褨薪 蟹邪 褋胁芯褩屑懈 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈屑懈 锌褨写芯锌褨褔薪懈屑懈, 写斜邪褦 锌褉芯 薪懈褏, 薪邪褔械 褌褍褉斜芯褌谢懈胁邪 屑邪褌懈 锌褉芯 薪械屑芯胁谢褟, 屑懈屑芯褏褨写褜 锌褨写屑褨褔邪褞褔懈 褩褏薪褨 褔褍写械褉薪邪褑褜泻褨, 锌芯褌褨褕薪褨 褔懈 斜械褕泻械褌谢懈胁褨 蟹胁懈褔泻懈. 袣褉褨屑 褌芯谐芯 褍 泻薪懈蟹褨 褔懈屑邪谢芯 褋锌芯褋褌械褉械卸械薪褜 褖械 泄 蟹邪 屑褨褋褑械胁懈屑懈 卸懈褌械谢褟屑懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍, 褖芯 胁 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褨. 袛谢褟 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯褏 蟹 薪懈褏 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 斜褍胁 锌械褉褕芯褞 斜褨谢芯褞 谢褞写懈薪芯褞, 褟泻褍 胁芯薪懈 蟹褍褋褌褉褨谢懈 胁 褋胁芯褦屑褍 卸懈褌褌褨, 褌芯卸 胁芯薪懈 褋褌邪胁谢褟褌褜褋褟 写芯 薪褜芯谐芯 蟹 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪芯褞 褑褨泻邪胁褨褋褌褞 褨 写芯斜褉芯蟹懈褔谢懈胁芯褞 谐芯褋褌懈薪薪褨褋褌褞 (褏芯褔邪 胁 褌芯褩 谐芯褋褌懈薪薪芯褋褌褨 褦 泄 蟹胁芯褉芯褌薪褨泄 斜褨泻: 邪胁褌芯褉 薪械 褉邪蟹 蟹谐邪写褍褦 褟泻 薪械谢械谐泻芯 泄芯屑褍 写邪胁邪谢懈褋褟 褔懈褋谢械薪薪褨 褌褟卸泻褨 锌懈褟褌懈泻懈 蟹 褎芯薪芯屑 袘邪褎褍褌褍 褔懈, 褋泻邪卸褨屑芯, 褟泻 泄芯屑褍 写芯胁芯写懈谢芯褋褟 胁胁褨褔谢懈胁芯 胁褨写屑芯胁懈褌懈褋褟 胁蟹褟褌懈 蟹邪 写褉褍卸懈薪褍 15-褉褨褔薪械 写褨胁褔邪).
袩褉懈褦屑薪械, 谢械谐泻械 褨 锌褨蟹薪邪胁邪谢褜薪械 褔褌懈胁芯. 袥褞斜褨褌褜 褨 锌芯胁邪卸邪泄褌械 褌胁邪褉懈薪!
笑械泄 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯泻谢邪胁 褍褋械 褋胁芯褦 卸懈褌褌褟 蟹邪褉邪写懈 锌芯褉褟褌褍薪泻褍 褉褨写泻褨褋薪懈褏 胁懈写褨胁, 斜褍胁 锌芯 胁褨薪褑褟 褋锌芯胁薪械薪懈泄 谢褞斜芯胁褨 写芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯 卸懈胁芯谐芯. 袧邪 褖邪褋褌褟, 屑邪褌褨薪泻邪-锌褉懈褉芯写邪 薪邪写褨谢懈谢邪 泄芯谐芯 褖械 泄 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈褑褜泻懈屑 褌邪谢邪薪褌芯屑 褨 褔褍写芯胁懈屑 锌芯褔褍褌褌褟屑 谐褍屑芯褉褍, 褌芯屑褍 泄芯谐芯 泻薪懈谐懈 褋褌褉邪褏 褟泻 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈. 袥褞斜谢褟褔懈屑 芯泻芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褦 胁褨薪 蟹邪 褋胁芯褩屑懈 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈屑懈 锌褨写芯锌褨褔薪懈屑懈, 写斜邪褦 锌褉芯 薪懈褏, 薪邪褔械 褌褍褉斜芯褌谢懈胁邪 屑邪褌懈 锌褉芯 薪械屑芯胁谢褟, 屑懈屑芯褏褨写褜 锌褨写屑褨褔邪褞褔懈 褩褏薪褨 褔褍写械褉薪邪褑褜泻褨, 锌芯褌褨褕薪褨 褔懈 斜械褕泻械褌谢懈胁褨 蟹胁懈褔泻懈. 袣褉褨屑 褌芯谐芯 褍 泻薪懈蟹褨 褔懈屑邪谢芯 褋锌芯褋褌械褉械卸械薪褜 褖械 泄 蟹邪 屑褨褋褑械胁懈屑懈 卸懈褌械谢褟屑懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍, 褖芯 胁 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褨. 袛谢褟 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯褏 蟹 薪懈褏 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 斜褍胁 锌械褉褕芯褞 斜褨谢芯褞 谢褞写懈薪芯褞, 褟泻褍 胁芯薪懈 蟹褍褋褌褉褨谢懈 胁 褋胁芯褦屑褍 卸懈褌褌褨, 褌芯卸 胁芯薪懈 褋褌邪胁谢褟褌褜褋褟 写芯 薪褜芯谐芯 蟹 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪芯褞 褑褨泻邪胁褨褋褌褞 褨 写芯斜褉芯蟹懈褔谢懈胁芯褞 谐芯褋褌懈薪薪褨褋褌褞 (褏芯褔邪 胁 褌芯褩 谐芯褋褌懈薪薪芯褋褌褨 褦 泄 蟹胁芯褉芯褌薪褨泄 斜褨泻: 邪胁褌芯褉 薪械 褉邪蟹 蟹谐邪写褍褦 褟泻 薪械谢械谐泻芯 泄芯屑褍 写邪胁邪谢懈褋褟 褔懈褋谢械薪薪褨 褌褟卸泻褨 锌懈褟褌懈泻懈 蟹 褎芯薪芯屑 袘邪褎褍褌褍 褔懈, 褋泻邪卸褨屑芯, 褟泻 泄芯屑褍 写芯胁芯写懈谢芯褋褟 胁胁褨褔谢懈胁芯 胁褨写屑芯胁懈褌懈褋褟 胁蟹褟褌懈 蟹邪 写褉褍卸懈薪褍 15-褉褨褔薪械 写褨胁褔邪).
袩褉懈褦屑薪械, 谢械谐泻械 褨 锌褨蟹薪邪胁邪谢褜薪械 褔褌懈胁芯. 袥褞斜褨褌褜 褨 锌芯胁邪卸邪泄褌械 褌胁邪褉懈薪!
May 26, 2016
This is the first book by Gerald Durrell I read, and I immediately became a fan. He writes with humour and sympathy about animals, and his adventures are vintage reads. He also made me look at zoos and their role in conservation in a new light.
January 24, 2016
This is a difficult book to review. On it's surface, and I'm sure at the time it was written it was received this way, it presents itself as a charming account of an expedition to Cameroon to pick up live animals to bring back to England to study, replete with amusing anecdotes about the difficulties of collecting and caring for the animals, and humorous depictions of the people Durrell meets along the way...
Can you spot the problem? It's in the "humorous depictions of the people". This book is the most pure example of a privileged, imperialist perspective that I have ever read. Written by a man who has no qualms, questions, or concerns of any kind about the colonialist system that supports his entire life. It's possible his depiction of the local patois is simply a factual depiction of how the poor English speakers of the area, fluent in other languages, managed to communicate with the English in their midst, but it felt like he played it for maximum "comedic" affect.
I don't want to cite specific examples of racist attitudes, but about halfway through the book he throws out an offhand comment about how he was taking an action not "merely" to demonstrate his inherent racial superiority, but for other more manipulative reasons, and it rather gave the whole game away. Making the subtext text, as they say.
This book made me deeply uncomfortable, and I found myself sometimes wishing I had first encountered Durrell through his more famous , which takes place on the Greek island of Corfu and might thereby have been free of his condescending and dehumanizing view of the Africans he dealt with. In the end, I'm glad I didn't, because avoiding the fact that he had these attitudes doesn't make them go away.
His attitude towards women is hardly superior, as there is an elaborate "comic" scene that presents him finding domestic violence completely acceptable, and reminiscent of proper English society, which disappoints him because he was hoping for something more superstitious as the root cause. There is also his absurd joy in humiliating British women he meets by exposing them to the more earthy behaviors of the monkeys he's captured.
I'm glad I read this book. It's too easy to read books like and assume that Orwell's own complicated views of the colonial system were typical, but I suspect it was attitudes like Durrell's that were far more common. Experiencing that attitude in all it's condescending, myopic glory has been a learning experience, if nothing else. He's a fish in water, and it all seems perfectly natural and appropriate to him.
Glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be picking up any more books by Durrell.
Can you spot the problem? It's in the "humorous depictions of the people". This book is the most pure example of a privileged, imperialist perspective that I have ever read. Written by a man who has no qualms, questions, or concerns of any kind about the colonialist system that supports his entire life. It's possible his depiction of the local patois is simply a factual depiction of how the poor English speakers of the area, fluent in other languages, managed to communicate with the English in their midst, but it felt like he played it for maximum "comedic" affect.
I don't want to cite specific examples of racist attitudes, but about halfway through the book he throws out an offhand comment about how he was taking an action not "merely" to demonstrate his inherent racial superiority, but for other more manipulative reasons, and it rather gave the whole game away. Making the subtext text, as they say.
This book made me deeply uncomfortable, and I found myself sometimes wishing I had first encountered Durrell through his more famous , which takes place on the Greek island of Corfu and might thereby have been free of his condescending and dehumanizing view of the Africans he dealt with. In the end, I'm glad I didn't, because avoiding the fact that he had these attitudes doesn't make them go away.
His attitude towards women is hardly superior, as there is an elaborate "comic" scene that presents him finding domestic violence completely acceptable, and reminiscent of proper English society, which disappoints him because he was hoping for something more superstitious as the root cause. There is also his absurd joy in humiliating British women he meets by exposing them to the more earthy behaviors of the monkeys he's captured.
I'm glad I read this book. It's too easy to read books like and assume that Orwell's own complicated views of the colonial system were typical, but I suspect it was attitudes like Durrell's that were far more common. Experiencing that attitude in all it's condescending, myopic glory has been a learning experience, if nothing else. He's a fish in water, and it all seems perfectly natural and appropriate to him.
Glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be picking up any more books by Durrell.
October 31, 2017
E, ovo me ba拧 osvje啪ilo. zabavne zgode tijekom hvatanja 啪ivotinja za zoo vrtove, do啪ivljaji s njima u kampu, dru啪enje s Fonom od Bafuta i njegovim podanicima...totalno opu拧tanje
June 28, 2017
芦袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 鈥� 褑械 芯锌芯胁褨写褜 锌褉芯 锌械褉褕褍 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褋褜泻褍 械泻褋锌械写懈褑褨褞 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪-蟹胁褨褉芯谢芯胁邪, 胁 褟泻褨泄 胁褨薪 蟹邪屑械褕泻邪胁 褍 褉械蟹懈写械薪褑褨褩 褎芯薪邪 袘邪褎褍褌褍 (袘邪褎褍褌 鈥� 褌邪泻 斜懈 屑芯胁懈褌懈 芦褌褉邪写懈褑褨泄薪械禄 泻芯褉芯谢褨胁褋褌胁芯 褍 屑械卸邪褏 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褍, 褎芯薪 鈥� 褌懈褌褍谢 泄芯谐芯 锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢褟). 袚芯薪褔邪泻邪屑懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 薪邪蟹胁邪胁 褌褍蟹械屑薪懈褏 屑懈褋谢懈胁褑褨胁, 褟泻褨 写芯锌芯屑邪谐邪谢懈 泄芯屑褍 锌芯谢褞胁邪褌懈 薪邪 褉褨写泻褨褋薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪. 袉, 褌褉械斜邪 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褑械泄 褌懈褌褍谢 胁芯薪懈 薪械褋谢懈 谐芯褉写芯.
袝泻褋锌械写懈褑褨褩 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 蟹邪蟹胁懈褔邪泄 屑懈薪邪谢懈 褌邪泻: 胁褨薪 芯斜谢邪褕褌芯胁褍胁邪胁 褌邪斜褨褉 褨, 锌芯-锌械褉褕械, 褏芯写懈胁 蟹褨 蟹薪邪胁褑褟屑懈 褌邪屑褌械褕薪褜芯褩 褎邪褍薪懈 褨 褎谢芯褉懈 薪邪 谢芯胁懈, 邪, 锌芯-写褉褍谐械, 蟹邪芯褏芯褔褍胁邪胁 屑褨褋褑械胁懈泄 谢褞写 薪械褋褌懈 泄芯屑褍 褍褋褨谢褟泻芯谐芯 芦蟹胁褨褉邪禄. 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 褋械褉械写 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褟泻懈褏 褕褍泻邪胁 蟹芯芯谢芯谐, 锌械褉械胁邪卸邪谢懈 褉褨写泻褨褋薪褨 胁懈写懈, 褌芯屑褍 胁褨薪 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹褍胁邪胁 褨 锌芯泻邪蟹褍胁邪胁 薪邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻邪褏, 褟泻芯谐芯 芦蟹胁褨褉邪禄 泄芯屑褍 褌褉械斜邪. 袘褍胁邪谢芯 褌邪泻, 褖芯 屑懈褋谢懈胁褑褨 蟹邪锌械胁薪褟谢懈 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪, 褖芯 褌邪泻芯谐芯 蟹胁褨褉邪 薪械 褨褋薪褍褦, 邪斜芯 卸 褖芯 胁褨薪 芦锌芯谐邪薪懈泄, 蟹谢懈泄, 芯褌褉褍泄薪懈泄禄. 袗谢械 蟹褉械褕褌芯褞 胁褋械 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪谢芯褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕-屑械薪褕 褍褋锌褨褕薪芯 褨 锌褉邪泻褌懈褔薪芯 褍褋褨褏 斜邪卸邪薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪 胁写邪胁邪谢芯褋褟 锌褨泄屑邪褌懈.
袟邪 褖芯 褟 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 谢褞斜谢褞 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 鈥� 褌邪泻 褑械 蟹邪 泄芯谐芯 谐褍屑芯褉 褨 胁屑褨薪薪褟 褋谢芯胁邪屑懈 胁褨蟹褍邪谢褨蟹褍胁邪褌懈 锌褉懈褉芯写褍, 蟹芯胁薪褨褕薪褨褋褌褜 薪邪泄褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪褨褕懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褩褏薪褨 蟹胁懈褔泻懈 褌邪泻, 褖芯 褑械 斜褍写械 薪褨 褉邪蟹褍 薪械 薪褍写薪芯, 蟹邪褌械 写褍卸械 斜邪褉胁懈褋褌芯, 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 写芯褌械锌薪芯 褨 胁械褋械谢芯. 袡 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 锌褉邪胁写芯锌芯写褨斜薪芯: 褨薪芯写褨 褟 胁褨写泻谢邪写邪谢邪 泻薪懈卸泻褍 褨 谐褍谐谢懈谢邪 蟹芯斜褉邪卸械薪薪褟 薪邪泄褑褨泻邪胁褨褕懈褏 蟹胁褨褉褟褌 鈥� 谐邪谢邪谐芯, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写 (械谢褜褎芯锌芯写褨斜薪懈褏, 褋褏芯卸懈褏 薪邪 谢械屑褍褉褨胁, 蟹 薪械胁懈薪薪懈屑 锌芯谐谢褟写芯屑 胁械谢械褌械薪褋褜泻懈褏 芯褔械泄), 褔懈 褌邪屑 写邪屑邪薪邪, 鈥� 褨 胁芯薪懈 胁懈褟胁谢褟谢懈褋褟 褋邪屑械 褌邪泻懈屑懈, 褟泻懈屑懈 褟 褩褏 褍褟胁谢褟谢邪 蟹 芯锌懈褋褍.
袛芯写邪泄褌械 写芯 褑褜芯谐芯 泻褍屑械写薪褨 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 褨 褏邪褉袗泻褌械褉薪懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 鈥� 褨 芯褌褉懈屑邪褦褌械 褋褍锌械褉芯胁械 锌褉懈褉芯写薪懈褔械-锌褉懈谐芯写薪懈褑褜泻械 褔褌懈胁芯, 褟泻械 褔褍写芯胁芯 锌芯谐邪屑褍褦 褋锌褉邪谐褍 锌褨蟹薪邪薪薪褟 褨 锌褉懈谐芯写 馃檪
袛芯 褉械褔褨, 锌芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袚械褉芯褟屑懈 褌胁芯褉褨胁 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 褔邪褋褌芯 褋褌邪褞褌褜 褌褍蟹械屑褑褨 鈥� 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁薪懈泻懈 屑褨褋褑械胁懈褏 薪邪褉芯写褨胁 褨 锌谢械屑械薪. 袉 芯褌 褖芯 锌褉懈褦屑薪芯 鈥� 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 锌懈褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 斜械蟹 芯褑褜芯谐芯 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 锌械褉械胁邪谐懈 芦斜褨谢芯谐芯 芯褋胁褨褔械薪芯谐芯 褦胁褉芯锌械泄褑褟禄 薪邪写 芦褌械屑薪芯褞 屑邪褋芯褞禄. 袙褨薪 锌懈褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 蟹 褟泻芯褞褋褜 谢褞斜芯胁鈥櫻� 褨 褖懈褉褨褋褌褞, 蟹 褟泻懈屑芯褋褜 褌邪泻懈屑 褌械锌谢芯屑鈥� 袩芯胁褋褟泻褔邪褋 锌褨写泻褉械褋谢褞褦 褩褏薪褨 锌芯蟹懈褌懈胁薪褨 褉懈褋懈, 褨 胁 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褟褏, 写械 褌邪泻邪 胁械谢懈泻邪 褋锌芯泻褍褋邪 锌芯胁锌褉邪胁谢褟褌懈褋褟 褍 褋邪褉泻邪蟹屑褨, 胁褨薪 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褦 褍褋械 褌邪泻, 褖芯斜 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褏芯褉芯褕械, 邪 薪械 锌褉芯 锌芯谐邪薪械. 啸芯褔邪, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯 褍 褑褜芯屑褍 褨 褦 锌械胁薪邪 锌芯斜谢邪卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜. 袗谢械 锌褉懈薪邪泄屑薪褨 褑械 薪械 褉褨卸械 胁褍褏芯 蟹胁械褉褏薪褨褋褌褞 褨 薪械褌芯谢械褉邪薪褌薪褨褋褌褞.
袧邪泄褟褋泻褉邪胁褨褕懈屑 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸械屑 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻褨胁 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 [芯泻褉褨屑 褕懈屑锌邪薪蟹械 袦械褉褨, 褟泻邪 芦谢褞斜懈谢邪 胁懈褋褌邪胁谢褟褌懈 蟹 泻谢褨褌泻懈 薪邪锌芯泻邪蟹 褋胁芯褩 芦褋芯褉芯屑褨褑褜泻褨 屑褨褋褑褟禄 褨 胁懈屑邪谐邪谢邪, 褖芯斜 褌褍写懈 褏褌芯褋褜 写屑褍褏邪胁 鈥� 胁懈斜邪褔褌械, 褟 薪械 屑芯谐谢邪 锌褉芯 褑械 薪械 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹邪褌懈))) ] 褦 褋邪屑 褎芯薪 袘邪褎褍褌褍, 锌芯胁邪卸薪懈泄 褨 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁懈泄 锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢褜 薪邪 谢褞写褟褏, 胁锌褉邪胁薪懈泄 屑懈褋谢懈胁械褑褜 褍 写褍褕褨 褨 胁械谢懈泻懈泄 谢褞斜懈褌械谢褜 胁懈锌懈褌懈. 孝邪泻, 褋锌褨谢褜薪懈屑 锌懈褟褌懈泻邪屑 褌褍褌 锌褉懈褋胁褟褔械薪芯 薪械屑邪谢芯 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 馃檪 袗 褖芯 锌懈褟褌懈泻懈 蟹邪蟹胁懈褔邪泄 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪谢懈褋褟 褌芯 褌邪薪褑褟屑懈, 褌芯 褟泻懈屑懈褋褜 屑械谐邪-胁邪卸谢懈胁懈屑懈 写芯屑芯胁谢械薪芯褋褌褟屑懈, 褌芯 薪褨褔薪懈屑 锌芯谢褞胁邪薪薪褟屑, 褌芯 褑械 褍褋械 写芯写邪褦 薪械邪斜懈褟泻芯褩 卸胁邪胁芯褋褌褨 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨.
袉, 蟹胁褨褋薪芯, 褑褟 泻薪懈卸泻邪 鈥� 褔褍写芯胁懈泄 褕邪薪褋 斜褨谢褜褕械 写褨蟹薪邪褌懈褋褟 锌褉芯 褋胁芯褩褏 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈褏 械泻蟹芯褌懈褔薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪芯泻 鈥� 邪斜芯 卸 薪邪胁锌邪泻懈, 薪邪写斜邪褌懈 褋芯斜褨 薪芯胁懈褏 褍谢褞斜谢械薪褑褨胁. 袨褌 褟, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 蟹邪泻芯褏邪谢邪褋褟 胁 谐邪谢邪谐芯 褨 褌械锌械褉 写褍卸械 褏芯褔褍 锌芯斜邪褔懈褌懈 泄芯谐芯 胁卸懈胁褍!
袝泻褋锌械写懈褑褨褩 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 蟹邪蟹胁懈褔邪泄 屑懈薪邪谢懈 褌邪泻: 胁褨薪 芯斜谢邪褕褌芯胁褍胁邪胁 褌邪斜褨褉 褨, 锌芯-锌械褉褕械, 褏芯写懈胁 蟹褨 蟹薪邪胁褑褟屑懈 褌邪屑褌械褕薪褜芯褩 褎邪褍薪懈 褨 褎谢芯褉懈 薪邪 谢芯胁懈, 邪, 锌芯-写褉褍谐械, 蟹邪芯褏芯褔褍胁邪胁 屑褨褋褑械胁懈泄 谢褞写 薪械褋褌懈 泄芯屑褍 褍褋褨谢褟泻芯谐芯 芦蟹胁褨褉邪禄. 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 褋械褉械写 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褟泻懈褏 褕褍泻邪胁 蟹芯芯谢芯谐, 锌械褉械胁邪卸邪谢懈 褉褨写泻褨褋薪褨 胁懈写懈, 褌芯屑褍 胁褨薪 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹褍胁邪胁 褨 锌芯泻邪蟹褍胁邪胁 薪邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻邪褏, 褟泻芯谐芯 芦蟹胁褨褉邪禄 泄芯屑褍 褌褉械斜邪. 袘褍胁邪谢芯 褌邪泻, 褖芯 屑懈褋谢懈胁褑褨 蟹邪锌械胁薪褟谢懈 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪, 褖芯 褌邪泻芯谐芯 蟹胁褨褉邪 薪械 褨褋薪褍褦, 邪斜芯 卸 褖芯 胁褨薪 芦锌芯谐邪薪懈泄, 蟹谢懈泄, 芯褌褉褍泄薪懈泄禄. 袗谢械 蟹褉械褕褌芯褞 胁褋械 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪谢芯褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕-屑械薪褕 褍褋锌褨褕薪芯 褨 锌褉邪泻褌懈褔薪芯 褍褋褨褏 斜邪卸邪薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪 胁写邪胁邪谢芯褋褟 锌褨泄屑邪褌懈.
袟邪 褖芯 褟 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 谢褞斜谢褞 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 鈥� 褌邪泻 褑械 蟹邪 泄芯谐芯 谐褍屑芯褉 褨 胁屑褨薪薪褟 褋谢芯胁邪屑懈 胁褨蟹褍邪谢褨蟹褍胁邪褌懈 锌褉懈褉芯写褍, 蟹芯胁薪褨褕薪褨褋褌褜 薪邪泄褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪褨褕懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褩褏薪褨 蟹胁懈褔泻懈 褌邪泻, 褖芯 褑械 斜褍写械 薪褨 褉邪蟹褍 薪械 薪褍写薪芯, 蟹邪褌械 写褍卸械 斜邪褉胁懈褋褌芯, 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 写芯褌械锌薪芯 褨 胁械褋械谢芯. 袡 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 锌褉邪胁写芯锌芯写褨斜薪芯: 褨薪芯写褨 褟 胁褨写泻谢邪写邪谢邪 泻薪懈卸泻褍 褨 谐褍谐谢懈谢邪 蟹芯斜褉邪卸械薪薪褟 薪邪泄褑褨泻邪胁褨褕懈褏 蟹胁褨褉褟褌 鈥� 谐邪谢邪谐芯, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写 (械谢褜褎芯锌芯写褨斜薪懈褏, 褋褏芯卸懈褏 薪邪 谢械屑褍褉褨胁, 蟹 薪械胁懈薪薪懈屑 锌芯谐谢褟写芯屑 胁械谢械褌械薪褋褜泻懈褏 芯褔械泄), 褔懈 褌邪屑 写邪屑邪薪邪, 鈥� 褨 胁芯薪懈 胁懈褟胁谢褟谢懈褋褟 褋邪屑械 褌邪泻懈屑懈, 褟泻懈屑懈 褟 褩褏 褍褟胁谢褟谢邪 蟹 芯锌懈褋褍.
袛芯写邪泄褌械 写芯 褑褜芯谐芯 泻褍屑械写薪褨 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 褨 褏邪褉袗泻褌械褉薪懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 鈥� 褨 芯褌褉懈屑邪褦褌械 褋褍锌械褉芯胁械 锌褉懈褉芯写薪懈褔械-锌褉懈谐芯写薪懈褑褜泻械 褔褌懈胁芯, 褟泻械 褔褍写芯胁芯 锌芯谐邪屑褍褦 褋锌褉邪谐褍 锌褨蟹薪邪薪薪褟 褨 锌褉懈谐芯写 馃檪
袛芯 褉械褔褨, 锌芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袚械褉芯褟屑懈 褌胁芯褉褨胁 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 褔邪褋褌芯 褋褌邪褞褌褜 褌褍蟹械屑褑褨 鈥� 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁薪懈泻懈 屑褨褋褑械胁懈褏 薪邪褉芯写褨胁 褨 锌谢械屑械薪. 袉 芯褌 褖芯 锌褉懈褦屑薪芯 鈥� 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 锌懈褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 斜械蟹 芯褑褜芯谐芯 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 锌械褉械胁邪谐懈 芦斜褨谢芯谐芯 芯褋胁褨褔械薪芯谐芯 褦胁褉芯锌械泄褑褟禄 薪邪写 芦褌械屑薪芯褞 屑邪褋芯褞禄. 袙褨薪 锌懈褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 蟹 褟泻芯褞褋褜 谢褞斜芯胁鈥櫻� 褨 褖懈褉褨褋褌褞, 蟹 褟泻懈屑芯褋褜 褌邪泻懈屑 褌械锌谢芯屑鈥� 袩芯胁褋褟泻褔邪褋 锌褨写泻褉械褋谢褞褦 褩褏薪褨 锌芯蟹懈褌懈胁薪褨 褉懈褋懈, 褨 胁 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褟褏, 写械 褌邪泻邪 胁械谢懈泻邪 褋锌芯泻褍褋邪 锌芯胁锌褉邪胁谢褟褌懈褋褟 褍 褋邪褉泻邪蟹屑褨, 胁褨薪 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褦 褍褋械 褌邪泻, 褖芯斜 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褏芯褉芯褕械, 邪 薪械 锌褉芯 锌芯谐邪薪械. 啸芯褔邪, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯 褍 褑褜芯屑褍 褨 褦 锌械胁薪邪 锌芯斜谢邪卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜. 袗谢械 锌褉懈薪邪泄屑薪褨 褑械 薪械 褉褨卸械 胁褍褏芯 蟹胁械褉褏薪褨褋褌褞 褨 薪械褌芯谢械褉邪薪褌薪褨褋褌褞.
袧邪泄褟褋泻褉邪胁褨褕懈屑 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸械屑 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻褨胁 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 [芯泻褉褨屑 褕懈屑锌邪薪蟹械 袦械褉褨, 褟泻邪 芦谢褞斜懈谢邪 胁懈褋褌邪胁谢褟褌懈 蟹 泻谢褨褌泻懈 薪邪锌芯泻邪蟹 褋胁芯褩 芦褋芯褉芯屑褨褑褜泻褨 屑褨褋褑褟禄 褨 胁懈屑邪谐邪谢邪, 褖芯斜 褌褍写懈 褏褌芯褋褜 写屑褍褏邪胁 鈥� 胁懈斜邪褔褌械, 褟 薪械 屑芯谐谢邪 锌褉芯 褑械 薪械 褉芯蟹泻邪蟹邪褌懈))) ] 褦 褋邪屑 褎芯薪 袘邪褎褍褌褍, 锌芯胁邪卸薪懈泄 褨 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁懈泄 锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢褜 薪邪 谢褞写褟褏, 胁锌褉邪胁薪懈泄 屑懈褋谢懈胁械褑褜 褍 写褍褕褨 褨 胁械谢懈泻懈泄 谢褞斜懈褌械谢褜 胁懈锌懈褌懈. 孝邪泻, 褋锌褨谢褜薪懈屑 锌懈褟褌懈泻邪屑 褌褍褌 锌褉懈褋胁褟褔械薪芯 薪械屑邪谢芯 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 馃檪 袗 褖芯 锌懈褟褌懈泻懈 蟹邪蟹胁懈褔邪泄 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪谢懈褋褟 褌芯 褌邪薪褑褟屑懈, 褌芯 褟泻懈屑懈褋褜 屑械谐邪-胁邪卸谢懈胁懈屑懈 写芯屑芯胁谢械薪芯褋褌褟屑懈, 褌芯 薪褨褔薪懈屑 锌芯谢褞胁邪薪薪褟屑, 褌芯 褑械 褍褋械 写芯写邪褦 薪械邪斜懈褟泻芯褩 卸胁邪胁芯褋褌褨 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨.
袉, 蟹胁褨褋薪芯, 褑褟 泻薪懈卸泻邪 鈥� 褔褍写芯胁懈泄 褕邪薪褋 斜褨谢褜褕械 写褨蟹薪邪褌懈褋褟 锌褉芯 褋胁芯褩褏 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈褏 械泻蟹芯褌懈褔薪懈褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪芯泻 鈥� 邪斜芯 卸 薪邪胁锌邪泻懈, 薪邪写斜邪褌懈 褋芯斜褨 薪芯胁懈褏 褍谢褞斜谢械薪褑褨胁. 袨褌 褟, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 蟹邪泻芯褏邪谢邪褋褟 胁 谐邪谢邪谐芯 褨 褌械锌械褉 写褍卸械 褏芯褔褍 锌芯斜邪褔懈褌懈 泄芯谐芯 胁卸懈胁褍!
September 20, 2021
Joproj膩m tikpat for拧i. Papildus bonuss, lasot tagad: iesp膿ja izp膿t墨t karti, samekl膿jot gan E拧obi, gan Bafutu, un atrast internet膩, k膩 paties墨b膩 izskat墨j膩s Bafutas fons:
December 31, 2016
Another amazing book my the Mr Durrell who has become my favorite author now when it comes to animals :-)
This is the story of Durrell's animal collecting expedition to what was then the British Cameroons, in the late 1940's. The book is full of memorable characters, human and animal which is almost unbelievable to say the least because they are just so amazing!
Trust me, you will end up praying to be on this trip if it was possible by any means!
This is the story of Durrell's animal collecting expedition to what was then the British Cameroons, in the late 1940's. The book is full of memorable characters, human and animal which is almost unbelievable to say the least because they are just so amazing!
Trust me, you will end up praying to be on this trip if it was possible by any means!
December 1, 2024
袙 写懈褌懈薪褋褌胁褨 褟 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 屑褉褨褟谢邪 褋褌邪褌懈 蟹芯芯谢芯谐芯屑, 泻芯谢懈 胁懈褉芯褋褌褍: 褟 屑褉褨褟谢邪 褋褌邪褌懈 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写芯屑 袛邪褉褉械谢谢芯屑. 袟写邪胁邪谢芯褋褟 屑械薪褨, 褖芯 蟹斜懈褉邪褌懈 写懈泻懈褏 蟹胁褨褉褨胁 褍 褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪懈褏 泻褍褌芯褔泻邪褏 锌谢邪薪械褌懈 - 褑械 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖邪 褉芯斜芯褌邪 褍 褋胁褨褌褨 (褨, 褔械褋薪芯 泻邪卸褍褔懈, 褟泻 斜懈 褟 薪械 谢褞斜懈谢邪 褋胁芯褞 锌褉芯褎械褋褨褞, 屑芯褟 胁薪褍褌褉褨褕薪褟 写懈褌懈薪邪 褨 写芯褋褨 褋锌芯写褨胁邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褖芯, 泻芯谢懈 胁懈褉芯褋褌械, 蟹屑芯卸械 褋褌邪褌懈 袛邪褉褉械谢谢芯屑 - 薪械 蟹薪邪褞, 屑芯卸械 胁 薪邪褋褌褍锌薪芯屑褍 卸懈褌褌褨)).
袦械薪褨 褕泻芯写邪, 褖芯 写邪谢械泻芯 薪械 胁褋械 蟹 写芯褉芯斜泻褍 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 锌械褉械泻谢邪写械薪芯 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯褞, 邪谢械 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻褨胁 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 褟 褉邪写褨褋薪芯 褏邪锌薪褍谢邪, 褖芯泄薪芯 锌芯斜邪褔懈胁褕懈 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褉薪褨 芦袩谢械泻邪泄禄. 袙 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪懈褏 泻薪懈谐邪褉薪褟褏 褩褩 胁卸械 薪械 蟹薪邪泄褌懈 - 泻薪懈卸泻邪 2017 褉芯泻褍 (褨 褟 蟹邪褉邪蟹 褋泻邪卸褍 写械褖芯 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪械: 褩褩 胁懈写邪谢芯 袣小袛, 褨 褌邪屑 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄 锌械褉械泻谢邪写 - 斜褍胁邪褦 卸 褌邪泻械!).
携 胁卸械 锌械褉械泻芯薪邪谢邪褋褟, 褖芯 写邪谢械泻芯 薪械 胁褋褨 褍谢褞斜谢械薪褨 泻薪懈谐懈 屑芯谐芯 写懈褌懈薪褋褌胁邪 锌褉芯褏芯写褟褌褜 胁懈锌褉芯斜褍胁邪薪薪褟 褔邪褋芯屑; 邪谢械 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 胁褋械 褌邪泻褨 卸 褋胁褨卸褨, 写芯褌械锌薪褨 泄 褔邪褉褨胁薪褨, 褟泻 斜褍谢懈 褌褉懈写褑褟褌褜 蟹 谐邪泻芯屑 褉芯泻褨胁 褌芯屑褍.
袉 褟, 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褉芯蟹谐邪写邪谢邪 褋械泻褉械褌 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪. 袙褨薪 谢褞斜懈褌褜 胁褋械, 锌褉芯 褖芯 锌懈褕械: 谢褞斜懈褌褜 袗褎褉懈泻褍 蟹 褩褩 谢褨褋邪屑懈 褌邪 谢褍泻邪屑懈, 谢褞斜懈褌褜 褍褋褨褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褖芯 褩褩 蟹邪屑械褕泻褍褞褌褜, 胁褨写 薪邪泄写褉褨斜薪褨褕懈褏 屑懈褕械泄 写芯 锌褨褌芯薪褨胁, 胁褨写 胁芯谢芯褏邪褌懈褏 卸邪斜 写芯 褕懈屑锌邪薪蟹械; 褨, 褟泻懈屑芯褋褜 薪械蟹斜邪谐薪械薪薪懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑, 胁褨薪 谢褞斜懈褌褜 薪邪胁褨褌褜 谢褞写械泄. 孝芯屑褍 胁蟹褟褌懈 写芯 褉褍泻 泻薪懈谐褍 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 - 褑械 屑芯胁斜懈 芯褌褉懈屑邪褌懈 褔邪褉褨胁薪褍 锌褨谐褍谢泻褍 胁褨写 蟹薪械胁褨褉懈 褌邪 胁褌芯屑懈. 效懈褌邪褦褕 褨 写褍屑邪褦褕, 褖芯 褋胁褨褌, 锌芯锌褉懈 胁褋械, 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄. 袗斜芯 锌褉懈薪邪泄屑薪褨 斜褍胁 泻芯谢懈褋褜 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈屑.
袦械薪褨 褕泻芯写邪, 褖芯 写邪谢械泻芯 薪械 胁褋械 蟹 写芯褉芯斜泻褍 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 锌械褉械泻谢邪写械薪芯 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯褞, 邪谢械 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻褨胁 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 褟 褉邪写褨褋薪芯 褏邪锌薪褍谢邪, 褖芯泄薪芯 锌芯斜邪褔懈胁褕懈 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褉薪褨 芦袩谢械泻邪泄禄. 袙 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪懈褏 泻薪懈谐邪褉薪褟褏 褩褩 胁卸械 薪械 蟹薪邪泄褌懈 - 泻薪懈卸泻邪 2017 褉芯泻褍 (褨 褟 蟹邪褉邪蟹 褋泻邪卸褍 写械褖芯 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪械: 褩褩 胁懈写邪谢芯 袣小袛, 褨 褌邪屑 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄 锌械褉械泻谢邪写 - 斜褍胁邪褦 卸 褌邪泻械!).
携 胁卸械 锌械褉械泻芯薪邪谢邪褋褟, 褖芯 写邪谢械泻芯 薪械 胁褋褨 褍谢褞斜谢械薪褨 泻薪懈谐懈 屑芯谐芯 写懈褌懈薪褋褌胁邪 锌褉芯褏芯写褟褌褜 胁懈锌褉芯斜褍胁邪薪薪褟 褔邪褋芯屑; 邪谢械 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 胁褋械 褌邪泻褨 卸 褋胁褨卸褨, 写芯褌械锌薪褨 泄 褔邪褉褨胁薪褨, 褟泻 斜褍谢懈 褌褉懈写褑褟褌褜 蟹 谐邪泻芯屑 褉芯泻褨胁 褌芯屑褍.
袉 褟, 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褉芯蟹谐邪写邪谢邪 褋械泻褉械褌 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪. 袙褨薪 谢褞斜懈褌褜 胁褋械, 锌褉芯 褖芯 锌懈褕械: 谢褞斜懈褌褜 袗褎褉懈泻褍 蟹 褩褩 谢褨褋邪屑懈 褌邪 谢褍泻邪屑懈, 谢褞斜懈褌褜 褍褋褨褏 褌胁邪褉懈薪, 褖芯 褩褩 蟹邪屑械褕泻褍褞褌褜, 胁褨写 薪邪泄写褉褨斜薪褨褕懈褏 屑懈褕械泄 写芯 锌褨褌芯薪褨胁, 胁褨写 胁芯谢芯褏邪褌懈褏 卸邪斜 写芯 褕懈屑锌邪薪蟹械; 褨, 褟泻懈屑芯褋褜 薪械蟹斜邪谐薪械薪薪懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑, 胁褨薪 谢褞斜懈褌褜 薪邪胁褨褌褜 谢褞写械泄. 孝芯屑褍 胁蟹褟褌懈 写芯 褉褍泻 泻薪懈谐褍 袛邪褉褉械谢谢邪 - 褑械 屑芯胁斜懈 芯褌褉懈屑邪褌懈 褔邪褉褨胁薪褍 锌褨谐褍谢泻褍 胁褨写 蟹薪械胁褨褉懈 褌邪 胁褌芯屑懈. 效懈褌邪褦褕 褨 写褍屑邪褦褕, 褖芯 褋胁褨褌, 锌芯锌褉懈 胁褋械, 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈泄. 袗斜芯 锌褉懈薪邪泄屑薪褨 斜褍胁 泻芯谢懈褋褜 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪懈屑.
August 10, 2016
Another thoroughly enjoyable book by Durrell. Each time I read him, I met such fascinating creatures. And Durrell can make even a toad adorable!
August 9, 2021
ENGLISH: This is the fourth time I've read this book, the third written by Durrell, which relates his second expedition collecting animals for zoos. After the success of his first try in Cameroun, he came back again with a different partner. Especially interesting are (for me) the capture of four hyrax of the rocks (Procavia capensis), the case of the typhlops in disguise, and how Durrell taught the Fon of Bafut to dance the conga.
Most interesting is Durrell's explanation about the different parasites acquire by baby monkeys living in the jungle, and how to extirpate them. This is a good lesson for ignorant animal defenders who insist that taking animals out of the wild for any reason is an outrage.
ESPA脩OL: Esta es la cuarta vez que leo este libro, el tercero que escribi贸 Durrell, que relata su segunda expedici贸n en busca de animales para zool贸gicos. Tras el 茅xito de su primer intento en Camer煤n, volvi贸 a ese pa铆s con un compa帽ero diferente. Me interesaron especialmente la captura de cuatro damanes de las rocas (Procavia capensis), el caso del disfraz de serpiente ciega, y c贸mo ense帽贸 Durrell al Fon de Bafut a bailar la conga.
Es muy interesante la explicaci贸n de Durrell sobre los par谩sitos que adquieren los monos beb茅s que viven en la jungla y c贸mo extirparlos. Es una buena lecci贸n para los animalistas ignorantes que insisten en que sacar animales de la "vida natural" por cualquier motivo es una barbaridad.
Most interesting is Durrell's explanation about the different parasites acquire by baby monkeys living in the jungle, and how to extirpate them. This is a good lesson for ignorant animal defenders who insist that taking animals out of the wild for any reason is an outrage.
ESPA脩OL: Esta es la cuarta vez que leo este libro, el tercero que escribi贸 Durrell, que relata su segunda expedici贸n en busca de animales para zool贸gicos. Tras el 茅xito de su primer intento en Camer煤n, volvi贸 a ese pa铆s con un compa帽ero diferente. Me interesaron especialmente la captura de cuatro damanes de las rocas (Procavia capensis), el caso del disfraz de serpiente ciega, y c贸mo ense帽贸 Durrell al Fon de Bafut a bailar la conga.
Es muy interesante la explicaci贸n de Durrell sobre los par谩sitos que adquieren los monos beb茅s que viven en la jungla y c贸mo extirparlos. Es una buena lecci贸n para los animalistas ignorantes que insisten en que sacar animales de la "vida natural" por cualquier motivo es una barbaridad.
August 13, 2019
It's quite interesting reading this at the same time as I'm listening to the audiobook of "Blood River". Both are tales of Englishmen in Africa. Whereas Tim Butcher spends most of the time in real danger, refuses to stereotype, and uses his wits to determine which of the many people he meets are worthy of trust and respect, Gerald Durrell is writing in another age, and he just cruises around, effortlessly assuming his right to be called "Masa" and "Sah" by the flock of undifferentiated, caricatured natives whose words are transcribed phonetically and embellished for comic effect. There's nothing so crude as overt racism of course, and it would be pointless to judge him by the standards of today anyway, but the spirit of the age shines through every paragraph, and reading it in conjunction with the more modern work only makes it the more obvious.
Anyway, don't let me put you off - it's very funny indeed!
Anyway, don't let me put you off - it's very funny indeed!
November 8, 2021
More adventures in natural history, including the human kind.
Durrell recounts his trip to what is now northern Cameroon to collect animals for British zoos. He describes the people and the animals around him with equal humor, compassion, scientific interest, and space on the page, all of it illustrated beautifully by Ralph Thompson.
Durrell recounts his trip to what is now northern Cameroon to collect animals for British zoos. He describes the people and the animals around him with equal humor, compassion, scientific interest, and space on the page, all of it illustrated beautifully by Ralph Thompson.
July 22, 2016
A lovely and descriptive look at animal collecting in Africa in the 1950s. Gerald Durrell's affection for the people of Bafut is obvious. There are many funny moments, which will have you snorting coffee down your nose. Glorious.
May 7, 2021
This is a brilliant book; it鈥檚 hilarious - Durrell鈥檚 descriptions are mesmerising!! & his relationship with the Fon is nothing but adorable 馃グ 馃嚚馃嚥
October 1, 2020
I'd like to give this book a higher rating, because Durrell can be quite funny, but it takes place in what was then the northern part of British Cameroon and there's a tinge of patronizing racism that grates on the reader. The chapter spent making fun of the locals for their fear of a non-poisonous lizard is especially bad, doubly so as it's clear that Durrell is entirely dependent on their expertise for obtaining the animals he wishes to collect. In the next chapter, Durrell, despite his supposedly superior knowledge of animal life, makes a mistake in identifying a snake and is bitten: his life is quite possibly saved by one of the locals, his servant Jacob, though no acknowledgment of this is made and Durrell makes no apologies for having assumed that Jacob had run off in the face of a dangerous animal rather than going to fetch emergency first aid. Even the most anodyne-seeming incident reinforces this attitude of superiority, since the pidgin English the Africans speak automatically serves to put them on a rung below Durrell. As long as Durrell sticks to describing the animals he's fine, but the rest of it makes the book difficult to read.
December 29, 2018
"In The Bafut Beagles he [the author] describes a collecting expedition to the Cameroons, where, with the assistance of a pack of African enthusiasts and mongrel dogs, he captured almost everything from flying mice to booming squirrels. "The unconscious humour of a supercilious toad or a hypocritical chimpanzee is only surpassed by the electric charm of the convivial Fon of Bafut himself."
~~back cover
Another gallop through grasslands and forest of the Cameroons, by day and by night, with often hilarious results. The African people are depicted as quite simple and servile, but the author was doing this collecting in the 1940s, and the native people probably seemed so to him, given the European attitude to other cultures at that time. In fairness, he treats the natives with affection and courtesy. As always, entertaining accounts of the collected animals antics, fascinating glimpses of the time and effort involved in capturing and then caring for creatures with unknown habits, and the difficulties of transporting them back to England by ship.
~~back cover
Another gallop through grasslands and forest of the Cameroons, by day and by night, with often hilarious results. The African people are depicted as quite simple and servile, but the author was doing this collecting in the 1940s, and the native people probably seemed so to him, given the European attitude to other cultures at that time. In fairness, he treats the natives with affection and courtesy. As always, entertaining accounts of the collected animals antics, fascinating glimpses of the time and effort involved in capturing and then caring for creatures with unknown habits, and the difficulties of transporting them back to England by ship.
December 8, 2019
芦袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 薪械 屑邪褞褌褜 褑褨谢褨褋薪芯褩 芯锌芯胁褨写薪芯褩 谢褨薪褨褩, 褑械 褉邪写褕械 蟹褨斜褉邪薪薪褟 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈褏 芯锌芯胁褨写邪薪褜, 芯褋薪芯胁芯褞 褟泻懈褏 褋褌邪谢懈 褑褨泻邪胁褨 胁懈锌邪写泻懈, 褖芯 褌褉邪锌懈谢懈褋褟 蟹 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈泻芯屑-薪邪褌褍褉邪谢褨褋褌芯屑 锌褨写 褔邪褋 泄芯谐芯 写褉褍谐芯褩 锌芯写芯褉芯卸褨 写芯 袘褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 袣邪屑械褉褍薪褍. 袛卸械褉邪谢褜写 袛邪褉褉械谢谢 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褦 锌褉芯 锌褉懈褉芯写褍 褨蟹 蟹邪褏芯锌谢械薪薪褟屑, 褨 锌褉芯薪懈泻谢懈胁懈泄 褔懈褌邪褔 褑械 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褦. 袟邪褉邪写懈 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯褋褌褨 锌芯斜邪褔懈褌懈 褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌褌褟 褌胁邪褉懈薪薪芯谐芯 褋胁褨褌褍 褌邪 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 胁邪卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 袛邪褉褉械谢谢芯胁芯褩 褨写械褩 锌褉芯 蟹斜械褉械卸械薪薪褟 蟹薪懈泻芯屑懈褏 胁懈写褨胁 褑褞 泻薪懈卸泻褍 胁邪褉褌芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈. 袛芯 褌芯谐芯 卸 褉芯屑邪薪 芦袚芯薪褔邪泻懈 袘邪褎褍褌褍禄 褦 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪懈屑 褍 褋褍褔邪褋薪芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨 蟹 泄芯谐芯 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈屑懈 械泻芯谢芯谐褨褔薪懈屑懈 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪屑懈, 芯褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 锌褨写 褔邪褋 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 褌邪泻芯谐芯 褌械泻褋褌褍, 褟泻 褨 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯谐芯 褨薪褕芯谐芯 邪薪褨屑邪谢褨褋褌懈褔薪芯谐芯 褌胁芯褉褍, 胁 褔懈褌邪褑褜泻褨泄 褋胁褨写芯屑芯褋褌褨 泻褍谢褜褌懈胁褍褦褌褜褋褟 薪械锌褉懈泄薪褟褌薪械 褋褌邪胁谢械薪薪褟 写芯 褋锌芯卸懈胁邪褑褜泻芯谐芯 胁懈泻芯褉懈褋褌邪薪薪褟 锌褉懈褉芯写薪懈褏 褉械褋褍褉褋褨胁 褌邪 褎芯褉屑褍褦褌褜褋褟 锌褉邪谐薪械薪薪褟 蟹邪褏懈褋褌懈褌懈 泄 蟹斜械褉械谐褌懈 写芯胁泻褨谢谢褟.
袩芯胁薪懈泄 胁褨写谐褍泻 屑芯卸薪邪 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈
袩芯胁薪懈泄 胁褨写谐褍泻 屑芯卸薪邪 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈
August 7, 2023
I'm not sure if this was the first book that Gerald Durrell wrote (he refers here to an earlier expedition, but may not have written about it) but it was certainly the first I came across, and it won me over at once. Durrell is not only an excellent raconteur, but he also has an unexpectedly poetic vein of description; this is the "Zoo Quest" era, before most of his readers would ever have expected to see West Africa, and he manages to evoke the landscape in lyric terms.
"The mountain grassland spread away from us in all directions, its multitude of colours shivering and changing with the wind. The hill-crests were pale gold changing to white, while the valleys were pale greeny-blue, darker in places where a pompous cumulus cloud swept over, trailing a purple shadow in its wake. Directly ahead of us lay a long range of delicately sculptured hills whose base was almost hidden in a litter of great boulders and small trees. The hills were so smooth and beautifully formed, and clad in grass which showed such a bewildering variety of greens, golds, purples, and whites, that they looked like a great rambling wave rearing up to break over the puny barrier of rocks and shrubs below. The peace and silence of these heights was remarkable; nearly all sounds were created by the wind, and it was busy moving here and there, making each object produce its own song. It combed the grass and brought forth a soft lisping rustle; it squeezed and wriggled between the cracks and joints of the rocks above us and made owl-like moans and hoots of mirth; it pushed and wrestled with the tough little trees, making them creak and groan, and making their leaves flutter and purr like kittens. Yet all these small sounds seemed to enhance rather than destroy the silence of the grassland."
(From a technical point of view, I'm also impressed by the way he manages to present almost all the dialogue in the book in pidgin and make it readily comprehensible to the reader without resorting to footnotes; by the end, we're perfectly capable of interpreting "I fit climb stick big pass dat one" (I can climb taller trees than that), despite nothing ever having been overtly explained.)
And of course it's a vibrantly lost world in terms of both human and animal populations; I'm reminded of Nelson Mandela's descriptions of his up-country childhood. The more conservative older women wear leather loincloths and nothing else ("the bright sarong was a modern idea") and smoke pipes; the local notables wear splendidly coloured robes; the supreme ruler, the Fon, occasionally hankers for simplicity and goes out hunting barefoot in a scrap of cloth. ("Then perhaps the urge had come to him to feel the soft red earth under his bare feet and the wind on his naked body, so that he would steal off to his hut, put on the clothes of a hunter, and stride away over the hills, twirling his spear and humming, pausing on the hilltops to admire the beautiful country over which he ruled.") Despite being on the surface a collection of humorous anecdotes about the author's misadventures in Africa, the book has a lot of very fine and serious writing indeed. It's charming, but it's also deeply evocative.
"The mountain grassland spread away from us in all directions, its multitude of colours shivering and changing with the wind. The hill-crests were pale gold changing to white, while the valleys were pale greeny-blue, darker in places where a pompous cumulus cloud swept over, trailing a purple shadow in its wake. Directly ahead of us lay a long range of delicately sculptured hills whose base was almost hidden in a litter of great boulders and small trees. The hills were so smooth and beautifully formed, and clad in grass which showed such a bewildering variety of greens, golds, purples, and whites, that they looked like a great rambling wave rearing up to break over the puny barrier of rocks and shrubs below. The peace and silence of these heights was remarkable; nearly all sounds were created by the wind, and it was busy moving here and there, making each object produce its own song. It combed the grass and brought forth a soft lisping rustle; it squeezed and wriggled between the cracks and joints of the rocks above us and made owl-like moans and hoots of mirth; it pushed and wrestled with the tough little trees, making them creak and groan, and making their leaves flutter and purr like kittens. Yet all these small sounds seemed to enhance rather than destroy the silence of the grassland."
(From a technical point of view, I'm also impressed by the way he manages to present almost all the dialogue in the book in pidgin and make it readily comprehensible to the reader without resorting to footnotes; by the end, we're perfectly capable of interpreting "I fit climb stick big pass dat one" (I can climb taller trees than that), despite nothing ever having been overtly explained.)
And of course it's a vibrantly lost world in terms of both human and animal populations; I'm reminded of Nelson Mandela's descriptions of his up-country childhood. The more conservative older women wear leather loincloths and nothing else ("the bright sarong was a modern idea") and smoke pipes; the local notables wear splendidly coloured robes; the supreme ruler, the Fon, occasionally hankers for simplicity and goes out hunting barefoot in a scrap of cloth. ("Then perhaps the urge had come to him to feel the soft red earth under his bare feet and the wind on his naked body, so that he would steal off to his hut, put on the clothes of a hunter, and stride away over the hills, twirling his spear and humming, pausing on the hilltops to admire the beautiful country over which he ruled.") Despite being on the surface a collection of humorous anecdotes about the author's misadventures in Africa, the book has a lot of very fine and serious writing indeed. It's charming, but it's also deeply evocative.
January 30, 2013
2009 bookcrossing review:
This is the second of Durrell's books I have read. I am not sure if it the second in the series of his memoirs though. This one was written in 1954, so I presume it is about a trip to Cameroon that occured a few years before that? He never actually says exactly when. But it's the story of a several-months long trip in the Cameroons that he took to collect lots of animals. Most of his trip was spent in the higher lands, an area called the Bafut, where he was the guest of the local leader, the Fon of Bafut, who was quite a colourful character who enjoyed his drink. The locals speak pidgeon English, and all the dialogue is written in that, which is quite fun to read.
Durrell is a really good writer, and it feels like taking a proper trip into Africa, meeting the locals, learning something of the local wildlife and seeing a bit of scenery. It's good for armchair travel.
It almost felt a wee bit dated to me in regards to this animal collecting and conservation. He collects a lot of animals (or he collects beef, as they say in the pidgeon English), several of any one variety, with the help of some local hunters, who he names the Bafut Beagles. But he never really explains why. Ok, I guess they're for a zoo or something, but it feels like collecting for the sake of collecting, stuff conservation and the study of animals in their natural habit; we want them in the cages. There was one animal, this flying mouse thing, that he gets over 20 individuals of, and by the time he gets back to the UK, they're all dead.
One of the best bits of human - wildlife interaction was when the Fon takes off all his robes of office, and trots off as a hunter into the wilds with Durrell to show him a new animal. They're called galagos, and look like these comical little big-eyed creatues, the drawings of which remind me almost of bush babies. And they're very small, jump around in branches and get up to mischief. They don't even attempt to catch any on this trip, just sit and watch the animals. And the Fon tells him that he often comes to watch these animals - "'Dat beef!' he chuckled, 'I like um too much. All time 'e make funny for me, an' I go laugh'". (p109). Surely enjoying watching these animals in their natural habitat should be the most important thing, as the Fon is doing?
Mind, this perhaps happened in the late 40s, and attitudes change. Besides, I am no expert on conservation.
This is the second of Durrell's books I have read. I am not sure if it the second in the series of his memoirs though. This one was written in 1954, so I presume it is about a trip to Cameroon that occured a few years before that? He never actually says exactly when. But it's the story of a several-months long trip in the Cameroons that he took to collect lots of animals. Most of his trip was spent in the higher lands, an area called the Bafut, where he was the guest of the local leader, the Fon of Bafut, who was quite a colourful character who enjoyed his drink. The locals speak pidgeon English, and all the dialogue is written in that, which is quite fun to read.
Durrell is a really good writer, and it feels like taking a proper trip into Africa, meeting the locals, learning something of the local wildlife and seeing a bit of scenery. It's good for armchair travel.
It almost felt a wee bit dated to me in regards to this animal collecting and conservation. He collects a lot of animals (or he collects beef, as they say in the pidgeon English), several of any one variety, with the help of some local hunters, who he names the Bafut Beagles. But he never really explains why. Ok, I guess they're for a zoo or something, but it feels like collecting for the sake of collecting, stuff conservation and the study of animals in their natural habit; we want them in the cages. There was one animal, this flying mouse thing, that he gets over 20 individuals of, and by the time he gets back to the UK, they're all dead.
One of the best bits of human - wildlife interaction was when the Fon takes off all his robes of office, and trots off as a hunter into the wilds with Durrell to show him a new animal. They're called galagos, and look like these comical little big-eyed creatues, the drawings of which remind me almost of bush babies. And they're very small, jump around in branches and get up to mischief. They don't even attempt to catch any on this trip, just sit and watch the animals. And the Fon tells him that he often comes to watch these animals - "'Dat beef!' he chuckled, 'I like um too much. All time 'e make funny for me, an' I go laugh'". (p109). Surely enjoying watching these animals in their natural habitat should be the most important thing, as the Fon is doing?
Mind, this perhaps happened in the late 40s, and attitudes change. Besides, I am no expert on conservation.
May 15, 2016
Otro libro de Durrell que me ha encantado. Los libros en los que captura animales, aunque fascinantes, son menos agradables de leer que sus otros libros porque algunos animales mueren inevitablemente en el viaje y no llegan a un refugio o zoo. Me ha sorprendido lo tolerante que es el libro para estar escrito en los a帽os 40, Durrell no habla de los africanos como primitivos sino que vive con ellos y participa de sus costumbres. S铆 que hay diferencia entre el hombre blanco y el negro: los africanos le llevan su equipaje y realizan las tareas m谩s peligrosas pero Durrell tampoco es que se quede sentado en casa sin hacer nada. No teme adentrarse en la selva, coger a los animales con sus propias manos y nunca pone en riesgo la vida de sus cazadores. Se nota que no es un libro del siglo XXI pero es muy avanzado en este sentido para su 茅poca y eso me ha gustado.
El fon de Bafut es un personaje divertid铆simo y es conmovedor el compa帽erismo e involucraci贸n de los habitantes de Bafut a la hora de ayudar a Durrell.
El fon de Bafut es un personaje divertid铆simo y es conmovedor el compa帽erismo e involucraci贸n de los habitantes de Bafut a la hora de ayudar a Durrell.
July 24, 2016
The Bafut Beagles is Durrell's first journey to Africa in order to catch animals for zoos and it sets the template for all of Durrell's travelogues: descriptions of exotic animals and anecdotes about the characters that he encounters.
Keep in mind that I read these books when I was 14 years old (I'm now 37) and so details such as racism or class superiority went by me. But now looking back, the descriptions of the African's use of pdgin english and bumbling antics of the tribesmen do sound dated, however this is not to say that the book is a downright obscene - Durrell does mention positive aspects of the Cameroonian culture as well. For an animal lover this is a must read and if you are interested in a 1940's view of Africa from an Englishman then I suggest you take a look at it as well.
July 8, 2014
Wow, wow, wow. I was at airport in between my flights and i need something to pass my time. So i just go to store and pick a random book up and guess what, It was The Bafut Beagles. I causally go through first few pages and start to feel that this is not the usual book we read. It has something extra and something new. The natural comedy that generate from individual from this book, commentary by My Durrell about certain incidence, Bafut people and most of all an exciting world of wild life. I am just stunned.
Super cool :)
Super cool :)
August 4, 2017
I read this book 50 years ago and it remains one of Durrell's classic animal collector's tales. It is full of characters, both human like the tall, elegant Fon of Bafut and animals like the elusive hairy toad. Our affable British guide drinks gin with the Fon and teaches his people the conga line. The high grasslands are well described and, as always, mischievous animals cause havoc. Durrell laughs with his hunters and at himself. Treat yourself to a jolly time with this book.
November 30, 2014
One of the funniest books I've ever read. Durrell travels to the small country of Camaroon and interacts with a jungle community, complete with its own king. The pidgin English is hilarious without ever being demeaning, and the tribes people knock themselves out helping Durrell and his crew gather rare species. Not to be missed.
July 24, 2017
I think this one just got dated. I might have enjoyed it more if I were more interested in animals, but since I am not, I just felt this was a not too funny recollection of dubious stories. The datedness is most obvious in the way Durrel portrays Africans, it's just not a fun read anymore, cringily racist, super condescending, quite misogynystic.
I prefer his books set in Greece.
I prefer his books set in Greece.
December 31, 2024
Finished reading Gerald Durrell's delightful book, The Bagut Beagles.
Full of humorous anecdotes , the ups and downs of hunting for various animals in the wilds of Cameroons with the help of the natives and the mesmerizing descriptions of the habits, and eccentricities of the captured animals, based on his meticulous observations.
Full of humorous anecdotes , the ups and downs of hunting for various animals in the wilds of Cameroons with the help of the natives and the mesmerizing descriptions of the habits, and eccentricities of the captured animals, based on his meticulous observations.
September 5, 2010
More of Durrell's rememberences of collecting animals in Africa. Hilarious, touching, fascinating, and yet disturbing as we stand on the brink of species extinction. A wonderful human interest book.
November 2, 2017
This is a view of what the area around Bafut was like back when it was British. I knew it much later, but it was an interesting read and very recognizable. The use of pidgin brought back memories, but there are many more French words used now.
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