An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay.

First edition in English. 3 vols. 8vo. Original paper boards, cloth backed, with the original soiled and rubbed title labels. Ex-library with small label in the 3rd volume and stamps on the title pages. Board edges chipped and indented. Little foxing to preliminary and last leaves. Otherwise internally clean with pages unclut. xii, 435; x, 446; vi, 419pp. London, John Murray

Martin Dobrizhoffer (1717-1791) spent eighteen years as a Jesuit Missionary in Paraguay, seven of which he spent amongst the Indigenous Abipones. This book was first published in Latin in 1784, and a German translation in the same year. The present edition, the first in English, was by some thought to have been translated by Robert Southey. In fact, the work was by Sara Coleridge, daughter of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The Southey's and the Coleridges lived together at Greta Hall, Keswick. Whilst Sara was working on the present translation, Robert Southey was working on his own Tale of Paraguay, and their projects informed one another. 

Borba de Moraes, v1. p267. 

Stock Code: 206719