In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

342 LETTERS ON WEST AFRICA AND THE SLAVE TRADE Epilogue This book is the outcome of P.E. Isert’s observations, impressions and experiences in the so-called Danish colony in Guinea (West Africa) and the DanishWest Indies (nowVirgin Islands).It is an interesting compilation of the geography, agriculture, natural resources and socio-cultural practices as well as aspects of the material culture, slavery and the slave trade of the southeastern Gold Coast during the eighteenth century. In addition, the Danish medical doctor and naturalist,provides detailed and insightful information about wide-ranging ethnographic issues.The information contained in this volume was compiled during the three-year period Isert spent on the Gold Coast in the service of the Royal Danish Government. Though sent officially as a medical doctor,Isert who was a trained botanist also collected a good number of plant species and compiled information on the fauna of the Guinea coast from different locations.In keeping with the prevailing scientific practice,Isert described the specimens he observed and collected in Latin,while the annotations were made in Danish. Additionally ,Isert provided the names of the floral and faunal species he compiled in Ga, the local language spoken by the coastal inhabitants, where Fort Christiansborg,the hub of the Danish Guinean trade network was located. He also provided notes on the local uses of both wild and domesticated plants. For instance, his observations and descriptions of economic plants, in relation to their medicinal value, food preparation and consumption, as well as to their utilization in the weaving and dyeing industry among the coastal inhabitants,are of interest and importance.Again,Isert’s descriptions of the types of vegetation and animals at that time in different localities like the forested Akuapem Ridge, the open, coastal grassland of the Accra Plains, and the lower reaches of theVolta River, when compared with the prevailing situation today,provide insights into the changing botanical and zoological landscape of these areas. But why did Isert spend considerable time to observe,compile information and collect tropical plants from the Guinea coast to Copenhagen? An opinion has been expressed in this book (p.18-19) that Isert’s motivation to collect botanical material and plant specimens on the Guinea coast was purely‘scientific and had nothing to do with the furthering of Danish economic or political interests in Africa.’But historians of science have clearly shown how the worldwide movement of plants by European naturalists in the eighteenth century greatly contributed to the political and economic expansion of western European nations. Tropical plants were moved on a global scale in large quantities and to great gains by western imperial powers. 343 The gains were not only in the political and economic realms but also in the arena of knowledge accumulation about Africa for the benefit of the western world. Londa Schiebinger has pointed out that: “Mercantilism flourished through the fecund coupling of naval prowess to natural history. Eighteenth-century botanical exploration followed trade routes, as naturalists of all stripes found passage on trading company, merchant marine,and naval vessels headed for European territories abroad. Because most physicians and surgeons were trained in botany in this period, naval and royal physicians as well as East andWest India Company surgeons stationed in Europe’s far-flung colonies all contributed to worldwide plant collecting process.” When Isert’s botanical exploration is placed within this global imperial enterprise of European nations during the eighteenth century, then one would be right to say that he was a pre-colonial collector who served in a less formal way to further the ambitions of Denmark to carve out a share in the “green gold” that Europe sought after from distant tropical lands. Isert’s interest was not limited to only natural science.He also had keen interest in ethnographic matters and therefore wrote about daily life-ways on the Guinea coast.In this regard,he touched on wide ranging issues such as clothing and ornamentation,manners,language,food and eating patterns. Other aspects of life-ways he touched on included labour and occupations, political systems, health and maintenance of personal hygiene. In fact, his ethnographic study covered other interesting socio-cultural matters such as games and leisure,music,religion,marriage,child-bearing and parenting. In his presentation, Isert provided detailed descriptions of these aspects of daily life, customs and practices in a coherent and straightforward manner with incredibly limited personal opinions and comments. This work is, therefore, a rich mine of properly organized, intelligent...

Share