In the Wilds of Africa

# In the Wilds of Africa

W. H. G. Kingston's adventure narrative follows the voyage of the brig Osprey from England toward the Cape of Good Hope, with stops along the African coast for trade. The ship carries a diverse party: Captain Page and his young son Natty; the narrator Andrew (supercargo); his relatives Captain Stanley Hyslop, his brothers David (a surgeon-naturalist) and Leonard, and cousins Kate and Isabella; Portuguese passenger Senhor Silva; and Peter Timbo, an African servant with knowledge of the interior.

The narrative begins becalmed off Africa's coast. Captain Page lies gravely ill with fever; the crew has suffered losses including the first mate. The story encompasses shipwreck, inland journeys into Africa's interior, encounters with gorillas, mountains, rivers, and African peoples, hunting adventures, desert crossings, and various perils before concluding with rescue. Themes include faith in providence (through the narrator's Christian upbringing) and exploration of African wilderness.