Amateur archaeologist and explorer J. Theodore Bent (1852–97) and his wife Mabel (1846–1929) spent much of their adult lives trekking through Africa, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean in search of antiquities. In 1891, British imperial magnate Cecil Rhodes charged Theodore with surveying the ruins of the mysterious lost city of Great Zimbabwe. Bent's subsequent book, The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland (1892), advanced the politically expedient (and racially charged) theory that Semitic people from southern Arabia migrated to the region and established a thriving civilization during the first millennium BCE. Though later debunked by professional archaeologists, Bent's controversial ideas contributed to the European assertion that Africans were wholly incapable of constructing such elaborate stone structures.
In this new publication, Gerald Brisch presents Mabel Bent's transcribed letters and journals from their expeditions in Egypt (1885), Zimbabwe (1891), Ethiopia (1893), the Sudan (1896), and Egypt again (1898). This is the second installment of a three-part series based on significant holdings from the Joint Library of the Hellenic and Roman Societies in London. Primarily intended as an account for family members, Bent's writings often lack the intimacy of a personal diary. Nonetheless, her richly detailed descriptions and observations provide a rare glimpse into the experiences of a female European explorer in colonial Africa.
Bent's accounts often read like an exciting Victorian adventure novel from the pen of Rudyard Kipling or G. A. Henty. The most thorough section covers the expedition to Mashonaland (1891) exploring the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. Her diary describes the personal thrill of discovering stone formations and uncovering the now-famous soapstone bird carvings. She also details some of the important methodological procedures at the excavation site – an account that will be of particular interest to historical archaeologists. Another series of letters chronicles a suspenseful expedition into Ethiopia (1893), where the Bents narrowly escape capture by marauding brigands. Throughout these experiences, the Bents interact with a host of notable European figures such as Cecil Rhodes, Randolph Churchill, Reginald Wingate, and Oreste Baratieri – a veritable ‘Who's Who’ of colonial administrators in Africa.
Despite these notable episodes, the collection's most important component is the rather mundane chronicle of daily life during their expeditions. Bent meticulously details the immense challenges facing European explorers, including difficult terrain and the deleterious effect of disease on both humans and livestock. Indeed, a considerable proportion of her entries discuss the health of various personalities and animals in the expedition. Bent also reveals her attitudes towards African peoples. In her writings, she professes a rather understated disregard for many indigenous practices. For example, she refuses to describe a ritual dance performed by Egyptian ‘Dervishes’ by simply declaring, ‘I shall not describe them as they have been written about by everyone but only say it had a most disagreeable effect on me. I felt as if I were watching some kind of torture.’ (p. 7) On another occasion, she summarizes a village in Zimbabwe by explaining, ‘We shall soon be quite used to the strange sights we see, but I fear my photos won't be fit to be seen.’ (p. 56)
The collection has several drawbacks. As previously noted, Mabel composed these writings for a family audience and she withholds many of her more private thoughts. This will frustrate the modern reader, who yearns for some display of personal reflection. Moreover, Brisch's lengthy and detailed footnotes tend to become rather distracting at times. Despite these minor shortcomings, Brisch and Archaopress have done a major service by reproducing these hidden gems and rescuing Mabel Bent from relative obscurity. This collection is a valuable primary source and will be of immense interest to those interested in female travelogues, historical archaeology, or the daily experiences of European women in colonial Africa.
