Henry Francis Fynn
Henry Francis Fynn
Henry Francis Fynn was the first European settler in Natal. He was born in London in 1803 and arrived in South Africa in 1818. He kept a diary from 1824-1836, carrying it wrapped in the skin of an elephant's ear. As the first European in Natal, ink was hard to come by, and he made much of the ink he used to write the diary from flowers. Fynn knew Shaka Zulu well and became completely fluent in Zulu. Nathaniel Isaacs, the most famous writer about Natal from this early period, considered Fynn to be without peer in his knowledge of Zulu and the Zulus and pressed Fynn to publish his diary. In the late 1830s Fynn enlisted the help of others with respect to getting his diary published. Despite Fynn's efforts his diary was not published until 1950, long after his death.
Henry Francis Fynn was the first European settler in Natal. He was born in London in 1803 and arrived in South Africa in 1818. He kept a diary from 1824-1836, carrying it wrapped in the skin of an elephant's ear. As the first European in Natal, ink was hard to come by, and he made much of the ink he used to write the diary from flowers. Fynn knew Shaka Zulu well and became completely fluent in Zulu. Nathaniel Isaacs, the most famous writer about Natal from this early period, considered Fynn to be without peer in his knowledge of Zulu and the Zulus and pressed Fynn to publish his diary. In the late 1830s Fynn enlisted the help of others with respect to getting his diary published. Despite Fynn's efforts his diary was not published until 1950, long after his death.
Hardcover, Pietermaritzburg: Shuter and Shooter, 1950. First Edition. Octavo, pp. Xvi, 341. The first edition is comprised of 1,700 copies, printed in South Africa. Frontispiece portrait of Henry Francis Fynn, 14 more illustrated plates, 3 fold out maps, index. Bound in publisher's green cloth with silver cover and spine titles.
Hardcover, Pietermaritzburg: Shuter and Shooter, 1950. First Edition. Octavo, pp. Xvi, 341. The first edition is comprised of 1,700 copies, printed in South Africa. Frontispiece portrait of Henry Francis Fynn, 14 more illustrated plates, 3 fold out maps, index. Bound in publisher's green cloth with silver cover and spine titles.
Natalia v04 article p14-17 C.pdfBramdeow_Shirron_1988.pdf