ET01 – James Bruce

Stitchers (Bo’ness): Anne Russel, Elspeth Wood, Fiona Wilkie

James Bruce (1730-1794) was born in Kinnaird House in Larbert. While serving as British Consul in Algiers he became interested in exploring the River Nile.  In 1765 he began an extended journey through north Africa and Arabia. In Egypt he gained the support of the Bey of Cairo and spent the next five years exploring the Upper Nile region and the Arabian peninsula before re-crossing the Red Sea and making his way to Gondar, the capital of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). From there he travelled the length of Lake Tana and reached Gish Abay, the source of the Blue Nile, on 14 November 1770.  His journey home was both arduous and eventful; he was twice detained in dangerous circumstances, and lost all his camels during a gruelling crossing of the Nubian desert. He returned to Britain in 1774 and in 1790 published a five-volume account of his travels.

ET01 Seumas Brusach Rugadh Seumas Brusach (1730–1794) ann an Taigh a’ Chinn Àird ann an Larbert. Nuair a bha e a’ frithealadh mar Chonsal Breatannach ann an Algiers, ghabh e ùidh ann an rannsachadh an Abhainn Nile. Ann an 1765, thòisich e air turas fada tro cheann a tuath Afraga agus Aràibia. Chuir am Brusach seachad còig bliadhna an uair sin a’ rannsachadh sgìre uachrach an Nile agus an leth-innis Aràibianach, mus d’ rinn e a shlighe gu Gondar, prìomh bhaile Aibisinia (a-nis Eitiòipia). Às an sin, shiubhail e fad Loch Tana gu Gish Abay, tùs an Nile Ghorm, air 14 Samhain 1770. Bha an t-slighe dhachaigh cruaidh: Bha e air a chur an grèim dà thuras agus chaill e a chàmhalan san fhàsach Nubian. Thill e a Bhreatainn ann an 1774.