Sir Richard Francis Burton was a 19th century Man of Steel!
Sir Richard Francis Burton (March 19, 1821 – October 20, 1890) was a British explorer, geographer, , translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, spy, linguist, poet, fencer, and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian and African languages.
Burton's best-known achievements include a well-documented journey to Mecca, in disguise, at a time when Europeans were forbidden access, on pain of death! He also wrote a translation of One Thousand and One Nights (commonly called The Arabian Nights in English); the publication of the Kama Sutra in English; and a journey with John Hanning Speke as the first Europeans to visit the Great Lakes of Africa in search of the source of the Nile.
Burton was a prolific author and wrote numerous books and scholarly articles about subjects including human behaviour, travel, falconry, fencing, and sexual practices.
A characteristic feature of his books is the copious footnotes and appendices containing remarkable observations and information.
His activities and adventures were well documented – except for a missing 6 month period in South America. It's a gaping gap in what was otherwise a very documented life. Which, of course, raises the question – what did Sir Richard Francis Burton discover that went straight into the "State Secrets Lock Box." or, maybe into "The X-Files"? Burton was very well known for his work as an explorer and he was Knighted in 1886 – 4 years before his death.
So, if you want to get to the bottom of such a mystery, don't you want to enlist the help of a private investigator with national security experience? Sure ya do! Walter Bosley had 19 years in the business of national security, and today he's a licensed investigator in California and he owns a small publishing company, Lost Continent Library.
Thanks for listening! – Scott
Walter Bosley's website:
www.LostContinentLibrary.blogspot.com