Papers of David Erskine

A manuscript containing a 'Translation of Dr Hahn's Damara-German Dictionary Presented to his Excellency Sir Bartle Frere... by the Translator Major Erskine... 19th January 1880'. Karl Hugo Hahn was a Baltic German missionary and linguist who worked in South Africa and South-West Africa for most of his life. This translation was undertaken whilst Erskine was Resident Magistrate in Walvis Bay, Damaraland (Namibia). Damara is one of the Khoisan languages of Southern Africa.

The manuscript is handwritten with many alterations. It is bound in a card and leather cover which shows considerable wear. One section of the manuscript has become detached from the spine.

David Erskine was educated at Harrow, and joined the army (51st King's Own Light Infantry) as an ensign in 1835 seeing service in India, Malta and Australia. He was appointed Visiting Magistrate in Cleveland, Tasmania in June 1839, at Green Ponds from November 1840 to March 1843, and then moved to Hobart.

He was promoted to Captain in 1845 and left Tasmania in 1846 for India. He was promoted to Major in 1855 and in 1858 he left the army by selling his commission. He next became Colonial Secretary of Natal colony until 1875. He was Resident Magistrate in Walvis Bay, Damaraland (Namibia), from 1878-1880. After retirement he returned to England with his family and was employed ordering the Natal archives. He died in 1903.

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It was presented to the Royal Asiatic Society by Sir Bartle Frere on 3 July 1882.

This manuscript was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.

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The work was created by Major David Erskine. It was presented by the creator to Sir Bartle Frere who, in turn, presented it to the Royal Asiatic Society.

The Society possesses an English translation of "Entwurf einer Grammatik der Herero Sprache", also by Karl Hugo Hahn (SC25). It was the first grammar of the Herero language spoken by the Herero people in Southern Africa. Full details can be found here.