Barbrooke Grubb – Pathfinder by Norman J. Davidson

This is a book for children about the life of the missionary pioneer to South America, W. Barbrooke Grubb. This is the second of four in this blog mini-series featuring Grubb.

Norman James Davidson [1860-1936], Barbrooke Grubb Pathfinder. The Record of an Adventurous Life of Courage & Endurance Nobly Spent Amongst the Savage Peoples of South American Chaco Told For Boys & Girls. London: Seeley, Service & Co., Ltd., 1930. Hbk. pp.217. [Download the complete book in PDF]

Contents

1. Early Days
2. The Falklands Islands
3. Among the Yaghans
4. Ordered to Paraguay
5. Early Days in the Chaco
6. Incidents and Adventures
7. Wizards and Their Ways
8. Critical Times
9. Fights Against Cruel Customs
10. A Murderous Attack
11. In Danger of Burial Alive
12. Poit’s Defence and Fate
13. Final Struggle of Witchcraft
14. The Chiriguanos and Tobas of the Chaco
15. The Founding of the Mataco Mission

Chapter 1: Early Years

Wilfrid Barbrooke Grubb’s family seem to have had the lust for wandering strongly developed in their nature for many generations on both sides of the family. An ancestor on his mother’s side is recorded to have done legitimate trading in foreign waters, with perhaps a suspicion of piracy at odd times during the reign of Henry VIII; and her grand-father, father and three brothers served in the East India Company. The same love of wandering appears to have been equally developed on his father’s side, for one member of his family accompanied Penn, and assisted in the founding of Pennsylvania in North America. [Continue reading]

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