Nathaniel Pearce (1779-1820) was, according to J. J. Halls, who edited and published his autobiographical writings in two volumes in 1831, 'one of those remarkable and adventurous beings, whom Nature, in her sportive humour, seems to take delight in creating'. Having run away to sea twice, deserted from the navy, accidentally killed a man, and briefly converted to Islam, he came into his own as a reliable guide and factotum to British travellers in...