Much of Distant's early life was spent working in a London tannery, and while employed there he made two long visits to the Transvaal. The first resulted in the publication of A Naturalist in the Transvaal (1892).
Distant's early life was spent working in a London tannery, and during that period, he made two long journeys to the Transvaal. This resulted in the publication of "A Naturalist in the Transvaal" (1892).