A narrative of travels in northern Africa in the years 1818, 19, and 20; accompanied by geographical notices of Soudan and of the course of the NigerLyon, G. F. (George Francis)
History
A narrative of travels in northern Africa in the years 1818, 19, and 20; accompanied by geographical notices of Soudan and of the course of the Niger
Lyon, G. F. (George Francis)
Fezzan (Libya) -- Description and travel; Tripolitania -- Description and travel
Sunday, 5th of March.—At 7.30. we went on, still over a sandy
plain, with a few small shrubs; a strong wind, with much sand,
blowing from the north-west. These winds blow in sudden gusts,
and remind me of the whirlwinds called “cats’-paws” in the
navy. The Negress being unable to sit upright, was lashed on the
camel she rode. She continually asked for water, and complained of
a severe pain in her side. I had applied a blister to it overnight,
but I suspect the pain it gave her caused her to remove it. Her
master troubled his head very little about her; and her voice was,
in consequence of her sufferings, so feeble, that had I not rode
near her, and supplied her with water, she would have perished from
thirst. At 4.50. came to rugged ground; and at 5.20. mountains closed
in to the left: passed at the foot of one. At six stopped, having
made about twenty-five miles north. I persuaded the girl’s master
to let her remain under my care until she was a little recovered,
as I should then be enabled to bestow more attention on her than
he could, or was inclined to do: at this time she was very cold,
quite speechless, and unable to swallow. I wrapped her up in my
carpet, and made two of her fellow slaves chafe her hands and feet;
but our efforts to save her were useless, and she breathed her last
at eight o’clock, having, poor girl! suffered much agony. Her
fellows in misery exhibited a striking difference between the
mourners of civilized towns and those of savage countries: instead
of screaming, and working themselves up into frenzy, they sat silent,
dejected, and bathed in tears, their scanty meal remaining for a time
unnoticed and untouched. The country of this poor girl was Waday,
where Arabic is spoken. She was handsome, and about fourteen years
of age. She told me in the morning that the fatigue of the day would
kill her; and that I was the only person, except her companions,
who had treated her kindly since she was taken from her mother. She
had been ailing for a long time, as she said; but her master was
a hard man, and she feared to complain.
[Illustration:
_Drawn from Nature by G. F. Lyon._
_On Stone by D. Dighton._
A SLAVE KAFFLE.
_London. Published by J. Murray Albemarle St. Feb.1.1821._
_C. Hullmandel’s Lithography._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account