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
The Arabs are good and bold horsemen, and though in general but
poorly provided with food for their horses, they make them perform
very long journeys. The inducement to all exertion, however, is now
nearly at an end, their wars having ceased; but in the time of the
Waled Suliman, اولاد سوليمان who infested the road from
Tripoli to Fezzan, and committed every excess, journeys were made
and difficulties overcome which equalled any of the stories of the
Arabs of old. This once powerful tribe had formerly possession of
every pass from Tripoli to the interior, and were so much dreaded,
that few traders would venture amongst them, even when they were
at peace with the Bashaw. These are the people whom Lucas mentions
as having declared war against Tripoli, and prevented the Kafflé,
to which he was attached, from proceeding from Mesurāta to Fezzan;
but they are now completely destroyed. About eight years since
the Bashaw in the regency of Tripoli, and Mukni, in the kingdom
of Fezzan, commenced so hot an attack upon them that they were
scattered, and being in small parties, easily fell a prey to the
troops employed against them. It was the custom during this war (as
in all previous wars) to give no quarter; all prisoners therefore
had their throats cut on being taken, and every species of cruelty
was practised on them. Two hundred and fifty, who were seized in a
town in the Wadey Shiati of Fezzan, were butchered in cold blood,
even though they had surrendered on condition of having their lives
spared. This tribe perhaps would still have flourished in Fezzan,
but that not expecting any attack from Mukni, they quitted for a time
their own territory and proceeded to Egypt, in order to wage war
on some other tribes who had offended them: this circumstance was
taken immediate advantage of by Mukni, who contrived before their
return to gain possession of Morzouk, which he could not otherwise
have done. They, however, besieged him there with great activity;
but leaving in the meantime their frontiers undefended, the Bashaw
poured his army into the country, and thus completely effected
their destruction as a tribe. The small number who escaped became
wanderers for a time, and were occasionally met with and killed,
until at last the remaining few incorporated themselves with other
tribes. That of the Waled Suliman, which does not now exist, is
celebrated in all the Arab stories; and there are few places in this
part of Africa which have not had ample occasion to remember them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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