Expedition to discover the sources of the White Nile, in the years 1840, 1841, Vol. 1 (of 2)Werne, Ferdinand
History
Expedition to discover the sources of the White Nile, in the years 1840, 1841, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Werne, Ferdinand
Nile River
In Khartùm, the young Sheikh Effendi (mallem, or Turkish scribe)
received an order to revise the account of the Nasir of the linen
Shunah. He, being yet a novice in these affairs, and not knowing
that the word of the Basha “to investigate” must be always
connected with “guilty,” goes to him, and says that it is quite
correct; but the latter quickly sends the good youth back again
to make another investigation. Sheikh Effendi returns, and says,
that the “man is innocent:” the Basha calls him eshek (ass),
sends him a very large and long piece of cotton-stuff as the standard
measure, and commands him to make good the account, or else he would
indemnify himself out of the Sheikh’s own property. Sheikh Effendi
was therefore forced to take this great Top Homàss as the measure,
when of course an enormous deficit appeared; for, amongst the goods
sent in by several tribes of the Arabs, are included woollen stuffs
made in the country for the dress of soldiers, for sails, tents,
&c., and there is mostly a difference of one to two ells (drà,
arm’s-length) between these pieces. This was now extended back to
all the years in which the fellow had been Nasir, and the man was
entirely ruined.
Except the punishment of beating to death, which causes as little
sensation here as in Russia, public executions are not so frequent
in Khartùm itself, where his presence alone creates terror; but
the secret ones are performed without the cord and the sword. The
following may serve as a proof of the condition of this grievously
afflicted country:—When Mohammed Ali was travelling over Sennaar,
the old Sheikh Suliman of Rossères, the most esteemed and influential
man of Gesira (island, Sennaar) was forced to pay his respects to
him in the city of Rossères. He came with a retinue of his Hammeghs,
dressed simply in a black ferda; and, having stepped into the tent of
the great Basha, he greeted him, and seated himself, without being
invited, on the divàn close to him. The viceroy, beside himself
with anger at this freedom, did not speak a word to him; but, after
a short time, through his dragoman Abdin Bey, bade him depart. The
old Basha told our Ahmed Basha, when Sheikh Suliman should again
appear, to _stand_ before him, in order to instil somewhat more
respect into this old obstinate fellow. Suliman was summoned, and
Ahmed entered into a conversation with him intentionally, standing
before the viceroy, to prevent him from sitting down before the latter
had assigned him the proper place by motioning with his hand to do
so. The crafty Suliman, perceiving the Turkish finesse, and provoked
at such treatment, which he did not deserve, drew himself up erect,
and addressed Mohammed Ali thus in a serious, calm tone of voice,
without waiting for the first word from the latter, conformably to
Turkish etiquette:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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