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
“Thou wishest to reduce me, here, in the presence of my people, to
the grade of thy servant (Gadàm), but thou wilt be disappointed. Thou
dost not know my power. Art thou aware that it only needs a word from
me to excite the whole island to revolt, and to destroy thee and
thy trifling military escort? Reflect that thou art in my kingdom,
in my power, and not I in thine, Yet I will not be base; say, in a
few words, why I have been summoned here, and what I shall do.”
Mohammed Ali, enraged to frenzy at hearing a black talk so to him,
but perceiving only too well the truth of what he said, reflecting
on Suliman’s power and importance, and his own small army, gave
way in this critical juncture, and ordered Abdin Bey (although he
understands Arabic) to explain to him that the manner in which he
had behaved was not proper; that he intended to invest him with
the mantle of honour, and that he must kiss his hand as a token of
subjection. Sheikh Suliman listened to this, laughing at the same
time, but returned thanks for the honour of the investiture, and
stooped to kiss his hand, which, however, he did not do, as the old
Basha, enraged, kept both of them behind him; whereupon Suliman,
without further ceremony, silently went away, and never appeared
again, although he was summoned several times.
Mohammed Ali was indignant at the heads or Sheikhs of the mountains
of Fàzogl not having paid their respects to him, as they had been
apparently subdued by Ahmed Basha, in his expedition against Mount
Tabi, Aba Regrehk, Singue, to Beni-Shangull, (twelve days’ journey
behind Fàzogl, called by the Turks Fèsog’l), or rather had entered
into a friendly alliance. And he attributed their non-appearance
to Sheikh Suliman, whose dominion extends from Aba Nande, below
Rossères, to Fàzogl, and who, although of a small and weak frame,
for he is above eighty years old, (some say more than a hundred),
has not lost by his subjection the fame of his bravery in former
times, which is spread through the land, and of which wonders are
related. On the contrary, he is reckoned a real prince of peace
among these considerable chiefs, and has preserved tranquillity
in the country in behalf of the Turks, entirely for the sake of
preventing bloodshed. He went into the villages of his people,
who honour him as a father and tutelar genius, and merely said,
“The Turks again want Tulba; I know not whence to take it.”
They brought it spontaneously, each according to his means, and
even more than he wanted, which surplus he then distributed among
the poor. One must know the avaricious character of these people
properly to appreciate such generosity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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