First Footsteps in East AfricaBurton, Richard Francis, Sir
History
First Footsteps in East Africa
Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Harar -- Description and travel; Harari language; Horn of Africa -- Description and travel
"At daylight on the 23rd we resumed our march. Datah Mahomed asked for two
mules, that he and his friend might ride forward to prepare for my
reception at his village. I lent him the animals, but after a few minutes
he returned to say that I had given him the two worst, and he would not go
till I dismounted and gave him the mule which I was riding. About noon we
arrived at the lake Toor Erain Murroo, where the Bedouins were in great
numbers watering their flocks and herds, at least 3000 head of horned
cattle and sheep innumerable. Datah Mahomed, on my arrival, invited me to
be seated under the shade of a spreading tree, and having introduced me to
his people as his guest and the friend of the Wallasena, immediately
ordered some milk, which was brought in a huge bowl fresh and warm from
the cow; my servants were similarly provided. During the night Adam shot a
fox, which greatly astonished the Bedouins, and gave them even more dread
of our fire-arms. Hearing that Demetrius and his party, who had been
plundered of everything, were living at a village not far distant, I
offered to pay the Ras el Caffilah any expense he might be put to if he
would permit them to accompany our caravan to Tajoorah. He said that he
had no objection to their joining the Caffilah, but that he had been
informed their wish was to return to Shoa. I had a long conversation with
the Ras, who begged of me not to go to Hurrur; 'for,' he said, 'it is well
known that the Hurruri caravan remained behind solely on your account. You
will therefore enter the town, should you by good fortune arrive there at
all, under unfavourable circumstances. I am sure that the Emir [2], who
may receive you kindly, will eventually do you much mischief, besides
which these Bedouins will plunder you of all your property.' The other
people of the caravan, who are all my friends, also spoke in the same
strain. This being noted as a bad halting place, all kept watch with us
during the night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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