Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.Clapperton, Hugh
History
Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.
Clapperton, Hugh
Sudan (Region) -- Description and travel
Wednesday, 25th.—I did not start for Magaria to-day, as I had
to lay in a stock of rice, bread, dried meat, and flour, as these
articles are much dearer in Magaria, and bread not known. Magaria
is in the province of Adir, which is also called Tadela, containing
a great number of towns. The inhabitants are for the greatest part
negroes. The rest are a half breed between the Tuarics and their
slaves. The country is full of low rocky hills, and is well watered
by lakes and streams.
Thursday, 26th.—Morning cool and clear. At 8 A.M. I left
Soccatoo for Magaria. I was ill with a severe cold, caught by my own
carelessness, in throwing off my cloth trousers and worsted stockings
on my arrival at Soccatoo. The sun being very hot, I was quite
feverish. I halted at a village till 3 P.M., when I started again,
and arrived at Magaria at 6 P.M., where a house had been prepared
for me. I had messages from the sultan and Gadado, to inquire after
my health. My spleen was considerably increased in one day; but I
went to bed without tasting food: had a fire made at my bed-side,
which procured me a good sweat, and I soon found myself better;
though not lessening the swelling in my side, it eased the pain,
as also the pain in my head and bones.
Friday, 27th.—Cool and clear. I found myself much relieved;
and the Gadado, paying me an early visit, said, if I was able,
the sultan would receive his majesty’s letters and presents. I
immediately dressed in my uniform, and the presents being ready
packed in separate parcels, the time-piece, watch, &c. taken out of
the tin cases, and all just as they had left the maker’s hands, I
went, accompanied by the Gadado, my servants and the servants of the
Gadado carrying the presents, consisting of red silk umbrella, silver
mounted; a message cane, silver mounted; twelve yards red damask;
twelve yards sky blue; twelve yards red silk; twelve yards blue silk;
twenty-four yards cambric; two pounds cloves; a fowling-piece, brass
mountings, single barrel; a plain fowling-piece, double barrel; a pair
of pistols for his eldest son; two short swords; two boxes of rockets;
a quantity of powder, balls, flints, and small shot; one ream of
English foolscap paper; two bundles of black lead pencils; coloured
prints of the royal family, battles, and a plain journal book; a
small ditto; a dozen pair white cotton stockings; a dozen pair white
cotton gloves; a time-piece by Rigby; gold watch by ditto; a Bramah
pen; a pistol, detonating lock; two gilt chains; four clasp knives;
a dressing-case complete; a magnifying looking-glass; two English
bridles; a quantity of medicines; two empty trunks; the New Testament
in Arabic; that part of the Old Testament which was translated; the
Koran in Arabic; Euclid’s Elements in ditto; Ebn Senna in ditto;
History of the Tartars under Tamerlane; Psalms of David; several
chapters of the Bible, with a number of other books in Arabic. To
the Gadado a smaller collection of the same kind of articles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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