Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1: Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's GovernmentRichardson, James
History
Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1: Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government
Richardson, James
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel; Richardson, James, 1806-1851
We were in all but seven days in Ghât, so that I had no time to make
researches. However, I am fortunate in procuring a collection of
dialogues and a vocabulary of most of the common words in the Tuarick
dialect of the tribes in Ghât. I employed for this purpose Mohammed
Shereef, nephew of the Governor of Ghât, who is a pretty good Arabic
scholar. I have also made an arrangement with my friend Haj Ibrahim to
forward to the British Government a small quantity of Soudan
manufactures for the Exhibition of 1851; so that the industry and
handicraft of the dusky children of Central Africa may be represented
side by side with the finished works of Paris and London artisans.[6]
[6] This account of Mr. Richardson's residence at Ghât is copied
from a summary in his journal, with occasional insertions
from his despatches to Government. It is very brief and
imperfect; but the traveller was so fully occupied by
various kinds of business during his stay, that he was not
able to write, and only threw upon paper a rough memorandum
after he had started on his way to Aheer. The imperfection
is the less to be regretted, as, up to this point, the
Sahara had previously been pretty well travelled and
described. He now breaks fresh ground, and is more copious
in his notes.--ED.
CHAPTER XI.
Start from Ghât--Reflections--Beautiful Valley of Berket--Last
Date-palms--The Kailouees--Dr. Barth lost again--Meet our Guides--The
Akourou Water--Ghadeer--Soudan Influence on the Tuaricks--Wataitee
leaves us--Oasis of Janet--Kailouee Character--A sick Slave--Rocky
Desert--Gloomy Scene--Servants--Egheree Water--Ajunjer--A threatened
Foray from Janet--Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf--We have no Money--Region of
Granite--Dr. Barth's Comparisons--A Slave Caravan--Granite
Rocks--Beating Women--The Bird of the Desert--Desolate Region--Our
Relations with the Kailouees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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