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
I mentioned in my diary at Mourzuk, that one of our blacks had exercised
the privilege of divorce with respect to his wife. This lady did not
leave the caravan, but has since passed from tent to tent, as the
caprice of fortune carried her. She was first taken up by Sakonteroua;
then by En-Noor, our Kailouee guide; and afterwards by some other
person. Yesterday I saw her in the tent of the Sfaxee. The poor woman
submits to the inconstancy of Fortune with marvellous fortitude. She is
now quite merry, and inclined to play the coquette. Poor thing! Let us
be thankful for her that she has been granted this elasticity of temper,
and that she is willing to the last to cheer gloom of whomsoever will be
cheered in return for a little tenderness and protection.
I insert a note upon the money used here:
The large dollar (douro) 7 Tunisian piastres.
The small dollar 5 Tun. piast. (in Mourzuk).
The large dollar 3 metagals.
The small dollar 2 metagals (in Tintalous).
One metagal 1000 wadas (in Tintalous).
One mahboub 7 Tun. piast. (60 paras in Mourzuk
and Tripoli).
One metagal 40 drâa[14] (in Aheer and Soudan).
[14] The drâa is _an arm_ of strips of cotton stuff, about
two inches long.
I was engaged in setting down this information, when intelligence was
brought me that our camels had again been carried off. This affront was
offered us yesterday at noon, during a storm of rain, before my visit to
the Sultan; but Yusuf had thought it best to keep the matter concealed
from me, hoping restitution would be made before I heard of it. I sent
him immediately to lay our case before the Sultan. So it seems that we
are to be hunted here, even, in our repose under the protection of
En-Noor! It is impossible to tell how we shall get safely to Zinder. Our
boat is still at Seloufeeat. Yusuf is gone to see En-Noor.
Naturally I feel very much annoyed about the missing camels. They were
stolen, it seems, not only in the middle of the day, but at a distance
of not more than a quarter of a mile from the residence of En-Noor! This
is too bad, really too bad. Are we never to have any repose?
In the evening, as a slight consolation, we were fortunate enough to
purchase some provisions. The German got two goats, and I some samen. I
also borrowed ghaseb until we could buy.
_6th._--I got up in better health this morning, and felt the benefit of
the goats'-flesh broth. I observe that it does not rain during the
night; the showers come on generally in the afternoon. The mornings are
dry, fine, and hot. This morning, at half-past seven A.M., the
thermometer stood under the tent at 79° Fahr.
The Tanelkums, by the way, left us yesterday evening. They all return in
the course of fifteen days; some of them go on to Zinder, and others
make their way back to Mourzuk. Haj Omer quarrelled desperately with
Yusuf before he started.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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