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
_16th._--This was a warm, hazy day, and we were troubled with
considerable languor. I have slept but little these three nights, and
feel somewhat indisposed for want of rest. I read a good deal of
Clapperton's "Journey to Sakkatou," besides beginning a vocabulary of
the Kailouee language, with the assistance of Mokhlah Bou Yeldee, who is
a very clever young man. He gets his living by writing charms, and sells
a good number for the cure of disease. People pour water on the ink or
writing of the charm, and then drink the magic liquid. The remedy is
doubtless as effectual as many patent medicines in Europe. As is well
known, this superstition of drinking the Koran is of old date.
En-Noor sent a message this morning by the slave of Makersee, that we
were not to say a single word to any one, not even to our servants,
about the money, or its amount, which we have paid him for our escort to
Zinder. He says, "If the people hear of this money, they will all come
down upon me for a portion; and if I do not comply with their wishes
they will abandon us, and not go with us to Zinder, and I want as many
of them to go with me as possible."
Our wealth is still noised abroad! The people believe all our boxes to
be full of gold and silver. Even En-Noor sought for secret information
respecting the amount of dollars which he supposed to be concealed
amongst our baggage.
I was again restless when night came on, and was still awake when the
moon was near setting, about three A.M., under tent, at which time
suddenly I heard the wife of Saïd begin to squall, with the sound of the
trampling of feet around my tent. I conjectured immediately what was up,
"Another attack!" I repeated mechanically to myself, and getting up,
began to dress myself. At first I thought our assailants were at some
distance off, but when the boxes began to be drawn from around my tent I
exclaimed, "Oh, oh, they are upon me, and are carrying off the things."
Still I had become so accustomed to these attacks, or attempted attacks,
by night and by day, that I felt quite indifferent, and began to dress
myself as if nothing was the matter, or simply as if some one had called
me up suddenly to breakfast, or that we were to start off early on our
way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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