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
En-Noor, they say, is exceedingly angry about this attack, and has sent
eleven mounted men after the robbers to seize their camels, which if he
gets hold of he intends to confiscate. On Amankee calling on him he
observed, "You, Amankee, being a native of Soudan, and not a Muslim of
Tripoli, are like the Kailouees. You can fire on these Kailouee robbers.
Get your gun loaded, ready for any other occasion."
At daylight, after lecturing my servants for not giving the alarm
(for, with the exception of Saïd's wife, they were all so
terror-stricken--literally struck dumb with terror--that they could not
speak, much-less cry out), I sent Amankee off at the heels of the
robbers. In all such emergencies I have found no one like Amankee; he is
a complete bloodhound, and can scent his way through all the desert, and
follow the steps of the most agile and quick-witted fugitive. I knew
Amankee would pick up some of the tea and bring news of the robbers. He
returned, and fulfilled my expectations: he picked up about six ounces
of tea scattered on the road, and brought the news that the robbers were
from Tidek and Taghajeet. They had come some days' journey to plunder
us. I learned, also, that the rascals, just before they attacked us, had
been feasting at a wedding in Tintalous.
I grieved very much for the loss of my tea, and employed six or seven
hours in picking the stones out of what Amankee recovered. I had greatly
coveted this luxury, and set my heart upon it; and now my idol was
ruthlessly torn from me by a band of robbers! Amankee, knowing my
feelings, had offered a reward for the rest, telling the people he saw
on the road that the tea could only be drank by Christians, and was
poison for Muslims! This fib drew from the astonished Kailouees a woful
ejaculation--"Allah! Allah!" Many funny scenes were enacted during the
few minutes of the attack of the robbers. The other negress, a wife of
another of the servants, was quite dumb; but Saïd's wife crept around
the tent like a dog, on her hands and feet, giving the alarm, but
fearing to rise up lest she should be felled down by the robbers. The
servants of the Germans hearing the squalling thought it was Saïd
"beating his wife"--a thing common in these countries. Dr. Barth heard
all sorts of noises, but imagined they were all from the celebration of
the wedding. It is always well to examine suspicious circumstances. A
strange camel had been seen straying at sunset near our tent, which
excited the suspicions of myself and Dr. Barth. If we had obeyed our
presentiments, we might have discovered the intended attack, or, at
least, have made some preparations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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