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
Every day brings the news of a new razzia. This morning it is reported
that some brigands of Oulimid who inhabit a district beyond Aghadez,
came down upon the people of Aghadamou, a place five days from
Tintalous, on the route of Soudan, destroyed their houses, and carried
away a great number of their camels. Aghadamou is represented to be a
wady, with a number of huts scattered about. I had not heard of this
place before as being on the Soudan route.
In the afternoon En-Noor walked out, and came up to me and saluted me.
As I passed by his highness I had an opportunity of noticing his dress.
He wore over the body a plain blue-checked Soudan robe, with trousers of
a similar material; on his head was a red cap bound round with a
blue-black bandage (turkadee), in the form of a turban, but also
brought, according to the invariable custom of the Tuaricks, over and
under the eyes. His shoes were the common Soudan sandals; and thus, with
a long wand, or a white stick, he proceeded with a slow-measured pace
through the streets of the town. A dependant followed the Sultan at a
short distance, but the absence of an escort proclaimed how deep-rooted
was his authority.
To-day, for the first time, En-Noor sent to buy something of us, viz. a
loaf of white sugar. As Overweg is going to Asoudee under the protection
of En-Noor, I gave him the loaf of sugar, and told him to send it, on
his part, as a present to the Sheikh, and at the same time to ask him to
get his escort ready.
The Fezzanees call the Milky Way, which appears at this season nearly
overhead early in the evening, "the road of the dates," it being now the
time in which the dates ripen.
Late in the evening a troop of twenty maharees came riding straight up
to our tents. Although none of our people were gone to bed, although all
were up and about talking, not a single person saw them coming but
myself; and I only saw--none of us heard, so noiselessly did they steal
over the sand. This troop merely came in to bait for the night. They,
however, brought some person with them who is about to be married to a
woman of Tintalous.
_27th._--I rose early, having slept little on account of noises of
various sorts, which continued all night long. First, there was a drum
perpetually beating, announcing rudely enough the approaching nuptials;
then there was a cricket singing shrill notes at my head; and then there
was the screech-owl making the valley of Tintalous ring again with its
hideous shriek. Add to all, between the roll of the big noisy drum, the
cries and uproar of the people. This morning there are groups of people
squatting all about. Two maharees are riding round and round one group.
Before another is a man dancing as indelicately as a Moorish woman of
the coast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account