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
Our course is now south, over a high sandy plain. We are at length
fairly in the Land of Demons, as the country of the Ghât Tuaricks is
called by themselves. All around, the mountains take castellated forms,
and high over all rises the Kasar Janoon, Palace or Citadel of the Ginn:
a huge square mass of rock, said to be a day in circuit, and bristling
with turret-pinnacles, some of which must be seven hundred feet in
height. Nothing but its magnitude can convince the eye at a distance
that it is not a work raised by human hands, and shattered by time or
warfare. Its vast disrupted walls tower gigantically over the plain.
Here, as in another Pandemonium, the spirits of the desert collect from
places distant thousands of miles, for the purpose of debate or prayer.
It is a mosque as well as a hall of council, and a thesaurus to boot,
for unimaginable treasures are buried in its caverns. Poor people love
to forge wealthy neighbours for themselves. No Tuarick will venture to
explore these Titanic dwellings, for, according to old compact, the
tribes of all these parts have agreed to abstain from impertinent
curiosity, on condition of receiving advice and assistance from the
spirit-inhabitants of their country. In my former visit I nearly lost my
life in an attempt to explore it and was supposed to have been misled by
mocking-spirits: little did I think that this superstition was about to
receive another confirmation.
The Kasar Janoon, and all the mountains around, were wrapped this day in
haze, but loomed gigantically through. We proceeded, still in sight of
this enchanted castle, over the plain, which was perfectly bare and
arid, until we arrived at Wady Atoulah, where we found the beneficent
ethel and some good pickings for the camels. Not pausing long here, we
proceeded another hour, and encamped in Wady Tahala, just in front of
the imposing Kasar, and full in view of the mountains of Wareerat to the
east.
The camels suffered much during the day's march. The Tuaricks had
another knocked up, and we two,--that of the blacks and one which I had
purchased of Mr. Gagliuffi. The latter could not bring his load, and we
were obliged to relieve him of all his burden; a great disappointment to
me, for I bought the animal as a strong one, to go up to Soudan. It was
a dear bargain, in comparison with the other camels which I purchased in
Mourzuk,--costing thirty-eight mahboubs and a half. I must recover the
money, and cannot allow Government to lose it. All our other camels came
on well, even those which cost me much less. The other is still behind
whilst I write: it is an old, worn-out, black Egyptian camel, and cost
only eighteen dollars.
I did not feel so much exhausted to-day as usual. I always take tea and
coffee on encamping, which restores my senses at least, and does me much
good generally. I dissolve mastic with the water during the hot hours,
and to-day drank at least three pints, but ate little.
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