Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2: Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government — John Shaqi
Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2: 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 2: 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
_Oct. 22d._--A letter was received this morning from Dr. Barth. It
appears that the treaty will not be signed, nor even presented to the
Sultan. En-Noor paid me a visit, as usual, this morning. I presented to
his highness some old boxes, with which he ordered a door to be made for
his palace. His politeness does not cease, and the graciousness with
which he receives my presents is really remarkable.
The man sent after our camels brought back my poor white maharee, and
demanded ten dollars (as good as twenty to me) for his trouble. I
refused to give them, preferring to let him have the camel, which is
hardly worth ten dollars. This manner of recovering our lost or stolen
camels amounts to buying them over again. But it has been our misfortune
all along, that our friends, and those who profess to be such, and all
who attempt to aid us--every one of them, have profited by our losses,
and the disasters which have befallen us. This dispute has been referred
to En-Noor, and they have accepted five dollars, which I offered them.
I this day made out the statement of the principal items of expenditure
which the expedition has incurred from Mourzuk to Tintalous, including
the escort to Zinder. It amounts to the enormous sum of three thousand
mahboubs, or about six hundred pounds sterling!! If we do not proceed
better than this on the future part of the journey, the expedition will
at any rate be bankrupt and ruined for want of funds.
_23d._--Yusuf and I brought before Overweg this morning the necessity of
his assisting in relieving the Government from the double payment of the
sums advanced by the Sfaxee. He agreed that it was highly important to
save this money, and promised to place his goods at my disposal for sale
in Soudan.
On the departure of the caravan for Zinder and Kanou every male
inhabitant will leave Tintalous, some starting with it and others going
for salt, leaving only the women and children behind. This is considered
by the Moors as preferable to leaving a few men behind, because these
few would occasion quarrels amongst the women, and, besides, excite the
jealousy of the absent husbands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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