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
_8th._--The weather was warm again this morning. I had a visit from the
female slaves of the village of En-Noor, introduced by the wife of his
highness. I gave them rings and sugar, and sent them off in a good
humour. The country around looks exceedingly bare, almost free from
trees. There is a little herbage for the camels. Ghaseb stubble,
however, spreads all over, which looks well for the industry of the poor
slaves. The karengia has disappeared.
The news of the day goes that En-Noor will take me himself to Zinder. He
probably wants to make acquaintance with the new governor of that place,
as well as to see us safe there. The Tuaricks paid me a visit. I gave
them a bit of sugar, showed them a gun, and got rid of them. A present
of leban from a daughter of En-Noor induced me to give her a ring.
Amankee says the population of this country is very various, but the
Tuaricks of Asben are the masters. The villagers are not all slaves;
there are many free people amongst them,--also Buza in numbers; Tuaricks
who, having settled in Soudan, have forgotten their own language,
speaking only Haussa. Many visitors trouble us, but we hope for a
diminution to-morrow. The people of Damerghou are reported as enormous
thieves, but we have seen as yet but little of their propensities this
way, having, happily, lost nothing.
I made a visit to the village, and was well received by the principal
slave of En-Noor, who presented me with ghaseb-bread, cheese, and furd,
or ghaseb-water. The ladies were singularly complaisant, and one offered
me her friend; another was offered by a man. I believe these offers made
in the way of compliments. In the East, it would not be prudent to take
him at his word who should say, "Everything I have is yours." The huts
of the village are very clean, and are inhabited entirely by slaves of
En-Noor. These villages of Damerghou, at a distance, have the appearance
of Chinese villages, such as I have seen drawn, with eaves cocked up
like the rim of a French hat. The evening was given up to festivities,
the slaves of the caravan uniting with those of the Tagelel. A regular
procession brought the supper from the village to the people of the
caravan, and then the music and dancing began. We had no supper sent.
His highness is amazingly shabby in this respect. He fancies, perhaps,
he could send us nothing better than what we have ourselves got, but he
might try the compliment. We are, however, obliged to him for preventing
others from levying contributions upon us in this new region. The
Tuaricks here--all the strangers--are very civil; on account, I believe,
of our being with the old man. He is of great negative utility.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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