Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824Denham, Dixon
History
Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824
Denham, Dixon
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Africa, North
preparations were made for carrying this sentence into effect, the
Kaganawha (black Mamelukes), and Shouaa chiefs about the sheikh’s
person, fell at his feet, and notwithstanding the haughtiness of
Barca Gana’s carriage to them since his advancement, entreated
to a man pardon for his offences, and that he might be restored to
favour. The culprit appearing at this moment to take leave, the sheikh
threw himself back on his carpet, wept like a child, and suffered
Barca Gana, who had crept close to him, to embrace his knees, and
calling them all his sons, pardoned his repentant slave. No prince
of the most civilized nation can be better loved by his subjects
than this chief; and he is a most extraordinary instance, in the
eastern world, of fearless bravery, virtue, and simplicity. In the
evening, there was great and general rejoicing. The timbrels beat;
the Kanemboos yelled, and struck their shields; every thing bespoke
joy: and Barca Gana, in new tobes and a rich bornouse, rode round
the camp, followed by all the chiefs of the army.
June 18.—We commenced our return to Kouka, after an expedition
to me very interesting, and one in which the sheikh had displayed a
vast deal of tact and good management; for although he threatened the
extermination of the Munga people, yet nothing could have been more
injurious to his interests than carrying such threats into execution,
had he, indeed, been sufficiently strong to have done so. They are
a powerful people, and can bring twelve thousand bowmen into the
field; their arrows are much longer than those of the Felatahs, and
they have a way of poisoning them more fatally than those people. A
nation possessing such a force as this amongst his own people,—who,
from their situation on the frontier, were constantly exposed to the
attacks both of the Felatahs and the Tuaricks, and by being more
accustomed to warfare, were consequently better troops than any
in the kingdom of Bornou,—it became a matter of great importance
to the sheikh to conciliate by fair means, if it were practicable,
and he was perfectly alive to the policy of such a proceeding. The
Mungowy nearly all fight on foot, while Bornou may not improperly be
called an equestrian nation. The infantry here, however, as in our
own quarter of the globe, most commonly decide the fortune of war;
and the sheikh’s former successes may be greatly, if not entirely,
attributed to the courageous efforts of the Kanem spearmen, in leading
the Bornou horse into the battle, who, without such a covering attack,
would never be brought to face the arrows of their enemies. No use
had ever yet been made of the accession of strength to Bornou by its
junction with the Munga people, and the sheikh had this in view when
he planned the present expedition. All these considerations had their
weight with him, as well as the numerical force with which he had to
contend, and he availed himself of the superstition of the people,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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