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
ABDALLAH OF MANDARA.
FUNHA OF MAFFATAI.
From Drawings by Major Denham.
Engraved by E. Finden.
_Published Feb. 1826, by John Murray, London._]
On entering the town of Angala, on the 19th, Bellal, who had
accompanied Mr. Toole and myself on the excursion to Loggun, again
pointed out the place where we had deposited my unfortunate friend. I
went to the spot to see that it was not disturbed; and a peaceful
depository it had proved for his remains: every thing remained just
as I had left it, even to the branches which covered his grave, and
I was fearful, by exciting observations, to risk their disturbance.
On the 20th we reached Maffatai, and took possession once more of my
old quarters in Birmah’s house. The host, however, was from home,
getting his gussub into the ground; his eldest wife did the honours:
she also gave me a little more of her company than before, and told
me, very good-naturedly, that she could do many things now, that she
could not when the lord was at home. Nothing, indeed, could exceed
the kindness with which my hostess, who was called Ittha, did all she
could to show how welcome a visitor I was. “Birmah,” she said,
“must stay and get in the corn, but she hoped I should not miss
him.” During the first day she came repeatedly with her sister
Funha, a negress with an expression of countenance more pleasing than
I had ever before seen, of about eighteen, who, Ittha said, was most
anxious to see me, from what she had told her formerly. Luckily,
she added, Funha had divorced her husband only two days before, or
she could not have had that pleasure. Ittha, with all the familiarity
of an old acquaintance, uncovered my hands, arms, and breast, to show
to her sister my extraordinary whiteness. It seemed to surprise her
greatly; but nevertheless I was pleased to observe that it did not
appear to excite either much alarm or disgust: but what certainly
seemed to both the greatest wonder, was the sight and touch of my
head, which had just been shaved; it was literally passed from the
hands of one to the other, with so many remarks, that some minutes
elapsed ere I could be allowed to replace my turban. When, at length,
they left me, Ittha exclaimed, pressing my hand with both hers,
that I was fit to be a sultan, _mai, mai, wolla!_ and that Funha
should shampoo me, and try to bring on sleep, as I must be tired and
fatigued by the heat of the sun. This, however, was not all: towards
evening, more than a dozen of Ittha’s friends, the principal ladies
of the town, came, in consequence of the liberty she enjoyed while
the goodman was away, to have a look at the _bulfulk_ (white man),
each bringing me something—a few onions, a little rice, or a bowl
of milk, as a present. Funha performed all the duties imposed on
her to perfection. I had a supper of pounded rice, milk, and honey,
with something like bread made into cakes: and verily I began to
think, like Ittha herself, that I not only deserved to be a sultan,
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