Some Heroes of Travel: or, Chapters from the History of Geographical Discovery and EnterpriseAdams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
History
Some Heroes of Travel: or, Chapters from the History of Geographical Discovery and Enterprise
Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
Discoveries in geography; Explorers
A broad and noble stream, it flowed
from east to west through an entirely open country. The banks were
twenty to thirty feet high; while, immediately opposite to the
traveller’s station, behind a pointed headland of sand, the river Fáro,
which has its source on the eastern side of Mount Atlantika, came in with
a bold sweep from the south-east, and poured its tributary waters into
the Bénuwé. The Bénuwé, below the point of junction, bends slightly to
the north, runs along the northern foot of Mount Bágelé, thence traverses
the mountainous region of the Báchama and Zina to Hamárruwa and the
industrious country of Korórofa, until it joins the great western river
of the Kwára, or Niger.
The passage of the Bénuwé, which is here about eight hundred yards wide,
was safely accomplished in the native canoes, nor did any mishap occur in
the transit of the Fáro, which measures about six hundred yards. The
current of the Fáro has a velocity of about five miles an hour; that of
the Bénuwé does not exceed three miles and a half. By way of Mount
Bágelé, and through the rich low lands of Ribágo, the travellers repaired
to Yola, the capital of A’damáwa.
II.
Yola, the capital of A’damáwa, lies four degrees to the south of Kuka, on
the Fáro, in a marshy plain, which presents nothing attractive to the eye
of an artist. Dr. Barth describes it as a large open place, consisting
mainly of conical huts, surrounded by spacious court-yards, and even by
corn-fields; only the houses of the governor and his brothers being built
of clay. When he entered it, Lowel, the governor, was in his fields, and
could not be seen; but on his return the travellers proceeded to his
“palace” to pay their respects. They were not allowed an interview,
however, until the following day, and then it was anything but
satisfactory. The officer who had accompanied them from Kuka took the
opportunity of delivering certain despatches; and as they proved
displeasing to the governor, he immediately vented his wrath upon Dr.
Barth, accusing him of treacherous intentions. The audience terminated
in confusion, and next day but one, Dr. Barth was ordered to leave Yola,
on the pretence that his sojourn there could not be allowed unless he
obtained the authorization of the Sultan of Sokoto. He was suffering
from fever, and the heat of the day was excessive, but at once made
preparations for departure. Sitting firmly in his large Arab stirrups,
and clinging to the pommel of his saddle, he turned his horse’s head
towards Bornú, and, though he fainted twice, was soon invigorated by a
refreshing breeze, which opportunely rose with healing on its wings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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