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
Six slaves, their right arms clad in iron, fanned the magnificent prince
with ostrich feathers attached to long poles, while round about him were
gathered a motley array of his captains and courtiers, gay in burnouses
of various colours, or in shirts of black or blue. Behind them followed
the war-camel, bestridden by the drummer, Kodgánga, who made the echoes
resound with the clang of a couple of kettle-drums, fastened on each side
of the animal; and the charivari was swelled by the exertions of three
musicians, two of whom played upon horns, and the third upon a bugle.
Mention must be made of the long train of the Sultan’s female slaves, or
favourites, forty-five in number, all mounted upon horseback, all dressed
from head to foot in black cloth, and all guarded by a slave on either
side. The procession was terminated by a train of eleven camels,
carrying the baggage.
A day or two afterwards, an officer of the Sultan demanded Dr. Barth’s
attendance at the palace. He hastened thither; and being admitted into
an inner courtyard, found the courtiers sitting on either side of a door,
which was protected by screenwork made of very fine reeds. Being desired
to sit down, along with his companions, and ignorant whom he should
address, he asked in a loud voice if the Sultan ’Abdel-Kadir were
present. A clear voice, from behind the screen, answered that he was.
When fully satisfied that he was addressing the prince, he proceeded to
offer his respects, and present the compliments of the great and powerful
British Government, which desired to be on terms of unity with so
illustrious a prince. His speech, which he delivered in Arabic, was
translated by an interpreter, and received a favourable reply. His
presents also were accepted with satisfaction, and the audience ended.
Next day he had a second audience, at which he expressed his desire to
return to Kúkáwa. After some slight delay, he obtained the Sultan’s
leave to depart, and was supplied with a camel and two horsemen to assist
him on his journey. Well pleased with the result of his visit to Másená,
after the inauspicious circumstances which had attended its commencement,
he set out on his return to the capital of Bornú, and arrived there in
safety on the 21st of August. He was glad to find Mr. Overweg in
excellent spirits, for liberal supplies had been forwarded by the British
Government, though looking physically weak and exhausted. The sheikh
received him with great cordiality, and he enjoyed a degree of comfort
and repose to which he had long been a stranger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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