The heart of Africa, Vol. 1 (of 2)Schweinfurth, Georg August
Science
The heart of Africa, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Schweinfurth, Georg August
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Schweinfurth, Georg August, 1836-1925 -- Travel -- Africa, Central
The Bishareen keep larger flocks of sheep than of goats; the breed is
very peculiar, marked by distinctions which might almost constitute a
nationality. The Etbai race is closely allied to the thick-tailed
species in all general characteristics, but distinguished by the
lissome condition of its long and bushy tail. The fleece is hardly
worthy of being called wool at all, for it simply consists of rather
long straight hair. Almost all are perfectly white, except (and this
is the chief mark of distinction in the species) on the ancles and
mouth, which are covered with black hair. The usual price in the
country for such sheep never exceeds a Maria Theresa dollar (four
shillings), whilst young lambs cost but half this sum. Cattle are
found only in the environs of Suakin and on the road to Taka, lying
further south than the one on which we travelled. On the route which
we took, in consequence of the smaller rainfall, the pasture necessary
for their maintenance is not permanent throughout the year, like it is
in the lands adjacent to the Barka basin. In the next district we
crossed a high level, intersected by numerous water-courses deeply
worn amidst the stones and rubble. The most considerable of all these
water-courses periodically flowing to the south-west, was the Wady
Arab. The dry bed of this was bounded by shelving banks from 40 to 50
feet in height, and the ascent was steep enough to demand no small
exertion from our laden camels.
[Sidenote: SCHWEINFURTHIA.]
Here grew in great abundance the plant, a species of Scrophulariaceæ,
to which my own name had been assigned (_Schweinfurthia pterosperma_).
It met me as a greeting from my distant home. In itself it is but an
insignificant little weed, but upon its discovery, Alexander Braun,
the celebrated professor of the University of Berlin, had named it in
my honour—a little token of remembrance, which, according to the
tribute of Linnæus, may be more lasting than any memorial in brass or
marble.
A hollow, as of a saddle-seat, between the mountains led us over the
chain, unbroken by a pass, of the fourth of the parallel mountain
ridges which, with many branches, traverse this part of Africa. To the
right on the north we left Mount Wowinte and the peak of Badab in
which it culminates at an altitude of 5000 feet. The road then
descended into the wide plain spreading to the west of this height,
where a magnificent panorama opened to the view. Next we reached the
Wady Habohb, a watercourse of which the breadth was about 400 feet.
Proceeding across Wady Kokreb, two miles wide, we arrived at length at
the equally wide Wady Yumga. By this time we were on the next line of
the mountain range, in which is situated the much frequented well of
Koway, a rendezvous for all the nomads who wander in the neighbouring
localities. Here, by order of the great Sheikh of the Hadendoa, a
tribute, sanctioned by the Egyptian Government, is levied on every
caravan that passes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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