Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa : $b Including accounts of Tripoli, the Sahara, the remarkable kingdom of Bornu, and the countries around Lake ChadBarth, Heinrich
History
Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa : $b Including accounts of Tripoli, the Sahara, the remarkable kingdom of Bornu, and the countries around Lake Chad
Barth, Heinrich
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel
Having returned to our quarters, we started on foot a little after
mid-day, on an excursion to Mount Tekút, which, from its elevation and
its shape, appeared to us well worth a visit. Descending the slope by
the “trík tobbi,” a road made by the Turks, we reached the eastern foot
of the mountain, after an hour and a half’s expeditious march through
the village Gwásem, and olive-groves, and over a number of subterranean
dwellings. My companion went round to the south side in search of an
easier ascent. I chose the cliff just above us, which, though steep,
indeed, and difficult on account of scattered blocks and stones, was
not very high. Having once climbed it, I had easier work, keeping along
the crest, which, winding upwards in a semicircle, gradually led to
the highest point of the mountain, on the north side, with an absolute
elevation of about 2,800 feet. On the top are the ruins of a chapel of
Si Ramadán, which, I think, is very rarely visited. The crest, which has
fallen in on the south-east side, encloses a perfectly circular little
plain, resembling an amphitheatre, and called Shʿabet Tekút. The mount
appears evidently to have been an active volcano in former times, yet
my companion declared the rock not to be pure basalt. The view was very
extensive, and I was able to take the angles of several conspicuous
points. After we had satisfied our curiosity, we descended along the
northern slope, which is much more gradual, being even practicable for
horses, and left the “Shʿabet” by the natural opening. Thence we returned
along the path called Um eʾ Nekhél, which passes by the Roman sepulchre
described by Lyon in general terms, and situated in a very conspicuous
position.
Accompanied by the shoush, I made an excursion in a south-westerly
direction. The villages, at least those above the ground, are generally
in a wretched condition and half deserted; still the country is in a
tolerable state of cultivation, saffron and olive-trees being the two
staple articles of industry. Passing the little subterranean village of
Shuedeya, we reached the Kasr Teghrínna, originally a Berber settlement,
as its name testifies, with a strong position on a perfectly detached
hill. At present the kasr, or the village on the hill-top, is little more
than a heap of ruins, inhabited only by a few families. At the northern
foot of the hill a small village has recently been formed, called Menzel
Teghrínna. On the west and east sides the hill is encompassed by a
valley with a fine olive-grove, beyond which the Wady el Arbʿa stretches
westwards; and it was by this roundabout way that my guide had intended
to take me from Wady el Ugla to Kasr Ghurián. Protected by the walls, I
was able to take a few angles; but the strong wind which prevailed soon
made me desist.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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