Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855Barth, Heinrich
History
Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855
Barth, Heinrich
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel
The following day our route lay over the dreary plain, where nothing but
the varied form of the rocky buttresses projecting from the plateau into
the plain interrupted the monotony of the prospect. Near the slope the
country seems a little less desolate; and the valley Támelelt, which
extends between two of the promontories, has even a great reputation
among the natives. In the afternoon we entered a sandy region, when we
began to ascend gradually till we reached the summit of the sand-hills.
We then continued on the higher level, where chalk protruded to the
surface. After a long march we encamped on stony ground, covered only
with a scanty growth of sebót.
On the 10th we descended a good deal from this higher ground. At first
the descent was gradual; but beyond the valley In-kássewa, which running
through high rocky ground is not so poor in herbage, we descended about
two hundred feet by steep terraces, having before us the peculiarly
serrated crest of the Akakús, and in front of it some lower offshoots
covered with sand. The bottom of the plain was a broad and entirely
naked level with hard calcareous soil, surrounded by irregular half-
decayed hilly ridges. It forms the boundary between Fezzán and the
country of the Hogár. The character of the country underwent no change
till we reached the valley Telíga, where, at an early hour in the
afternoon, we encamped near a group of talha-trees, not far from the
well, and remained for the next two days at an elevation of 1435 feet.
The valley is very shallow, now and then interrupted by some sand-hills
and adorned with some fine specimens of the ethel-tree, while broad
strips of herbage cover the more favoured spots. It runs N.W., nearly
parallel with the range of the Akakús, which remained at a distance of
three miles. It joins the valley Ilághlaghén, which again unites with
the Titábtarén; and this valley runs towards a favoured spot called
Sérdales, which we were unfortunately prevented from visiting, as Hatíta
thought we should be annoyed by the begging propensities of the people.
Copious springs, from which the whole locality takes the name of el
Awenát, irrigate and fertilize the soil, and support a village of about
the same size as Tigger-odé, inhabited by about a hundred families,
while in the gardens corn, melons, and ghédeb are produced in tolerable
quantity. The water of the springs is said to be warm. We saw a party of
Hágara from that place, who called on our friends; they were fine men
and neatly dressed.
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