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 sun that I had half longed for, half looked forward to with terror,
at last rose. My condition, as the heat went on increasing, became more
dreadful; and I crawled around, changing every moment my position, in
order to enjoy the little shade afforded by the leafless branches of the
tree. About noon there was of course scarcely a spot of shade left—only
enough for my head,—and I suffered greatly from the pangs of thirst,
although I sucked a little of my blood till I became senseless, and fell
into a sort of delirium, from which I only recovered when the sun went
down behind the mountains. I then regained some consciousness, and
crawled out of the shade of the tree, throwing a melancholy glance over
the plain, when suddenly I heard the cry of a camel. It was the most
delightful music I ever heard in my life; and raising myself a little
from the ground, I saw a mounted Tarki passing at some distance from me,
and looking eagerly around. He had found my footsteps in the sandy
ground, and losing them again on the pebbles, was anxiously seeking
traces of the direction I had taken. I opened my parched mouth, and
crying, as loud as my faint strength allowed, “áman, áman” (water,
water), I was rejoiced to get for answer “íwah! íwah!” and in a few
moments he sat at my side, washing and sprinkling my head, while I broke
out involuntarily into an uninterrupted strain of “el hamdu lilláhi! el
hamdu lilláhi!”
Having thus first refreshed me, and then allowed me a draught which,
however, I was not able to enjoy, my throat being so dry, and my fever
still continuing, my deliverer, whose name was Musa, placed me upon his
camel, mounted himself in front of me, and brought me to the tents. They
were a good way off. The joy of meeting again, after I had been already
despaired of, was great; and I had to express my sincere thanks to my
companions, who had given themselves so much trouble to find me. But I
could speak but little at first, and could scarcely eat anything for the
next three days, after which I gradually recovered my strength. It is,
indeed, very remarkable how quickly the strength of a European is broken
in these climes, if for a single day he be prevented from taking his
usual food. Nevertheless I was able to proceed the next day (the 17th),
when we kept more towards the slope of the Akakús, and here passed a
broad lateral valley, rich in herbage, called Ádar-n-jelkum, after which
we descended about a hundred feet from the pebbly ground into sandy soil
forming a sort of valley called Ighelfannís, and full of ethel-trees and
sebót. In such a locality we encamped two hours after noon, near
splendid ethel-trees; but the strong north-easterly wind, enveloping
ourselves and baggage in thick clouds of sand, banished all enjoyment.
[Sidenote: Thursday, July 18th.]
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