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
ʿAbd el Káderi, the son of the sultan el Bákiri, was seated between the
column to the right and the wall, and appeared to be a tolerably stout
man, with large benevolent features, as far as the white shawl wound
around his face would allow us to perceive. The white colour of the
lithám, and that of his shirt, which was of grey hue, together with his
physiognomy, at once announced him as not belonging to the Tawárek race.
Having saluted him one after the other, we took our seats at some
distance opposite to him, when, after having asked Hamma some
complimentary questions with regard to the old chief, he called me to
come near to him, and in a very kind manner entered into conversation
with me, asking me about the English nation, of which, notwithstanding
all their power, he had, in his retired spot, never before heard, not
suspecting that “English powder” was derived from them.
After explaining to him how the English, although placed at such an
immense distance, wished to enter into friendly relations with all the
chiefs and great men on the earth, in order to establish peaceable and
legitimate intercourse with them, I delivered to him Ánnur’s and Mr.
Richardson’s letters, and begged him to forward another letter to
ʿAlíyu, the sultan of Sókoto, wherein we apologised for our
incapability, after the heavy losses and the many extortions we had
suffered, of paying him at present a visit in his capital, expressing to
ʿAbd el Káder, at the same time, how unjustly we had been treated by
tribes subject to his dominion, who had deprived us of nearly all the
presents we were bringing with us for himself and the other princes of
Sudán. While expressing his indignation on this account, and regretting
that I should not be able to go on directly to Sókoto, whither he would
have sent me with the greatest safety in company with the salt-caravan
of the Kél-geres, and at the same time giving vent to his astonishment
that, although young, I had already performed journeys so extensive, he
dismissed us, after we had placed before him the parcel containing the
presents destined for him. The whole conversation, not only with me, but
also with my companions, was in the Háusa language. I should have liked
to have broached to him the treaty at once; but the moment was not
favourable.
On the whole, I look upon ʿAbd el Káder as a man of great worth, though
devoid of energy. All the people assured me that he was the best of the
family to which the sultan of Ágades belongs. He had been already sultan
before, but, a few years ago, was deposed in order to make way for Hámed
e’ Rufäy, whom he again succeeded; but in 1853, while I was in Sókoto,
he was once more compelled to resign in favour of the former.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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