Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 3 (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. 3 (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
Both chiefs had made their appearance in their native attire, that is to
say, quite naked with the exception of a narrow leather strip round
their loins; and it caused great merriment to the courtiers, that when,
in consequence of their subjection, they were officially dressed in
black tobes as a sort of investiture, the chief of Démmo drew his shirt
over his head, reckless whether the lower parts were covered or not. In
order to amuse the assemblage, they also blew their little horn, an
instrument which every Músgu grandee carries with him, and which bears a
great resemblance to a bugle; but in this accomplishment a priest who
accompanied them was more clever than themselves, producing melodious
and sonorous sounds from this simple and uncouth instrument.
This was the first and only time that I became aware that these pagan
tribes had separate priests; and I felt greatly disappointed that I did
not come into closer contact with them, nor was able to learn from other
people what were their peculiar duties. But, in general, I think I am
not mistaken in supposing that the sacerdotal functions with these
tribes of the interior are less developed than those on the coast; for
as yet I had seen very little of real fetishism. In general the office
of priest seems to be connected with that of chief.
This man also received a shirt as a present; but it was only a white one
of inferior quality, and I do not think he kept it very long after he
had left the assemblage of these civilized people.
As the price of the benevolent reception which the prince of Démmo had
experienced, he, as is generally the case in these distracted
communities, betrayed the interests of his countrymen, promising that he
would lead the army to a large walled town (so, at least, he was
understood to say), where they were to find plenty of booty and spoil.
Accordingly an expedition on a large scale, which was to be led by the
vizier in person, was fixed for the next day.
[Sidenote: Friday, January 2nd.]
Having remained quiet for some hours in the morning, probably to make
the neighbouring chieftains believe that we had no intention of moving,
we suddenly set out, with almost the whole of the cavalry and a portion
of the Kánembú spearmen, led on by our new ally the chief of Démmo, who,
mounted on a little pony, clad in his new black garment, presented a
very awkward and ridiculous appearance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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