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
My companions and friends did not seem to share in my feelings: for,
wholly intent upon mischief, they had been roving about, and having
fallen in with some Kánembú cattle-breeders, they had plundered them not
only of their milk, but also of the vessels which contained it; and in
the afternoon some respectable old men applied to Mr. Overweg and
myself, the only just people they were sure to find amongst this wild
band of lawless robbers, for redress, and we were happy, not only to
restore to them their vessels, but also to make them a few small
presents.
[Sidenote: Thursday, Sept. 25th.]
Descending from our lofty encampment, we continued our march in the
narrow grassy plain, between the sand-hills to the north, and another
blue inlet of the lake to the south, where the rich pasture-grounds
extended further into the lake.
It was about seven o’clock in the morning when we had the good fortune
to enjoy one of the most interesting scenes which these regions can
possibly afford. Far to our right was a whole herd of elephants,
arranged in regular array, like an army of rational beings, slowly
proceeding to the water. In front appeared the males, as was evident
from their size, in regular order; at a little distance followed the
young ones; in a third line were the females; and the whole were brought
up by five males of immense size. The latter (though we were at some
distance, and proceeding quietly along) took notice of us, and some were
seen throwing dust into the air; but we did not disturb them. There were
altogether ninety-six.
[Illustration: Drawn by J. M. Bernatz, from a Sketch by Dr. Barth.
M. & N. Hanhart, lith. et impt.
HERD OF ELEPHANTS NEAR THE TSÁD.
Sepr. 25th. 1851.]
The fine fresh pasture-grounds some time afterwards gave way to a drier
plain, covered with a species of heath, and the country presented rather
a melancholy appearance. A little before ten o’clock we came to a large
herd of cattle or “berí,” collected round a small hamlet or dawar,
consisting of light, high-topped huts of corn-stalks, fastened together
by three rings of straw, and lightly plastered with a little cow-dung.
But although we obtained some milk, some of our friends, not content
with filling their stomachs, laid hold of a fine pony and carried it
off, under the pretext that it belonged to the Búdduma, who, as they
asserted, were the enemies of the sheikh; and when we had started again,
and encountered a small caravan of oxen laden with dates, not only were
all the skins containing the dates taken, but another ruffian laid hold
of one of the beasts of burden and dragged it away with him,
notwithstanding the lamentations of its owner. And yet the people who
were thus treated were subjects of the king of Bórnu, and the Welád
Slimán were his professed friends and hirelings.
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