Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, from the year 1792 to 1798Browne, William George
History
Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, from the year 1792 to 1798
Browne, William George
Egypt -- Description and travel; Sudan -- Description and travel; Syria -- Description and travel
_Afnou_, a country beyond Bornou to the Westward, is said to produce
such abundance of silver, that the natives construct defensive armour
of that metal. The coats of mail are jointed, and represented as very
beautiful. Of the same material, it is reported, are made pieces to
protect the head and breast of their horses, the former having the
chaffron, or horn, known in our days of chivalry.
Among the Southern countries, whither the Jelabs of Bergoo and Fûr
sometimes journey to procure slaves, is _Dar Kulla_. The chief article
they carry to Kulla is salt, twelve pounds of which are estimated as
the price of a male slave, _sedasé_, about twelve or fourteen years
of age. A female brings three pounds more, whimsically computed by
the natives, as, a pound for the girl’s eyes, another for her nose,
and a third for her ears. If copper be the medium, two rotals are
esteemed equal to four of salt. _Hoddûr_, a large sort of Venetian
glass beads, and tin, are in great esteem. Of the latter they make
rings and other ornaments.
The natives of Kulla are represented as partly negroes, partly of a
red or copper colour. Their language is nasal, but very simple and
easy. It is said they worship idols. They are very cleanly, to which
the abundance of water in their country contributes: and they are
remarkable for honesty, and even punctilious in their transactions
with the Jelabs.
They have ferry-boats on the river, which are impelled partly by
poles, partly by a double oar, like our canoes. Slaves are obtained
in Dar Kulla either by violence, _Selatéa_, or by the following
method. In that country the smallest trespass on the property of
another, is punished by enslaving the children or young relations
of the trespasser. If even a man’s footstep be observed among the
corn of another, the circumstance is attended by calling witnesses,
and application to a magistrate, and the certain consequence of proof
is the forfeiture of his son, daughter, nephew, or niece, to the
person trespassed on. These accidents are continually happening, and
produce a great number of slaves. A commission to purchase any thing
in a distant market, not exactly fulfilled, is attended with a like
forfeiture. But above all, if a person of note die, the family have
no idea of death as a necessary event, but say that it is effected
by witchcraft. To discover the perpetrator, the poorer natives, far
and near, are obliged to undergo expurgation by drinking a liquor
which is called in Dar-Fûr _Kilingi_, or something that resembles
it; and the person on whom the supposed signs of guilt appear,
may either be put to death, or sold as a slave.
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