Travels in Kordofan : $b Embracing a description of that province of Egypt, and of some of the bordering countries, with a review of the present state of the commerce in those countries, of the habits and customs of the inhabitants, as also an account of the slave hunts taking place under the government of Mehemed AliPallme, Ignaz
History
Travels in Kordofan : $b Embracing a description of that province of Egypt, and of some of the bordering countries, with a review of the present state of the commerce in those countries, of the habits and customs of the inhabitants, as also an account of the slave hunts taking place under the government of Mehemed Ali
Pallme, Ignaz
Kordofan (Sudan : Province) -- Description and travel; Nile River; Sudan -- Description and travel
All these goods pass through Cairo, but few of them by way of Suakim
and Sennaar. I was the first Austrian subject who made an attempt
to traffic with this country, I had not the idea of establishing
myself, for my capital was too inconsiderable for that purpose,
and, in fact, only intended to defray the expenses of my journey,
but I believe that the experience I made may be of great service
to others. I caution every one, however, who may intend visiting
this country with goods to be on his guard against the white ants,
and never to neglect placing his cases on stones, for I have
myself unfortunately been a sufferer by the ubiquity of these
destructive beasts. During my illness I was incapable of looking
after my luggage, and as a consequence found, on my recovery, all
my cottons in a perfectly unsaleable state, and this when on my
flight at a time when I had moneys to reclaim. The Termites became
the cause why I was compelled to return without a servant, and to
march during two days on foot through the Desert of Krusko. The
prices of goods vary with the seasons; thus, during the rains,
when no caravan can arrive from Egypt, and goods are consequently
scarce, the prices increase by fifty shillings of their usual cost.
_Coffee_ is imported from Abyssinia, and the ordinary price of the
rottolo is three piasters; but in the year 1838, it rose to eighteen
piasters (5_s._ 1_d._). During the rainy season sugar stood at
nine piasters per rottolo (1lb. English); rice at twelve piasters
per oock’ckah; vinegar at fifteen piasters the bottle: soap at
nine piasters the rottolo; pepper at twelve piasters; the prices
of all goods, however fall with the arrival of fresh supplies. Many
of the articles of importation are bought up by Djelabi, who trade
with the interior of the country, and barter them away for slaves
and other commodity. The commerce with the interior even requires
some experience, _e. g._ in respect to glass-beads; for, on some
of the hills, the white specimens are in request; on others the
red or blue beads are preferred, and the same rule applies to many
other articles. A great deal of salt and tobacco is imported into
the country of the Shilluks. The Djelabi, in whose hands the entire
trade may be said to rest, might turn it to far better advantage,
if they had more talent for business, and were less careless in
its transaction. Thus they pay no attention to the demands of
the market, but purchase, year after year, the same articles, sit
themselves down in a sook, and will not quit that spot in quest of
fresh supplies until they have sold the very last article, be it
ever so trifling. The value of time is totally unknown to them, and
as for leaving the remainder of their unsold goods with an agent on
commission, a son would not trust his own father, but rather lose
the most valuable time for travelling for two or three pounds of
soap, and a few trumpery glass-beads. These Djelabi are Dongolavi,
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