Opening the text

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846Richardson, James

History

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846

Name: Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846
Author: Richardson, James

Richardson, James

Sahara -- Description and travel

I began to breathe at once the free air of the open Desert. As is my
wont, I now committed my spirit to the care of God Almighty, leaving my
body to the care of the wild tribes of these inhospitable wastes. And why
not? Why distrust them? Have not the people hitherto treated me with
great and unexpected kindness? And is it not the first step to make
strangers your enemies, to distrust them?

FOOTNOTES:

[58] They call all other languages in the world _Ajem_--‮عجم‬--a
    distinction like that of Jew and Gentile, only applied to language
    instead of persons.

[59] Sale says:--"Mahomet here and elsewhere frequently imitates
    the truly inspired writers, in making God to operate on the minds
    of reprobates, to prevent their conversion." Impostors in all ages
    have charged the inefficacy of their novel mysteries upon the will
    of God. But these passages have had their use and humanity effects
    in the strife of contending religions. A Mahometan bigot, with
    sword in one hand and victim in the other, has often spared his
    life and his conversion by recollecting, "_God had sealed up his
    heart and his hearing_," so that he could not believe. The pride
    of the Moslem has also thus been content to leave matters in the
    hands of a predestinating deity.

[60] "Wild bullock:" The _Bos Brachyceras_, Gray.

[61] Turbans are sent to Mecca to be blest there, and by this
    blessing of course their value is greatly enhanced amongst the
    Moumeneen. Shrouds are also blessed at Mecca; and a rich Mahometan
    endeavours to procure one to wrap up his mortal remains. A
    considerable trade is carried on in blessed garments.




CHAPTER XIV.

FROM GHADAMES TO GHAT.

     Character of the People of Ghadames.--Strength of our
     Caravan.--First features of the new Route.--Well of Maseen.--Rate
     of Travelling.--Our Ghafalah divides in two on account of the
     difficulty of obtaining Water for so large a
     Caravan.--_Es-Sărāb_, or _The Mirage_.--_Gobemouche_
     Politicians.--Camels, fond of dry Bones.--Geological Features of
     Plateau.--Desert Tombs and _Tumuli_ Directors.--Intense cold of
     The Desert.--Well of Nather.--Savage Disposition of Camels.--Mr.
     Fletcher's advice to Desert Tourists.--No scientific instruments
     with me.--False alarm of Banditti, and meet a Caravan of
     Slaves.--Sight of the first tree after seven days' Desert.--Wells
     of Mislah in a region of Sand.--Vulgar error of Sand-storms
     overwhelming Caravans with billows of Sand.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846Richardson, James

History

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846

Richardson, James

Sahara -- Description and travel

I began to breathe at once the free air of the open Desert. As is my
wont, I now committed my spirit to the care of God Almighty, leaving my
body to the care of the wild tribes of these inhospitable wastes. And why
not? Why distrust them? Have not the people hitherto treated me with
great and unexpected kindness? And is it not the first step to make
strangers your enemies, to distrust them?

FOOTNOTES:

[58] They call all other languages in the world _Ajem_--‮عجم‬--a
    distinction like that of Jew and Gentile, only applied to language
    instead of persons.

[59] Sale says:--"Mahomet here and elsewhere frequently imitates
    the truly inspired writers, in making God to operate on the minds
    of reprobates, to prevent their conversion." Impostors in all ages
    have charged the inefficacy of their novel mysteries upon the will
    of God. But these passages have had their use and humanity effects
    in the strife of contending religions. A Mahometan bigot, with
    sword in one hand and victim in the other, has often spared his
    life and his conversion by recollecting, "_God had sealed up his
    heart and his hearing_," so that he could not believe. The pride
    of the Moslem has also thus been content to leave matters in the
    hands of a predestinating deity.

[60] "Wild bullock:" The _Bos Brachyceras_, Gray.

[61] Turbans are sent to Mecca to be blest there, and by this
    blessing of course their value is greatly enhanced amongst the
    Moumeneen. Shrouds are also blessed at Mecca; and a rich Mahometan
    endeavours to procure one to wrap up his mortal remains. A
    considerable trade is carried on in blessed garments.




CHAPTER XIV.

FROM GHADAMES TO GHAT.

     Character of the People of Ghadames.--Strength of our
     Caravan.--First features of the new Route.--Well of Maseen.--Rate
     of Travelling.--Our Ghafalah divides in two on account of the
     difficulty of obtaining Water for so large a
     Caravan.--_Es-Sărāb_, or _The Mirage_.--_Gobemouche_
     Politicians.--Camels, fond of dry Bones.--Geological Features of
     Plateau.--Desert Tombs and _Tumuli_ Directors.--Intense cold of
     The Desert.--Well of Nather.--Savage Disposition of Camels.--Mr.
     Fletcher's advice to Desert Tourists.--No scientific instruments
     with me.--False alarm of Banditti, and meet a Caravan of
     Slaves.--Sight of the first tree after seven days' Desert.--Wells
     of Mislah in a region of Sand.--Vulgar error of Sand-storms
     overwhelming Caravans with billows of Sand.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846

Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846

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