Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
On the 20th we proceeded but a mile and a half; our beasts and
ourselves being equally fatigued, and our cloaths torn all to rags.
Guanjook is a very delightful spot by the river side; small woods
of very high trees interspersed with very beautiful lawns; several
fields also cultivated with cotton; variety of game (especially Guinea
fowls, in great abundance) and, upon every tree, perroquets, of all
the different kinds and colours, compose the beauties of Guanjook. I
saw no parrots, and suppose there were none; but on firing a gun, the
first probably ever heard in those woods, there was such a screaming
of other birds on all sides, some flying to the place whence the
noise came, and some flying from it, that it was impossible to hear
distinctly any other sound. It was at this place that I shot that
curious bird called the Erkoom[20] in Amhara; the Abba Gumba, in
Tigrè; and here at Guanjook, _Teir el Naciba_, or the Bird of Destiny.
On the 22d, at three quarters past six we left Guanjook, and a few
minutes after passed a small river called Gumbacca, and afterwards
the river Tokoor. At half an hour past eight we rested there, and
three hours after came to the Guangue. The Guangue is the largest
river we had seen in Abyssinia except the Nile and Taccazé. It rises
near Tchelga, or between Tchelga and Nara. It joins the Tacazzé in the
Barabra, in the kingdom of Sennaar. The two rivers when joined are
called the Atbara, which gives its name to the province. It abounds
with hippopotami, and crocodiles, chiefly the former, which however we
thought were mostly smaller than those of the Nile.
At a quarter after one we came to Mariam-Ohha, and at half past three
arrived at Hor-Cacamoot. Hor in that country signifies the dry deep
bed of a torrent, which has ceased to run; and Cacamoot, the shade of
death; so that Yasine's village, where we now took up our quarters,
is called the Valley of the Shadow of Death: A bad omen for weak and
wandering travellers as we were, surrounded by a multitude of dangers,
and so far from home, that there seemed to be but one that could bring
us thither. We trusted in Him, and He did deliver us.
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