What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the NileSpeke, John Hanning
History
What Led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile
Speke, John Hanning
Horn of Africa -- Description and travel; Nile River; Tanganyika, Lake
25th.--We were detained until noon in consequence of the Abban's
ponies, which had gone astray, and until then could not be found. In
the meanwhile the Urus Sagé came again, and tried to prevent us
loading, on the same plea as yesterday, but without effect; but when
we were starting, a compromise was effected on condition they would
escort us down the hill and guide the way. The road was steep and very
slippery, so that the camels could hardly get along, and this was
further increased by the thick strong green jungle-bushes, as well as
rocks and other difficulties incidental to mountain travelling with
such large and ungainly animals as laden camels. At the fourth mile we
found a large roomy cave under a rock, and put up for the night. Sheep
had been kept here, and the place was so full of fleas that the ground
was literally browned with them. I never saw such an astonishing
quantity congregated in one place; but we soon disposed of them by
burning certain boughs, which the Somali justly said was a specific
remedy against them.
26th and 27th.--During these two days we descended by a tortuous
winding footpath under no mean difficulties, and finally arrived,
after twelve miles' marching, at a place called Hundurgal, situated in
the hollow of a watercourse which divides the Warsingali from the Habr
Gerhajis frontiers, and transmits its waters to the Gulf at Ras
Galwéni. During the journey the Somali pointed out some of their
richest gum-trees, of which the finest in order is a species of
frankincense, called by them Falafala, or Luban Maiti. The gum of this
tree is especially valued by the Somali women for fumigating purposes,
which they apply to their bodies by sitting over it, when ignited, in
the same manner as Cashmeres sit over their little charcoal-pots to
keep themselves warm when resting on their travels. They enshroud
themselves in a large wrapper, place a pot with the burning gum
between their legs, and allow the perfume to rise to every portion of
their body simultaneously. We gave our guides five cloths for escort,
and sent them away.
I was informed by my men that under lee of Ras Galwéni there is a
better harbour than any on the whole coast-line, having deep water
close in to the shore, but, being neutral ground, the Warsingali will
not allow anybody to occupy it. They do not allow the Habr Gerhajis to
do so, as they would monopolise the trade; and they will not take it
themselves, as their sultan sagely remarks it would draw all their
force to one side of their possessions, and thus leave the other
exposed to attack from the Mijjertaines. Now the Dulbahantas are
obliged to come to Bunder Gori if they want to traffic with outer
nations, but were the Habr Gerhajis at Galwéni, this custom would be
drawn from them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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