Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2 - Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government

James Richardson

Informations

• Publié par: sowyeg
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 24
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa
Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2, by James Richardson
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2
Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government
Author: James Richardson
Release Date: June 9, 2006 [EBook #18544]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSION TO CENTRAL AFRICA ***
Produced by Carlo Traverso, Annika Feilbach and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at
http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Transcriber's note:
This text contains the unicode characters ā, ă, ĕ and ō in a few
places. If any of these characters do not display in your browser,
please see the Latin-1 text version for a transcription.
NARRATIVE OF A MISSION TO
CENTRAL AFRICA
PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1850-51,
UNDER THE ORDERS AND AT THE EXPENSE OF HER
MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
BY THE LATE
JAMES RICHARDSON,
AUTHOR OF "TRAVELS IN THE GREAT DESERT OF SAHARA."
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICADILLY.
MDCCCLIII.
LONDON:
Printed by G. Barclay, Castle St. Leicester Sq.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Description of Tintalous and its Environs—Palace and Huts—
Bedsteads—Kailouee Race—Unhandsome Conduct of Mr. Gagliuffi—
Proposed Journey to Aghadez—Dr. Barth starts—An obstinate Bullock
—Present extraordinary—State of Zinder—Affability of the Sultan—
Power of Charms—Scorpions—Dialogue with a Ghâtee—Splendid
Meteors—Visit from En-Noor—Intrigues of the Fellatahs—A Sultan
loaded with Presents—Talk of departing for Zinder—State of the
Bornou Road—Division of a Bullock—Bottle of Rum stolen—More
Visits from the Sultan—A Musical Entertainment—Curious
Etymological Discussions—A wonderful Prophetess—Secret Societies
—Magicians—The Evil Eye—Morality of Soudan—Magnificent Meteor
—Stories of the Sfaxee. 1
CHAPTER II.
Muslim want of Curiosity—Gossip on Meteors—A Family Broil—
Rationale of Wife-beating—Abominable Dances—Evil Communications
—Dr. Overweg—Kailouee Vocabulary—Windy Day—Account of Wadaï
—Madame En-Noor—Profits of Commerce—The letter Ghain—
Fellatah Language—Introduction of Islamism—Desert Routes—Trade
in Agate Stones—A lively Patient—The Eed—A Visit en masse—Arrival
of the Boat—Butchers—Exchange of Visits with the Sultan—Diet—A
Shereef—A delicate Request—Information on Maradee—Tesaoua—
Itinerant Schoolmasters—En-Noor's Territory in Damerghou—
Unpleasant Communication—Amulets—The Foundation of a City in
the Desert—En-Noor's Political Pretensions. 21
CHAPTER III.
News from Barth—Camels restored—Expensive Journey—Proposed
Migration of Males—Supply of Slaves, whence—A new Well—Pagans
and Christians—Tibboo Manners—The great Gong—When is a
Tibboo hungry?—Hunger-belt—Queen of England in the Sahara—The
Shanbah—A hasty Marriage—Saïd's new Wife—Wild Cauliflowers—
Tolerance of the Kailouees—Men go to fetch Salt from Bilma—
Approach of Dr. Barth—Lion's Mouth—Tibboos and Kailouees—
Mysteries of Tintalous—Fewness of Men in Aheer—Trees preserved
in the Valley—Bright Stars—Method of Salutation—Purposed Stars—
Kailouee Character—Champagne at Tintalous—The Wells. 40
CHAPTER IV.
Dr. Barth's Journey to Aghadez—Description of the Route—Tiggedah
—Luxuriant Scenery of Asadah—Plain of Tarist—Beautiful Valley—
Buddeh—Small Caravan—Aghadez—its Inhabitants—their Occupation
—The great Koku, or Sultan—Asbenouee Revolutions—Election of a
Prince—Interview—Ceremony of Investiture—Razzia—Intricate
Political System—Account of Aghadez—Mosque—Environs—Women
—Tribes of Asben—The Targhee Family—Population of the Ghât
Districts—of Aheer—The Oulimad and Tanelkums—Tribe of Janet—Haghar—Sagamaram—Maghatah—Extent of Aheer—Connexion with
the Black Countries—Mechanism of Society in Aheer—Chieftains—
Tax-gathering—Food of the Kailouees—Maharees—Amusements—
Natural Features of Asben—Vegetation—Cultivation—Manufactures—
Bags for Charms. 57
CHAPTER V.
Projected Departure for Damerghou—False Start—Picturesque
Caravan—Sultan's Views of White Skins—My Birthday—The Sultan
fights his Battles over again—His Opinion of Women—Bragging—The
Razzia on the Fadeea—Political News in the Desert—Cold Weather—
Continue our Journey—Bornouese Fighis—Tin-Tagannu—Trap for a
Lion—Mousa's Camels—A further Delay—Jackals and the Fire—
Language of Signs—Tintalousian Coquettes—Departure of the Zinder
Caravan—Natural Features—Languages—The Kilgris—Killing Lice—
The Razzia to the North—Present of a Draught-board—Pagan Nations
—Favourable Reports. 75
CHAPTER VI.
Medicine for Bad Eyes—A summary Proceeding—News from the Salt-
Caravan—Towns and Villages of Tesaoua—Earthquakes—Presents
for the Sultan of Maradee—Yusuf's Insolence—English Money in
Aheer—A Razzia on the Holy City—Bornouese Studies—Gipsies of
Soudan—En-Noor and the Marabouts—Ghaseb—State of the
Weather—Calculations for the Future—Senna—Relations of Man and
Wife in Aheer—En-Noor in his Family—Gouber and Maradee—Beer-
drinking—Study of the Sau—Shara—The Oulimad—Lions—
Translating Jokes—Digging a Well—Projects. 92
CHAPTER VII.
Razzia on the Fadeea—Haussa—Names of Places—Ant-track—
Circular Letter from Mourzuk—Vast Rock—Mustapha Bey's Letter—
Effects of Water—Butterflies—Aspect of the Country—A Slave
advanced to Honour—Shonshona—Herbage—Birds—Appearance of
the Salt-Caravan—Colours of Dawn—Bilma Salt—Mode of Barter—
Pass the Rock of Mari—Granite—Indigo Plant—Presents at Stamboul
—The Sultan begs again—Old Men's Importunities—Baghzem—
Curiosities of the Route—People of Damerghou—Temporary Village of
Women—Country begins to open—Barter Transaction with Lady En-
Noor. 110
CHAPTER VIII.
We continue our Journey—Huntsmen—Gum on the Tholukhs—The
Salt-Caravan—A Bunch of Gum—Games among the Slaves—
Baghzem—Trees—Palm of Pharaoh—Deserted Villages—Birds' Nests
—Wife of En-Noor—Unan—Lizards—Bad News—Christmas day in
Africa—Christmas-boxes—Begging Tuaricks again—Bargot—
Musicians—Speculations—Tribes at War—Parasitical Plant—
Importance of Salt—Animals—Agalgo—Force of the Caravan—Beat of
Drum—Approach the Hamadah—Giraffes—Poisoned Arrows—Ear of
Ghaseb—Soudan and Bornou Roads. 124
CHAPTER IX.
Enter the Hamadah—Home of the Giraffe—Water of Chidugulah—
Turtles—Cool Wind—Jerboahs—Centre of the Sahara—New-year's
Eve—Cold Weather—Birds of Prey—Soudan Date—Burs—Animals on
the Plateau—Young Ostrich—The Tholukh-tree—Severe Cold—
Eleven Ostriches—Termination of the Desert—Inasamet—The
Tagama—Purchases—People begin to improve—Fruit of the Lote-tree
—Village roofed with Skins—Vast Plain—Horses—Approach
Damerghou—Village of Gumrek—Rough Customers—Wars of the
Kilgris and Kailouees—A small Lake—Guinea-hens—Vultures—Partyof Huntsmen. 143
CHAPTER X.
My Barracan—Spontaneous Civility on arrival in Damerghou—Ghaseb
Stubble—Cactus—Water-Melons—Party of Tuaricks—Boban Birni—
Huts of Damerghou—Tagelel—Women of the Village—Population of
the Country—Complaisant Ladies—Festivities—Aquatic Birds—
Dancing—A Flatterer—A Slave Family—A new Reason for Wife-
beating—Hazna Dancers—Damerghou, comm