Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2 | Page 7

by men, mostly in imitation of the women, and was also of
the usual inelegant and indelicate description. However, there was a
little mixing of the derwish dances. The thing went off to the great
satisfaction of the Kailouees, and was kept up till midnight.
8th.--I slept little after the villanous dancing and riot of the preceding
night, and rose late. My occupation this day was completing my
vocabulary of the Kailouee language, of which I expect to collect a
thousand words. My interpreter sometimes gives very curious
explanations when I work with him. The Arabic word which we
translate "Alas!" coming under consideration, he observed: "There is no
corresponding word in the languages of these countries. This word
belongs to the Koran and the next world." He means, that the word has
only a relation to the torment of the damned. It is curious that this
Arabic term agrees with, or is like, our word wail (Ar. weel), and is the
term used by our translators of the New Testament in describing the
torments of the lost, "Weeping and wailing" &c.
Of the term "chaste," Yusuf observed, "There is no such expression in
these languages; all the women are alike, and equally accessible when
danger is absent." It is also true that the men place no bounds to their
sensual appetites, and are restrained only by inability. It may be,
however, that the more religious would have some scruples about
intriguing with their neighbours' wives.
When we came to the word "school" Yusuf pretended there was not
such a word in Kailouee. He asked, "Where in Tintalous is there a
school?" The question, unfortunately, is put with too much truth. The
Kailouees hereabouts seem entirely to neglect education.

I myself observe that the Arabic booss answers exactly to the vulgar
word in English for kiss.[3] The name of a raven is one of many
remarkable examples of a word being chosen to imitate in sound some
peculiarity of the thing signified. In this case, kak irresistibly reminds
one of the raven's croaking voice; which we describe by caw. Kass,
scissors, is also an imitation of the sound produced by this instrument
in cutting.
[3] A good many similarities of this kind, accidental or otherwise,
might be pointed out: ydrub is "to drub;" kaab would be translated, in
old English, "kibe;" ykattah is "to cut;" kotta, "a cat;" bak, "a bug;"
stabl, "a stable," &c. &c. I have noticed, also, some similarities with
French words e.g. ykassar, "casser"--ED.
In the evening the Sfaxee and Yusuf came to pay us a visit, and related
divers sorts of wonders of this and other countries of Africa. The first
matter concerned us. Eight days ago died in Tintalous an old witch, or
prophetess, a negress, who foretold our arrival, and said to En-Noor, "A
caravan of Englishmen is on the road from Tripoli, coming to you."
This woman for many years was a foreteller of future events. The next
thing we heard referred to the secret societies of Central Africa. Some
of the chiefs of these societies have the power of killing with their eyes.
One of these fellows is known to have gone to a merchant, in whose
arms was sleeping a pretty female slave, and to have entered into
conversation with him, asking him how he was, &c. In the meanwhile
the wizard cast his eyes upon the pretty slave, and its heart withered.
This power is accordingly much dreaded. If, however, any one perceive
the incantation of the wizard, and say, "Begone, you son of a brach!" he
immediately flees, like a dog with his tail between his legs.
In parts of Bornou, also, extraordinary things sometimes happen. There
are men in those places who have the power of assuming the shapes of
wild animals. This they do mostly in the nights. Under the form of lions
and leopards, they go to the tents of strangers, and endeavour to lure
them forth by calling out their proper names with a perfect human
voice. If any one is so imprudent as to obey summons and issue forth,
he is at once devoured.

The Sfaxee pledges his word of honour that there was a female slave a
year ago in Mourzuk who killed five of her companions with her looks.
On this a council was held by the merchants and great people of
Mourzuk, to know what to do with her, and the decision come to was to
send her back to Bornou; a happy decision for the poor slave! Lucky
for her that she was not born in some parts of Europe, with her
marvellous power. Even our friend Gagliuffi has not escaped these
superstitions of the people among whom he lives. On my seeing his
young turkeys for the first time, in