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

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

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
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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 Ghatee--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.
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 Wada?--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.
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--Sa?d'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.
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 Ghat 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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--Party of Huntsmen.
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