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

' Nests-Wife of En-Noor-Unan-Lizards-Bad News-Christmas day in Africa-Christmas-boxes-Begging Tuaricks again-Bargot-Musicians-Speculations-Tribes at War-Parasiti

ll of the tholukh species. The sand of this desert is covered with the footsteps or marks of the gazelle and hare; but we saw only one gazelle and one hare. The gazelle was followed by a stupid mongrel-bred dog; it jumped high in the air, and was soon out of sight. The Kailouees are no huntsmen. I question whether they have ever caught a g

on high ground are small, but from their trunks are picked off, by the slaves, pieces of gum. To-day, however, I could not succeed in getting a piece. What was found was carried to En-Noor. I shall soon get a taste of it. We continue with our same number of cam

route hereabouts. Overweg believes it to be basalt,

ld winds prevail night and morning, but the sun burns a few hours in the day. Certainly now is

ill missing. They were all strangers, but were, nevertheless, civil. I made a short excursion in search of gum amongst the tholukh-trees. I was fortunate enough to find one piece, or, rather, a small bunch of pellucid drops, of a bright amber-colour. The bunch was scarcely exuding from the tree on which it was found, and was r

easy way of collecting money and goods. It was, however, amusing to see the fellow, how still he lay; truly it was as still as death. The ceremony itself arose out of the culprit, or man bound, having lost our camels, a circumstance which has detained us here to-day. The herdsman was thus punished for his ne

mountain has, probably, been so much celebrated in all past times, because it is the most conspicuous object on the return route from the south to the north.

ghts we had a magnificent view of Baghzem. We passed also through and along several fine wadys, lined with ancient trees. Perhaps, in some places, full half of the trees were decay

rding to their habit of coupling all strange things with those ancient monarchs, is found in groups as well as isolated trees. When isolate, and also when in groups, it very

saw no villages in groups. We also passed the ruins of many villages, whose houses were better built than any I have yet seen in this part of Aheer. This country has seen its best days; for the huts which now take the place of these houses, high and well-built of stone and mud, are, indeed,

gour-nut. This is considered a very great compliment. As to the fruit itself, I have not yet

to-day. It is not so

gh I never cease to send coffee twice a-day. I must n

nderful piece of mechanism. I observed two species of parasitical plants, one of which has a slender trunk, and has its root in the earth; and the other, which is entirely dependent on the tree over which it spreads for all its support and nourishment. Its roots are in the very boughs of the tree which bears it. Some of our blacks, who were carried over the desert when young, and had not seen or observed this phenomenon before, burst o

certed with En-Noor that all the caravans shall go together, in order that no one portion of it shall arrive before the other in Damerghou, and so get the ghaseb cheaper

f milk. I find that his royal highness has in reality only one wife, who is a slave. In an African point of view, however, even this is too much. His highne

like Old England, the species of trees not being visible

called Unan. This is also the name of a well near us, but water is usually obtained by scooping out the sand in the bed of the valleys, and there are few regular

what species they may. There is, besides, a great abundance of wild water-melons, which the people sometimes eat. They are very small, but hard and sound. The lizard, which almost through the whole desert was found darting about and around the camels' feet, has now disappeared. It would be a curious inquiry for a naturalist to endeavo

ews for us. He came by the way of Ghadamez and Ghat, and yet had heard nothing of our misfortunes on the frontier. I suppose the people of Ghat had already ceased to talk about us and our affairs; for here in the desert, as elsewhere, things are soon forgotten

fter passing through so many dangers, and amidst a people naturally hostile to us, and only softened by fear of the Turks, and by possession of the goods of the Government, which they have taken on

ay, pardon all our sins; give us grace to lead a new life, and a most willing mind to receive Jesus as the Lord our righteousness! O God, have mercy upon all our fri

few words to Hamma, son-in-law of En-Noor, and he immediately asked me for a turban. I had not spoken to him for several weeks, or only saluted him with a few words, in order to avoid his begging. This man has already had from me presents to the amount of fifty dollars! Thus I am cut off from all conversation with these people, and have no practice in speaking the langu

have also heard the name of Bergu. Yesterday we passed some ruins of houses, built of stone and mud. I am glad that Barth borrowed my

d a ring. This is all I could spare. Yusuf had a silk handkerchief and no ring. The kind of ring esteemed here is one having a good imitation of a stone, and the metal is as good as gold for these people. With the exception of the Gatronee and my m

ho saluted us this morning came from him, but they did not know it was a feast-day of Christians, and only came to pick up what they could get. I sent Madame En-Noor a piece of white loaf-sugar, and told her it was a Christmas-box. She received it with many thanks; so I have c

as-day. O God! whenever the time of our departure is come, may we be found re

nt points, being the object which first set our thoughts in motion. The stars are time itself, and also illustrations of the passage of light through the universe. The earth was once a hotter orb, passing successively from a vap

y are fighting amongst themselves. The route from the North will never be safe for Europeans until these tribes are properly subjugated; and when will that time come? It is now reported that we all go to Zinder. I

nlike the woodbine or honeysuckle, but devoid of all fragrance. The leaves are succulent, full of moisture, in shape a long oval, the longest not more than an inch and a quarte

a? and the Kaltadak. He is exceedingly disappointed, for it deprives him of making anything for hi

ects and superintends its movements. This is the greatest service he can render to his country, and the Kailouees generally. Without this salt the po

neyed on southwards five hours, through wadys formed by the force of the waters, gradually approaching the great Hamadah. The doom now disappeared, and most of the trees dependent on much water; for here the wadys are all shallow. Footmarks of the ostrich, gaz

, because the lion does not come there. A large gaz

here is a well at the distance of an hour; so that the number of days during which no water is found is reduced t

but I question whether there be more than two thousand. It is of great importance to ascertain this, f

Noor's young people, to protect the country in

ve volcanoes. The granite begins to disappear, to be replaced by sandstone. This sandstone, generally, a

hamadah, or plateau. All the large trees have disappeared with the doom-palm. Nevertheless there are everywhere the marks of water. Yet the rain cannot fall here so much as in the mountainous regions which we have left behind, for it is high ground only which brings down the rain in Africa; except, indeed, near the equator. As yesterday, the sand and soft earth are covered with the footmarks of gazelles, o

phere is a little thick and misty. We have with us various queer characters; amongst the rest, a fellow who boasts of his having killed many people with poisoned arrows. When I come near him I always attack him, not, indeed, with his favourite weapon, bu

ber of camels, and these are many of them slaves of the masters who are remaining behind in Aheer. The disturbed state of the country has prevented many persons of consequence from joining us. To-day, my mahadee brought me an ear of ghaseb, of immense length-about three t

mmon words for articles of dress, f

leath

aste of I

oney, Chili pepper, a root of coarse grass; in Kanou and Wada? it is made of only ghaseb

ut, called "Afric

he butt

n article of food in

There our greatest enemy is fever! I walked a little to-day, and found mysel

f the doom is always thus

Sahara. Mr. Richardson seems already to feel certain presentiments of the fate that awaited him. In other places I have omitte

t it is made