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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.
VOLS.
LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICCADILLY.
MDCCCLITI.
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 Pre-
sents— 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_ . : Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Muslim want of Curiosity — Gossip on Meteors— A Family Broil —
Rationale of Wife-beating—Abominable Dances— Evil Com-
munications — Dr. Overweg — Kailouee Vocabulary — Windy
Day — Account of Wadai— Madame En-Noor— Profits of Com-
merce— The letter Ghain — Fellatah Language—Introduction of
Islamism — Desert Routes—Trade in Agate Stones—A lively
Patient— The Eed—aA 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 Pre-
tensions : : : : ; : 2k
CHAPTER III.
News from Barth—Camels restored — Expensive Journey — Pro-
posed 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—
Dr.
CONTENTS.
Said’s new Wife—Wild Cauliflowers—Tolerance of the Kai-
louees— 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
Start — Kailouee Character — Champagne at Tintalous — The
Wells : ; : ; ‘ : ‘ : . Page 40
CHAPTER IV.
Barth’s Journey to Aghadez— Description of the Route — Tig-
gedah — 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—W omen — 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 : : : : 3 : . - : . OF
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 : : . 79
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 — Bor-
nouese Studies—Gipsies of Soudan—EHn-Noor and the Mara-
bouts — Ghaseb —State of the Weather— Calculations for the
CONTENTS. Vv
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 — Translat-
ing Jokes — Digging a Well — Projects : : Page 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 — Gra-
nite — 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 peau to open — Barter Tr ansaction with
Lady En-Noor . : : F : ; : . 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 Vil-
lages— Birds’ Nests —Wife of EKn-Noor — Unan — Lizards —
Bad News — Christmas-day in Africa — Christmas-boxes — Beg-
ging Tuaricks again — Bargot — Musicians —Speculations —
Tribes at War —Parasitical Plant— Importance of Salt — Ani-
mals —Agalgo— Force of the Caravan— Beat of Drum — Ap-
proach 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 — Party
of Huntsmen . : : : ; : ‘ : . 148
v1 CONTENTS.
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, common ground—Purchase of Ghaseb—Dethroned
Sultan —Yusuf—Mohammed Tunisee—Ophthalmia—Part with
Barth and Overweg—Presents to Servants—Sheikh of Fumta—
Yakobah Slave— Applications for Medicine—Boban Birni—
Forest— At length enter Bornou ground — Daazzenai—Tuarick
Respectabilities — Detachment of the Salt-Caravan . Page 161
CHAPTER XI.
March for Zinder—Enter the City—Reception—Delighted to escape
from the Tuaricks— Letters from Kuka—Hospitable Treatment
—Presents for the Sarkee and others—Visit the Shereef—His
Duties —Audience of the Sarkee—Servility — Double - skulled
Slave —Powder and Shot—Portrait of the Sultan —Commission
from Kuka— European Clothes— Family of En-Noor—Tour of
the Town—Scavengers—List of Sultans of Central Africa—An-
cient Haussa—The Market — Money — Conversation with the
Shereef—The Sultan at Home—Mixed Race of Zinder—Statis-
tics—Personages of the Court . : : ae 178
CHAPTER XII.
Presents from Officials—Mode of treating Camels—Prices—Cowrie
Money—Shereef Interpreter—Visits—Harem—Houses—Grand
Vizier—Picturesque Dances—Tuaricks at Zinder—Kohlans and
Fullans—Province of Zinder—Account of its Rebellions—Trees
— Details on the Slave-trade — Prices — Mode of obtaining
Slaves — Abject Respect of the Sultan—Visits— Interview with
the Sarkee—The Presence—Curious Mode of administering
Justice— Barbarous Punishments — Hyzenas — Gurasu — Fig-
his—Place of Execution —Tree of Death—Hyena Dens—
Dancing . , : : : : : ; : e alo6
CONTENTS. vil
CHAPTER XIII.
Brother of the Sultan—Trade of Zinder—Prices—The Sarkee drinks
Rum—Five Cities—Houses of Zinder—Female Toilette —An-
other Tree of Death— Paganism—Severity of the Sultan —
Lemons—Barth and Overweg—Fire—Brother of the Sarkee—
Daura—Shonshona—Lousou—Slaves in Irons—Reported Raz-
zia—Talk with the Shereef—Humble Manners — Applications
for Medicines—Towns and Villages of Zinder—The great Drum
—Dyers—Tuarick Visits—Rationale of Razzias—Slaves—“ Like
Prince like People”—French in Algiers—The Market— Old
Slave — Infamous System — Plan of the great Razzia Page 214
CHAPTER XIV.
Family of the Sarkee— Converted Jew — Hard Dealings — How to
get rid of a Wife— Route to Tesaoua— Influence of Slavery —
Prices of Aloes and Silk—Medicine for a Merchant —Departure
of the Sarkee for the Razzia—Encampment— Mode of Fighting
— Produce of Razzias—Story of the Tibboo—Sheikh Lousou
— Gumel— Superstitions —Matting —Visit of Ladies—The Jew
—Incendiaries — Hazna—Legend of Zinder Well — Kohul—
Cousin of the Sheikh—Female Sheikh—State of the rk ae ot
Salutations : : . ° - 233
CHAPTER XV.
Political News—Animals of Zinder—Sleepy City—District of Kor-
gum—Razzias—Family of Sheikh Omer of Bornou—Brothers
— Sons — Sisters — Daughters —Viziers —Kashallas— Power of
the Sheikh—A Cheating Prince—Old Slave—Fetishism—Devil
in a Tuarick’s head— Kibabs— Fires—A Prophecy —Another
Version of the Razzia—Correspondence between Korgum and
Zinder. . : : ; : ° : : - 200
CHAPTER XVI.
Sheikh of Bornou—Arab Women—News from the Razzia—Proces-
sion of newly-caught Slaves—Entrance of the Sarkee — Chained
Slaves—My Servant at the Razzia—Audacity of Bornou Slaves
— Korgum — Konchai— Product of the Razzia—Ghadamsee
Merchants—Slave-trade—Incident at Korgum—State of Kanou
—A Hue and Cry—Black Character —Vegetables at Zinder—
Minstrel—Medi—Gardens—Ladies—F anaticism—Americans at
Niffee — Rich pape eee Sick— Morals— Dread of the
Sarkee—Fashions . : d . 263
Vili CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
News from Tesaoua— Razzia on Sakkatou— Laziness in Zinder—
The Hajah—Herds of Cattleh—More Tuarick Patients—Gardens
—My Luggage—Adieu to the Sarkee—Present from his High-
ness—Start from Zinder—Country—Birds—Overtake the Kash-
alla—Slaves for Kanou—Continue the Journey —People of
Deddegi—Their Timidity — Horse Exercise — Cotton— Strange
Birds — Occupation of Men and Women—State of African So-
ciety —Islamism and Paganism—Character of the Kashalla—
A Dogberry — Guddemuni — Cultivation ee — Dancing
Maidens . ‘ é 8 ‘ A : » Page 281
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Village plundered—Shaidega—Animals—Our Biscuit —Villages
en route — Minyo — Respect for Learning —; Monotony of the
Country —A Wedding — Palsy—Slave-agents — Kal, Kal—Birni
Gamatak—Tuaricks on the Plain—Palms—Sight the Town of
Gurai—Bare Country—Bearings of various Places—Province of
Minyo—Visit the Sultan—Audience-room—Fine Costume—A
Scene of Barbaric Splendour —Trade— Estimate of Wealth——
How to amuse a Prince—Small Present—The Oars carried by
Men—Town of Gurai— Fortifications : : : - 297
CHAPTER XIX.
Fezzanee Traders—Sultan in want of Medicine—The Stud—Letters
—Yusuf’s Conduct—Architecture—Fragment of the History of
Minyo— Politics of Zinder— Bornouese Fish — Visits —Two
Routes—Dancing by Moonlight—Richness—Fires—Information
on Boushi and Adamaua—The Yamyam—Liver Complaints—A
Girl’s Game—Desert Country—Gift Camel—Few Living Crea-
tures—Village of Gusumana—Environs—The Doom Fruit—
Brothers of Sultan of Sakkatou—Stupid Kadi—Showing off—
Hot Weather—[ Final Note—Death of Mr. Richardson] . 314
APPENDIX : : u ‘ ¢ : - a3
NARRATIVE
or
A MISSION TO CENTRAL AFRICA.
»
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.
I seain at length to consider myself as it were at
home in this singular country of Aheer — without,
however, experiencing any desire to dally here
longer than the force of circumstances absolutely
requires. It must be confessed, as I have already
VOL. Il. B
» DESCRIPTION OF TINTALOUS.
hinted, that the town of Tintalous,* in front of
which we are encamped, does not at all answer
the idea which our too active imagination had
formed. Yet it is a singular place. It is situated
on rocky ground, at the bend of a broad valley,
which in the rainy season becomes often-times
the bed of a temporary river. Here and there
around it are scattered numerous trees, many of
considerable size, giving the surface of the valley
something of a park-like appearance. The herbage
is not rich, but it is ornamental, and refreshes the
eye in contrast with the black, naked rocks, which
rise on all hands to the height often of two or three
thousand feet. To the east, it is true, the country is
a little open; and between the mountains run in
numerous white sandy wadys, sprinkled with fresh
green plants, or shaded by various species of mi-
mosa and other spreading trees, under which the
shepherds and herdsmen find shelter from the
sun.
The principal feature of Tintalous itself is what .
may be called the palace of En-Noor. It is, indeed,
one, compared with the huts and stone hovels amidst
which it is placed. The materials are stone plas-
tered with mud, and also the wood of the mimosa
tree. The form is an oblong square, one story high,
* Tintalous is 40 short and 30 long days from Ghat, N.N.E. ;
60 short and 50 long from Mourzuk, N.E.; 20 short, 15 long, from
Zinder or Damerghou, 8.8.W.; 7 long, 10 or 12 short, from Bilma,
E.; 38 to 45 days from Tuat, N.W. (wid Taghajeet). Maharees, of
course, trot and gallop in half the time. These are native statements.
Del
MATERIALS OF THE HOUSES. 3
with an interior courtyard, and various appendages
and huts around on the outside. ‘There is another
house, and also a mosque built in the same style, but
much smaller. Of the rest of the habitations, a few
are stone sheds, but the greater part are huts made
of the dry stalks of the fine herb called bou rekabah,
in the form ofa conical English haystack, and are
very snug, impervious alike to rain and sun. ‘There
are not more than one hundred and fifty of these
huts and sheds, scattered over a considerable space,
without any order; some are placed two or three
together within a small enclosure, which serves as a
court or yard, in which visitors are received and
cooking iscarried on. ‘There is another little village
at a stone’s-throw north. The inhabitants of these
two villages consist entirely of the slaves and de-
pendants of En-Noor.
All around Tintalous, within an hour or two
hours’ ride, there are villages or towns of precisely
the same description, more or less numerously
peopled. At Seloufeeat and Tintaghoda, however,
we saw more houses built of stone and mud. ‘This
may be accounted for by the fact that the inhabit-
ants are not nearly so migratory as those of Tin-
talous, who often follow in a body the motions of
their master, so that he is ever surrounded by an
imposing household.
I must not omit mentioning an important article
of furniture which is to be observed in all the
4 . TRIBES OF AHEER.
houses of Aheer—namely, the bedstead. Whilst
most of the inhabitants of Fezzan lie upon skins or
mats upon the ground, the Kailouees have a nice
light palm-branch bedstead, which enables them to
escape the damp of the rainy season, and the attack
of dangerous insects and reptiles like the scorpion
and the |éfa.
I shall hereafter make a few observations on the
tribes inhabiting Aheer. Here I will note that they
are all called Targhee, that is Tuarick, by the traders
of the north ; and that the predominant race is the
Kailouee. To me the latter seems to be a mixture
of the Berbers, or supposed aborigines of the northern
coast, with all the tribes and varieties of tribes of the
interior of Africa. This may account for their
having less pride and stiffness than the Tuaricks
of Ghat, who are purer Berbers; as well as for their
disposition to thieving and petty larceny, of which I
have recently been obliged to give some examples.
The pure Berbers, likewise, are much less sensual
than their bastard descendants, who seem, indeed, to
have no idea of pleasure but in its grossest shape.
The Kailouees are, for the most part, tall and
active, little encumbered by bulky bodies; some
having both complexion and features nearly Euro-
pean. At any rate there are many as fair-look-
ing as the Arabs generally, whilst others are
quite negro in colour. The women are smaller and
stouter; some are fattened like the Mooresses of the
LETTERS OF CREDIT. 5)
eoast, and attain to an enormous degree of embon-
point. They are not ill-looking, but offer nothing
remarkable in their forms.
I have already set down many particulars of
manners, and shall proceed to do so in the same dis-
jointed way. At a future time all these traits must
be collected to form one picture.* For the present
I am anxious about the future progress of the Mis-
sion, and impatient, at any rate, to hear some news
of our advance. We cannot do all the things
we would. Our position is almost that of prisoners.
We must depend entirely on the caprice of En-
Noor, who, however, may already have laid out his
plans distinctly, though he does not choose to com-
municate them to us.
Oct. 2d.—We have been lately discussing the
practicability of going to Sakkatou, on a visit to
the Sultan Bello; and this morning I looked over,
for the first time, some “letters of credit” which
Mr. Gagliuffi, our plausible consul at Mourzuk,
had given me. I found that the amount offered
for the use of the expedition in Kanou does not
exceed a hundred and fifty reals of Fezzan, or about
twenty pounds sterling, and that the agent is ex-
pressly requested not to advance any more! ‘This
extraordinary document induced me to look further,
** Perhaps the note-books of Mr. Richardson, in which facts are
set down fresh and distinct just as they presented themselves, will be
found to be more interesting than an elaborate narrative. At any rate
it has seemed better not to attempt to do what was left undone in this
matter.—Ip.
6 BARTH S JOURNEY TO AGHADEZ.
and it soon appeared that the documents on which
I relied so much were mere delusions. The word-
ing of the Arabic letter to Bornou was ambiguous ;
but in as far as I and my interpreter could make it
out, Haj Bashaw, to whom it is addressed, was
requested, if he had any money of Mr. Gagliufi’s
in hand, to give me a little! I really did not ex-
pect that a person in whom I had placed so much
confidence would play me this trick. But it seems
that Levantines are and will be Levantines to the
end of time. I have written to Government, com-
plaining of this unworthy conduct.
3d.— Dr. Barth is about to take advantage of
the delay necessarily incurred at Tintalous to visit
Aghadez, the real capital of Aheer, to which the
new Sultan has lately been led, and where his in-
vestiture will shortly be celebrated. This journey
will extend our knowledge of this singular Saharan
country, and may also be of advantage in procuring
the signature of the Sultan to a treaty of commerce.
4th.—Dr. Barth started this morning in com-
pany with Hamma, Waled Ocht En-Noor (son of
the sister of En-Noor). The departure took place
in presence of the Sultan himself, who had come to
take tea with me. The caravan was at first com-
posed of bullocks, the camels being a little in ad-
vence on the road. Our friend the Doctor started
astride on one of these animals, which are a little
difficult to manage, especially when they have been
out at grass for some time. Indeed, in the first
A PRESENT — EN-NOOR’S CHARACTER. v
place, it is no easy matter to catch them from
amongst the herds; then it is hard to load them ;
and then, though not often, they refuse to proceed.
On this occasion a powerful brute proved absolutely
unmanageable. En-Noor, seeing its obstinacy, ex-
claimed that he gave it tome to kill and eat. He
afterwards, however, modified his gift, and said
that the bullock was also to be distributed amongst
the Arabs of the caravans now in Tintalous; and
that we were to give a turban as a present to the
herdsman. I was told that, in the meantime, repre-
sentation had been made to him, to the effect that it
was unfair to distinguish the Christians in this man-
ner. Soon after the animal was given it ran away,
and no one could catch it.
Well, the bullock caravan went off in good style;
and Sultan En-Noor remained taking his tea and
eating English pickles and marmalade with me. He
drank the tea and ate the other delicacies with evident
pleasure, not being afraid, like the greater part of
his subjects, to eat the food of Christians. Possession
of power seems to have one good effect—the de-
struction of prejudice; pity that it sometimes goes
further and destroys belief. En-Noor told us that the
Sultan of Asoudee had gone out on a razzia to the
west. We are obliged to hope that it will be
successful, as otherwise our affairs will most materially
suffer. We talked also of the state of Zinder,
which is represented to be a walled town, with seven
gates built amidst and around some huge rocks. The
8 BOOKS OF THE CHRISTIANS —TALISMANS.
governor, Ibrahim, keeps fifty drummers at work
every night, but whethér with a purpose superstitious
or political I do not know.
En-Noor admired much the portraits of the per-
sonages who figure in the accounts of the former
expedition to this part of the world, particularly
that of Clapperton. He had also a wonderful story
to tell of this traveller’s magic. He said that
Abdallah (Clapperton’s travelling name) had learned
from his books the site of his (En-Noor’s) father’s
house, that near it was a gold mine, and that he had
intended to come and give intelligence of this trea-
sure. “See!” exclaimed the Sultan, “ what wonderful
thing's are written in the books of the Christians !”
My young fighi (or writer of charms) tells me,
as a secret, that he cannot write a talisman for him-
self, but must ask another of the brotherhood to do
this for him. Neither in this place can physicians
heal themselves. This civil youth made me a pre-
sent of a piece of his workmanship to-day, observing,
“There is great profit in its power; it will preserve
you from the cut of the sword and the firing of the
eun.” J pray not to have occasion to test its
efficacy, but hope it may also serve as a protection
from the bite of scorpions, which are so plentiful
about here, and are said, at this season, to jump like
grasshoppers. According to the people of Tintalous
there are three species of them, each distinguished
by a different colour—black, red, and yellow. De-
spite the talk of these disgusting reptiles I went in the
DIALOGUE WITH A GHATEE. 9
evening to see the wells which supply Tintalous with
water. They are nothing more than holes scooped
out of the sand in the bed of the wady, and supplied
by ma-el-matr, “ rain-water,’ which collects only a
few feet under the sand, and passes through no
minerals.
I afterwards proceeded to the encampment of
the slave caravan, which is going in a few days to
Ghat.
he had received was “few.” The Sultan replied,
‘““ Why should I send many?” A pertinent ques-
tion, that seems to have closed the correspondence,
but not brought the affair to a conclusion.
The Sarkee of Zinder heard that the Sultan of
Korgum had just gone out on a razzia, united with
the people of Maradee, and has taken this opportunity
to make a foray. It is probably with reference to
some rumour of this expedition that Overweg writes
to me.
It is said here that the Sarkee never captures all
the people, but leaves a few to breed for another
razzia! All the inhabitants of Korgum are Hazna,
a fact strongly insisted on as a salve for the con-
sciences of my Muslim friends. The Sarkee is
expected back on Friday.
254 FAMILY OF SHEIKH OMER.
I received a visit from the two Shereefs that
were at Mourzuk in our time. They left after us;
had remained three months in Ghat, and, of course,
detest the Tuaricks. I gave them coffee, and each
a cotton handkerchief.
30¢h.—The following are given me as the names
of the family of the Sheikh Omer, of Bornou :—
Brothers.
Abd-Er-Rahman is the eldest brother after the
Sheikh, and generalissimo of the army: the province
of Minyo belongs to him.
Yusuf, a very learned man, a great fighi.
Othman, also a fighi. His mother is a native of
Mandara.
Bou Beker, also a fighi; to him belongs Lim-
baua and many estates.
Mahmoud, also a fighi; to him belongs Kalulwa
and many estates.
Abdullah Manufi; to him belongs Gubobaua,
consisting of 220 countries or villages.
(Gubobaua is one day west of Kuka.)
Bashir: fighi; resides with his brother Abd-Er-
Rahman, and has a small village.
Hamed Rufai; by the same mother as Abdullah
Manufi.
Mustapha; a great man, having much influence
in the country: he has many estates.
Ibrahim; fighi, and has estates.
Anos,
FAMILY OF SHEIKH OMER. 25D
Khalil.
Ahmed.
Hamed Zaruf, a young brother.
Hamed Bedawi, a young brother.
Abd-el-Kader, a young brother.
Abd-el-Majed, a young brother.
Mohammed el-Kanemi; young.
All these my informant knows. What a family!
Verily we are in Africa!
Sons.
Bou Beker, aged about fifteen years.
Ibraim.
Hashemi.
KKasem.
Tahir.
Taib.
Rufai.
Abdallah.
Mohammed Lamin (name of his grandfather).
Kanami.
The mother of the Sheikh is called Magera, a
native of Begarmi.
Sisters of the Sheikh.
Nafisa; to her belongs the country of Kuma-
lewa (same mother as Abd-Er-Rahman).
Maimuna; to her belongs the place of Wameri
(same mother as above).
Aisha; to her belongs Koba.
Maream.
226 FAMILY OF SHEIKH OMER.
Fatema.
Mabruka.
Hamsa.
Alia; to her belongs Hamisah, a village.
Halima.
Zainubo; to her belongs Furferrai.
Mussaud.
Fadula.
Rabia.
Sinnana.
Mubarka.
Rihana.
These are all he recollects among the number.
A copious royal family !
Daughters of the Shetkh.
Rukaia (married), about twenty years of age; to
her belongs Balungu.
Fatima, a young girl.
No doubt there are others. It is curious to
compare this knot of near relations with the scanty
families among the Tuaricks. The fertility of the
human race seems to be as that of the soil on which
its several tribes are located. Deserts may produce
conquerors, but the fat lands produce subjects.
I may now add a further list, obtained at the same
time as the above.
The great vizier (or prime minister) is Haj
Beshir ; but there are other viziers of more or less
power :—Shadeli; Ibrahim Wadai; Rufai (cousin
COURT AND POWER OF THE SHEIKH. 25a
of the Sheikh); Hamza, and Mala Ibrahim. These
form the council of the Sheikh.
The chief kady is Kady Mohammed, and ano-
ther kady of influence is named Haj Mohammed
Aba.
The principal slaves (that is to say, the principal
favourites in these despotic countries) are Kashalla
Belal and Kashalla Ali. The word Kashalla corre-
sponds to the title Bey. The brother of Abd-el-
Galeel, lately killed, is living at Kuka, and is called
Sheikh Ghait. There is also there a brother of the
ancient sheikh killed in Fezzan, called Sheikh Omer,
uncle of the above.
According to my informant, the power of the
Sheikh has immensely increased since the days of the
first expedition. The Sheikh has now more than
100,000 cavalry, and a great quantity of muskets.
Certainly I have ocular proof that Zinder, an im-
portant province, has been added to the territories
of this most powerful prince. I may as well men-
tion, that my authority is Omer Wardi. His father,
Mohammed Wardi, went with Clapperton to Sak-
katou.
The Sheikh, according to this seemingly well-
informed person, is paramount sovereign of Begarmi
and Mandara,—these states paying each a tribute
yearly of one thousand slaves, to which Mandara
adds fifty eunuchs,—a most costly contribution.
This seems to be the country where eunuchs are
made in these parts.
VOL. II. s
258 LOUSOU—-OLD SLAVE.
Lagun is also under the Sheikh, and has become
a province of Bornou.
In this country, it is said, there are pieces of
eannon. Also, there is another country, Kussuri,
four days south of Begarmi, now united to the
Sheikh’s territories ; and besides, Maffatai, four days
south-east from Kuka (a country of a sultan).
Dikua, two days south from Kuka; a province with
a powerful sultan, who has the power of life and death.
Kulli, one day west of Dikua; Blad-es-Sultan.
En-Gala, two days south of Kuka, country of a
sultan ; belonging to Yusuf, brother of the Sheikh.
I went to see the renegade Jew; he was busy in
a quarrel with a servant of Lousou, to whom he had
given eight slaves to take to Ghat, to be sold on his
account. Lousou had sold the slaves, and rendered
no account to the renegade—a most unprincely pro-
ceeding, to say the least of it; if, indeed, it would
not be more African to say princely proceeding: for
there seems no vice, whether violent or mean, which
is not exaggerated by the holders of power in these
parts.
The souk is almost deserted to-day, on account of
the Sarkee being absent. I passed the slave-stalls,
and saw another poor old woman for sale, upwards
of fourscore years of age. The slave-merchants
offered her for four thousand wadis, about eight —
shillings. People purchase these poor old creatures
that they may fetch wood and water, even until their
strength fails them and they faint by the way.
PAGANS—-SUPERSTITION. 259
I made other inquiries about the Hazna of Zin-
der. It seems the Sarkee himself is still half pagan,
for at the beginning of every year he proceeds with
his officers to a tree, the ancient god of paganism,
and there distributes two gofias of wada (about
100,000), three bullocks and sheep, and ghaseb, to
the poor. These things are really offered to the
deities of his ancestors, though the poor of the
country get the benefit of them. There are four or
five trees of this description, at which such annual
offerings are made; but there is only one Tree of
‘Death where malefactors are executed, the one men-
tioned in a former page.* The Muslim converts of
Soudan find the Ramadhan excessively burdensome,
as well as many other rites of Islamism, and for this
reason the greater part of the population of Soudan,
who profess Mohammedanism, are still pagans in
heart. It is vain to expect a nation to pass from loose
to ascetic practices without some moral motive,
such as that which sustained the Muslims at their
first brilliant start in the world.
A Tuarick came this morning and said the
devil was in his head, and that he wanted some
medicine to drive him out. I gave him an emetic
of tartarised antimony, which I hope served his
purpose.
N.B. The news of the Sarkee having “eaten up”
four countries of Korgum is confirmed to-day.
_ * See pp. 211 and 218. Probably the second Tree of Death de-
scribed was in reality only a fetish tree—Ep.
260 KIBABS—FIRES.
The preparation of kibabs is quite a science here.
The kibab cook makes a conical hillock of dust and
ashes, flattened on the top. The edge of this mound he
plants with sticks, on which is skewered a number
of little bits of meat: then a fire is kindled between
this circular forest, and the sticks are twisted round
from time to time, so that every part may be well
roasted. To us these kibabs are cheap enough,
five or six cowries a stick.
The wall of Zinder has no gates, only openings.
I went to the garden of the Shereef. The vege-
tation does not look very flourishing in this season.
The Shereef has planted some horse-beans ; “ the
only beans of the kind,” says the gardener, “in all
the territories of Bornou.”
31st.—The weather is increasingly cool; therm.
at sunrise, 50°. The atmosphere of Zinder never
clears up. I was awakened this morning, before
daylight, by the cries of “ Fire!” A fire of huts was
raging close upon us. This is the third accident
of this kind which has taken place during the
sixteen days we have been here. The people take
them, as a matter of course, with Californian in-
difference, and it is likely that there are two or three
fires every ten days.
A merchant from Kanou (native of Tunis)
called to see me. He says the English (Ameri-
cans) now bring calicoes, powder, dollars, rum,
wadas, guns, and many other things, to Niffee,
which afterwards are sent up to Kanou. The slave-
PROPHETIC DREAM. 261
trade, therefore, must thrive here; and we get the
credit of it, because the ruffians by whom it is
carried on speak our language.
A great fighi called also to-day to explain any
dreams which I might require the interpretation of,
bringing with him his Tifsir El-Helam. I told
him that last night I dreamt I saw “ two persons
fall to the ground upon (from?) the boughs of a
tree.” He searched his book and produced a
passage, the pith of which was, that anything which
IT undertake will not be accomplished. Very
agreeable information! I thought we had had bad
news enough. The passage made to apply pro-
phetically to me ran literally as follows :—
“ And whosoever sees (in dreams) a tree fall,
or any thing fall from it,—then will not accomplish
itself the thing which is between the man who thus
dreams.” *
I hired to-day Mohammed Ben Amud Bou
Saad, at a salary of ten reals of Fezzan a month.
I have heard another version of the plan and
eause of the present razzia of the Sultan of Zinder.
“* Qur own correspondents” cannot be more ver-
satile in finding out rumours than the gossips of
Zinder. It is now said that the Sultan of Korgum
wrote to the Sarkee of Zinder, and asked him if he
should make a razzia on or with Maradee.
* The unhappy event which soon after this interview occurred,
no doubt confirmed the belief of the natives in the powers of this
great fighi—Ep.
262 KORGUM AND ZINDER.
The Sarkee said, “Go.” But as soon asthe news.
came that the sultan was gone, this prince, in whom
that other put his trust, immediately set out to
make a razzia on the country deserted by its sultan.
“ Compos !” cried my Moorish informant; and
certainly it was a clever negro trick. It is difficult
to know whom to pity or condemn in ‘his ini-
quitous affair. We may be certain, however, that
the poor women and children, the principal suf-
ferers by the razzias, are guiltless in these trans-
actions; and we may, without fear, bestow our
sympathies upon them. At the same time it is
allowable to admire the profound secrecy with
which the Sarkee planned his razzia. Not a soul
in Zinder, besides himself, knew where he was
going. The general opinion was to Daura, which
affords scope for a thousand razzias.
The correspondence which I have mentioned
between the vassals of Korgum and Zinder illus-
trates the abominable system on which the Sheikh
of Bornou permits his provinces to be governed.
Really it is dificult to compare the condition of
this extraordinary region to anything but a forest,
through which lions and tigers range to devour
the weaker and more timid beasts—to which they
grant intervais of repose during the digestion of
their meals.
THE FELLATAHS. 263
CHAPTER XVI.
Sheikh of Bornou—Arab Women—News from the Razzia—Proces-
sion of newly-caught Slaves—Entrance of the Sarkee—Chained
Slaves—My Servant at the Razzia—Audacity of Bornou Slaves
—Korgum—Konchai—Product of the Razzia—Ghadamsee Mer-
chants—Slave-trade—Incident at Korgum—State of Kanou—A
Hue and Cry—Black Character—Vegetables at Zinder—Minstrel—
Medi—Gardens—Ladies—Fanaticism—Americans at Niffee—Rich
People—Tuaricks Sick—Morals—Dread of the Sarkee—Fashions.
Feb. 1st. —It is said that we shall leave this
for Kuka on Monday next, whether the Sultan
of Zinder returns from his razzia or not. It cer-
tainly is a shame that I should be kept here waiting
the pleasure of a fellow gone to beat up for slaves
to pay his debts.
The merchants from Kanou represent the power
of the Fellatahs as very strong, if not mereasing.
From Sakkatou to Kanou, and Kanou to Nitfee,
Yakoba, and Adamaua, everywhere along these lines
of towns and populous districts, are found Fellatah
chiefs or sultans. Bornou is, however, now much
stronger than during the time of the first expedition.
The Sheikh has two thousand muskets; so says the
Shereef Kebir; whilst in the time of Denham he
had only fifty. Certainly two thousand muskets is
264 THE RAZZIA.
a progress beyond fifty. The Asbenouee Tuaricks
carried away some half-dozen Arab women when
they slaughtered the Walad Suleiman. One of
these women has been seen, and the Sheikh and
the Shereef Kebir are trying to get her back. The
Sheikh has sent word that all the Arab women
must be restored to their homes.
The Shereef Kebir says the powder of this
country is all bad, but that Haj Beshir and the
Sheikh get English or American powder from
Niffee. Leaden bullets are scarce; they use zinc
bullets : but these will not go far, resisting the force
of the powder ; nor will they penetrate deep when
they hit a person. Nitre is found at a place one
hour from Zinder, called Kankandi.
It is supposed that the Sarkee, not having found
slaves enough in Korgum, has gone somewhere
else. The Shereef Kebir would scarcely mention
the subject of the razzia to me for shame. At
length a Moor present said, “ Fish eats up fish, so
it is with the Sarkee.” This brought forth a laugh,
and seemed to be thought a sufficient salve for all
their consciences.
A cry was raised early this morning, “ The
Sarkee is coming!” Every one went out eagerly
to learn the truth. It turned out that a string of
captives, fruits of the razzia,* was coming in.
* Mr. Richardson interchanges the words razzia and gazia; the
latter, I imagine, is the correct word, but the former is better known
to European readers.—Ep.
ARRIVAL OF THE CAPTIVES. 265
There cannot be in the world—there cannot be in
the whole world—a more appalling spectacle than
this. My head swam as I gazed. A single horse-
man rode first, showing the way, and the wretched
captives followed him as if they had been used to
this condition all their lives. Here were naked
little boys running alone, perhaps thinking them-
selves upon a holiday; near at hand dragged mo-
thers with babes at their breasts; girls of various
ages, some almost ripened into womanhood, others
still infantine in form and appearance; old men
bent two-double with age, their trembling chins
verging towards the ground, their poor old heads
covered with white wool; aged women tottering
along, leaning upon long staffs, mere living skele-
tons ;—such was the miscellaneous crowd that came
first; and then followed the stout young men, ironed
neck to neck! This was the first instalment of the
black bullion of Central Africa; and as the wretched
procession huddled through the gateways into the
town the creditors of the Sarkee looked gloatingly
on through their lazy eyes, and calculated on speedy
payment.
In the afternoon I was informed that the Sarkee
was really about to enter the town.
Expecting to see other captives, and anxious to
be an eye-witness to all these atrocities attendant on
the razzia, I went to see him pass with his cavalry.
After waiting ten minutes, there rode up single
eavaliers, then lines of horsemen, all galloping to-
266 ENTRY OF THE SARKEE.
wards the castle-gates to show the people their
equestrian skill; then came a mass of cavalry,
about fifty, with a drum beating, and in the midst
of these was the sultan. There was nothing very
striking in this cavalcade: a few cavaliers had on a
curious sort of helmet, made of brass, with a kind
of horn standing out from the crown; others wore a
wadding of woollen stuff, a sort of thin mattrass, in
Imitation of a coat of mail. Its object is to turn
the points of the poisoned arrows. The cavaliers
thus dressed form the body-guard of the Sarkee.
Amongst these troops were some Bornou horsemen,
who rode with more skill than the Zinder people.
The best cavaliers resembled as much as possible the
Arab eavaliers of the north. There were no captives
with these horsemen; the slaves had only come in to
the number, it was said, of some two or three thousand
during the day. Although I wished to see them, I was,
nevertheless, spared a repetition of the misery and
indignation which the sight in the morning pro-
duced in my mind. Ihave been told positively that
the poor old creatures brought in with the other
captives will not fetch a shilling a-head in the slave-
market. It is, therefore, a refinement of cruelty
not to let them die in their native homes,—to tear
them away to a foreign soil, and subject them to
the fatigues of the journey, and the insults of a rude
populace, and ruder and crueller slave-dealers.
Many die on the road during the two or three days’
march.
BLESSING ON CRIME. 267,
It is exceedingly painful to live in a place like
Zinder, where almost every householder has a
chained slave. The poor fellows (men and boys)
eannot walk, from the manner in which the irons
are put on, and when they move about are obliged
to do so in little jumps. These slaves are ironed,
that they may not run away. There are many
villages and towns, a few days from Zinder, to
which they can escape without difficulty, and where
they are not pursued. It was exceedingly horrify-
ing to hear the people of Zinder salute the troops
of the razzia on their return with the beautiful
Arabie word, Alberka, “ blessing!” Thus is it that
human beings sometimes ask God for a blessing
on transactions which must ever be stamped with
his curse. The Italian bandit also begs the Virgin
to bless his endeavours. It is evident that nothing
but the strong arm of power and conquest will
ever root out the curse of slavery from Africa.
The slave whom Haj Beshir sent from Kuka to
Zinder, to accompany me to Kuka, went with the
Sarkee, and took one of my servants with him. I
did not know anything about it until they were
gone. But this evening, on my return from seeing
the Sarkee, I found a woman and child, a boy and
a young man, tied together, lying not far from my
hut, in the enclosure where we are residing. I
was excessively indignant at this conduct of Haj
Beshir’s slave, although certainly done in ignorance.
These captives were the fruits of the part he took
268 MY SERVANT—FIGHIS.
in the expedition. JI have not made up my mind
whether I will go to Kuka with this fellow, for
it is not the first time he has shown something like
an insolent behaviour. As to my servant, [I had
already discharged him, but the Shereef Kebir
persuaded me to let him go with the boat to Kuka,
as he knew how to place it on the camels better
than the other servants. I scolded him well for
going with the razzia, because he himself was once
in bondage, and had returned free under our pro-
tection. But I fear my words will have little
effect; for in Zinder, at least, the great concern
and occupation of the black population is, to go and
steal their neighbours, and sell them into slavery.
I repeat again, nothing but foreign conquest by a
non-slaveholding power will extirpate slavery from
the soil of Africa.
I read Milton’s ‘“Comus” and other portions
of his poetry, and find it a great relief in drawing
my mind a little off African subjects. I am sorry
I did not bring with me a copy of Shakespear.
IT have very few books with me of any kind, and
fewer maps. I received a visit of fighis from the
villages around, also from a sister and niece of the
Sultan of Zinder, and gave them all a bit of sugar
and sent them off.
Around my house exists a swarm of fighis, who
can copy charms and a few passages from the
Koran. I procured some of the bond fide speci-
mens of their calligraphy. There are four different
KIDNAPPING. 269
hands. These fighis are all blacks of pure blood.
They write sideways.
A courier arrived to-day from Kuka, bringing
a despatch for the Governor of Zinder, to the effect
that, in the event of his finding any people of
Bornou committing misdemeanours of any sort,
he, the Sultan of Zinder, was at liberty to treat
them as he chose. I am told that the Bornou
slaves, as well as the free people of that country,
when they come to Zinder, have the audacity to
seize on whomsoever comes in the way, and take
them and sell them as slaves in the souk. This
kidnapping is mostly done in the villages around
Zinder, but even in the city itself it has been ven-
tured; and the Sultan has hitherto been afraid to
arrest these Bornouese miscreants. Whata glimpse
into the state of the empire of Bornou do such facts
afford !
2d.—This morning the slave of Haj Beshir
came to declare that the slaves which he brought
here yesterday were not his booty, but belonged
to another person, a volunteer. ‘There is no getting
at the truth in these countries. The theatre of the
late razzia is westwards from Zinder about two
days. Korgum is one day from Tesaoua. Konchai_
is a neighbouring country, about four hours from
Korgum. The Sarkee attacked four villages of
Korgum, but got few slaves. The people, though
without their sultan, defended themselves well
with their renowned arrows, and when they could
270 ATTACK ON KORGUM AND KONCHAI,.
hold out no longer they ascended the rocks and
escaped. ‘The wounds of arrows, though poisoned,
are not always fatal, and often cured by the remedies
known in these countries.
The villages of Korgum are called Tangadala
Agai. Not getting many slaves there, the Sarkee
attacked two or three villages of Konchai. ‘This
province contains some three hundred villages.
Ganua and Tanbanas were the places razzied.
From the latter place six hundred slaves were
obtained, nearly half of the whole captured. The
total product of the razzia is about fifteen hundred;
a thousand for the Sultan’s share, and five hundred
for the troops and volunteers. It is said this
thousand will not suffice to pay the Sultan’s debts,
and it was on account of the fewness of slaves the
Sarkee was obliged to bring with him the halt, the
blind, the maimed, and the aged, stooping to the
earth with age. Besides human beings, the Sarkee
captured eight hundred and thirty bullocks, and
flocks of sheep; seven hundred bullocks he gave to
the troops and volunteers, and one hundred and
thirty have been reserved for himself. Four men
were killed, and one hundred horses, belonging to
Zinder ; but the enemy are said to have lost a good
number. All the villages made resistance but one,
where the poor people were busy cooking their
suppers; when the Sarkee and his famished crew
rushed upon them, seized them, and carried them
into captivity. This, at any rate, is the report; but,
PRODUCT OF THE MAN-HUNT. 271
according to others, the results of the expedition are
much less important.
All the country razzied is nominally subject to
the Sheikh of Bornou, so that this Sarkee of Zinder
has been pillaging the Bornou territories, and car-
rying off their inhabitants, who are subjects of the
Sheikh, to raise money to pay his debts. A certain
enmity exists, it is said, between Konchai and
Zinder, which formerly was subject to the province
of Konchai.
According to one authority, the booty of the raz-
zia is greatly reduced, even to more than half of what
was reported. The share of the Sarkee is four hundred
slaves, and one hundred and twenty slaves he gave
to his troops. Seven places were attacked, but the
people had news of the movements of the Sarkee,
and were prepared to receive him: they shot their
arrows through their stockades, thick and fast, upon
the Sarkee and his people, and then retired to the
rocks and behind the trees, which are abundant.
Only one country was fairly razzied. Also but few
beasts were taken, the people having secured all their
cattle and flocks beforehand. The Sarkee got about
one hundred bullocks. He took with him no less than
two thousand horse, a collection from all the petty
governments in the surrounding provinces, with
their chiefs. All these forces did little more than
beat the air. The capture of five hundred slaves
will not pay the expenses of the expedition, but
Die GHADAMSEE MERCHANTS.
these people never sit down to count the cost.
Their reckoning-days are few and far between.
There is a report here that the Sultans of
Maradee, Gouber, Korgum, and Tesaoua, have all
gone together on a razzia to the territory of Sak-
katou, and a few of the people of Zinder have gone
with them; and this is the reason given for horses
being now scarce in Zinder.
Haj Beshir has sent a message from Kuka, that
I am to quicken my steps thitherward. The kafila
from Mourzuk has arrived, and many Arabs from
the north.
Of gubaga, called by the people of Zinder, ferri,
four drads are sold in Zinder for one hundred wadas,
about twopence. This native cotton cloth, when
doubled, makes tents impervious to the summer rain.
There are about fifty Ghadamsee merchants in
Kanou and Boushi, capital of Yakoba, the principal
of whom (here described as Maidukia) are :—
Haj Mohammed Bel Kasem.
Haj Tahir.
Mairimi.
Haj Mohammed Ben Habsa.
Hemed Basidi.
Kasem Ben Haiba.
Haj Ali.
Mohammed Makoren.
Haj Hoda.
Haj Abdullah.
SIEGE OF KORGUM. 273
There are some merchants of consequence from
Fezzan, viz. Basha Ben Haloum, Mohammed es-
Salah, the agent of Gagliufh, Sidi Ali, and Fighi
Hamit, who always goes to Goujah (blad of the
gour-nuts). This country of the gour is distant
three months’ travelling, making small stages south-
west by west. Morocco, Tuat, and the countries of
the west, are scarcely represented by merchants in
Kanou—there being one or two of them at most.
Nor are there any from Egypt or the East.
According to my informant, a small merchant,
but well acquainted with these parts, not more than
one hundred and fifty or two hundred slaves pass
through or from Zinder annually to the north, and
about five or six hundred go by the route of Tesaoua
to the north, z.e. Tripoli, and a few to Souf. After
all, the great slave-market is Central Africa
itself.
An affecting incident is told of the people of
Korgum during the late razzia. The Sultan of
Zinder besieged one town four days, and would not
allow the people to drink water. They then sent
word that “they did not know either Ged, or the
Prophet Mahommed, or the Sheikh of Bornou, only
him, Sarkee Ibrahim of Zinder, as their ruler and
lord, and prayed him to give them water and
peace.” The Sarkee replied, “ When my brother fled
to you, you also would not allow him to drink, nor
will I now permit you; therefore surrender into our
hands.” The people of the town held out these four
VOL. Il. ay
974. SLAVES IN KANOU.
days, and then during a night they all fied to the
rocks and escaped.
There are but few places to make razzias upon
around Zinder, except on the Sheikh’s provinces,
unless the Sarkee will go to Maradee, and there he is
now in friendship, or else is afraid to move in that
direction. In the account of the booty, it is to be
understood that all of it was not brought to Zinder,
some having been distributed amongst the troops
and volunteers of the rest of the province. I am
told that the greater part of the slaves will be sent
to Kanou for sale. It has already been observed,
that only a few slaves go to the north in comparison
with the numbers captured. The bulk of the slaves
of the razzias are employed as serfs on the soil, or
servants in the town. In Kanou, a rich man has
three or four thousand slaves; these are permitted
to work on their own account, and they pay him
as their lord and master a certain number of
cowries every month: some bring one hundred,
some three hundred or six hundred, or as low as
fifty cowries a-month. On the accumulation of
these various monthly payments of the poor slaves
the great man subsists, and is rich and powerful in
the country. This system prevails in all the Fel-
latah districts.
At dusk there was a hue and ery near our house.
I ran out to see what it was: the noise and stir was
nothing less than an attempt of a slave to escape.
The poor fellow was surrounded by a mass of men
SLAVERY—THE GARDENS. 275
and boys, all anxious to seize him and deliver him
to his master, to obtain the reward.
My sympathies certainly begin to cool when I
see the conduct of these blacks to one another. The
blacks are, in truth, the real active men-stealers,
though incited thereto frequently by the slave-
merchants of the north and south. It must be
confessed, that if there were no white men from the
north or south to purchase the supply of slaves
required out of Africa, slavery would still flourish,
though it might be often in a mitigated form; and
this brings me to the reiteration of my opinion,
that only foreign conquest by a power like Great
Britain or France can really extirpate slavery from
Africa.
3d.—The sky never gets clear here till late at
night. I read several pieces of Milton’s poetry.
I went to the gardens to see the wells: people
fetch water from the wells of the gardens, where
the supply is sufficiently abundant. I observed
in the gardens the henna plant, the cotton plant,
the indigo plant, and the tobacco plant. All
these appear to be commonly cultivated in the
gardens of Zinder. There are scarcely any other
vegetables but onions, and beans, and tomatas;
but the people cultivate a variety of small herbs, for
making the sauce of their bazeens and other flour-
puddings. The castor-oil tree is found in the town
and in the hedges of the gardens in abundance.
A Tuarick woman was brought here to-day for
276 MINSTRELSY.
me to cure. She had been in an ailing, wasting
state, for the last four years ; the husband said that
the devil had touched his wife, and reduced her to
this state. Another woman was brought with an
immense wen upon her abdomen. I have given
away nearly all my Epsom salts, and now supply
emetics. It is necessary to purge these people im-
mediately, in a few hours, or they think you doe
nothing for them, or will not or cannot do them
any good. Many Tuaricks come from the open
country. We have also frequent cases of ophthal-
mia, mostly from the villages around.
This evening I was charmed by the vocal sounds
of a strolling minstrel, attended by two drummers
with small drums, called kuru, and a chorus of
singing-girls collected from the neighbourhood.
The chorus-singers sang like charity-school girls at
church. Altogether the singing was more pleasing
than the monotonous, plaintive sounds of the Arabs.
It seems difficult to get off. Everybody is mak-
ing preparations for our journey, from the Sultan to
the lowest slave sent from Kuka to assist in the
transport of the boat and our baggage, and yet
nothing is done!
I parted with my new acquaintance, Medi, to-
day, a soldier and slave of the Sarkee. He has
been occasionally my cicerone in Zinder. He had
been captured from a child, and is now past middle
age, and knows little of the loss of home. He was
a friendly chap, and gave me all the information he
KAID OF HAJ BESHIR. Parr
could make me understand in Soudanee and Bor-
nouee.
The evening was warm; a most pestilential sort
of mist usually covers the ground at dark. After a
an hour or so it clears off—a few meteors now and
then.
4th, Dies non.— It is said we shall probably leave
this to-morrow. Read Milton all day. Weather
sultry hot; did not go out. Thermometer in the
evening, at dark, 80°.
5th. — Thad a visit from a number of Tuarick
ladies from the villages around, all of whom put
their hands to their stomachs, and pretended they
were mighty ill. I gave them all round a cup of
tea. The renegade Jew came this morning, and
gave mea list of all the things sold in the market
of Kanou.
I went in the afternoon to see the Kaid of Haj
Beshir of Kuka, called Abd-el-kerim. He had a
female slave afflicted with the leprosy, and sent for
me to come and see her. He gave me some
gour-nuts, and I found him a friendly man.
Denham represents the Bornou people of his time
as very fanatical. At present I have seen nothing
of this. But we are in a province where there are
many Hazna, or pagans; and the people of Zin-
der are but lukewarm Muslims. I have yet had no
instance of fanaticism, either from people of Kuka
or from residents here.
I was amused by the relation of Haj Moham-
278 AMERICANS AT NIFFEE.
med Ben Welid respecting his intercourse with an
American vessel at Niffee.* He first describes the
vessel as very large; the sides being ascended by a
ladder. Then these Americans (English they were
called) had a black interpreter, who spoke Arabic.
Through this black fellow they inquired of the man
of Ghadamez from whence he came. He replied,
“ Ghadamez,”—this they did not know; then “ Tra-
blous,”’— this they did not know; then “ Tunis,’—
nor was this place known; and, finally, “ Malta.”
“ Ah!” they eried, “we have heard of this place.”
They then asked him what he traded in, and gave
him some tobacco and rum. ‘They were full of
goods of every description, — calicoes, powder, shot,
rum, tobacco, dollars, and wada yaser (a great
quantity of cowries), &e.
My room has been an hospital all this day,
full of the sick, with various disorders. They
come mostly from the villages around Zinder,
and amongst them are a great number of Tua-
ricks, these people being more exposed to the
weather, or more delicate, or more fanciful in
their complaints. These poor devils all bring some-
thing —a little cheese, or a little milk; and I have
received more of these trifling presents from them
during the twenty days that I have been in Zinder,
than in all the five or six months which I spent in
their country. The reason may be, that in Asben
* See the Appendix. This Haj appears to have given some useful
information to Mr. Richardson.—Eb.
MORALS IN ZINDER. 279
they have nothing (or next to nothing), whilst here
reigns abundance. Our servants say now that the
Tuaricks always bring something, and the towns-
people of Zinder nothing. Some of the Tuaricks
are not sick; they come only to see the Christian,
and stop, and look, and stare, and watch the minutest
action of the said Christian,— more especially the
women, who would never leave my room if I were
not to drive them away.
6th.—I am told by a well-informed person, that
morals are much relaxed here. To-day a black man
came from the country to beg for his wife, who had
been taken away from him and given to a Moor,
who was about to send her to the coast for sale.
She is to be restored to the man in exchange for
two young girls, whom he has fetched from the
country (probably kidnapped). The woman, how-
ever, has been given over, in the first place, to
Shroma, the commander-in-chief; and after she
has passed two or three days with him, she will be
allowed to return to her husband. This woman was
first kidnapped by the Sultan, and belonged to
the Sheikh’s dominions, to a village near Zinder,
and was taken in arazzia. The Sultan gave or sold
her to the Moor. This is a sample of the transac-
tions daily going on there. I am also assured that
the three hundred wives of the Sarkee himself are
at almost everybody’s disposal, two or three gour-
nuts being the utmost which these Jadies ask. But
this is not all; for these women, wives of the Sultan,
280 FASHIONS.
have intrigues with the slaves of the Sultan, with
the brothers of the Sultan, and even with the sons
of the Sultan. Whatever may be said of the Tua-
ricks and their freebooting, they do not practise
such revolting immoralities as these.
The Sarkee of Zinder is feared both by Fellatahs
and Tuaricks, especially on account of the barbarous
nature of his executions, which I have described.
It may be supposed that a better system, both of
government and morality, is practised in Kuka, and
the more connected Bornou provinces.
A man came to me to beg or buy some large
beads for his wife; he said his wife was very anxious
for them, to wear round her loins. Various are the
caprices of fashion. Europeans show their finery,
but here children and women wear beads round
their loins under their clothes.
It is now said we shall leave Zinder positively
on Saturday next.
MARADEE AND GONDER. 28]
CHAPTER XVII.
News from Tesaoua—Razzia on Sakkatou—Laziness in Zinder—The
Hajah—Herds of Cattle—More Tuarick Patients—Gardens—My
Luggage—Adieu to the Sarkee—Present from his Highness—
Start from Zinder—Country—Birds—Overtake the Kashalla—
—Slaves for Kanou—Continue the Journey—People of Deddegi
—Their Timidity—Horse Exercise—Cotton—Strange Birds—Oc-
cupation of Men and Women—State of African Society—Islamism
and Paganism —Character of the Kashalla—A Dogberry—Gudde-
muni—Cultivation—Beggars—Dancing Maidens.
A Suereer has come here to-day from Tesaoua, and
reports that Overweg left that place for Maradee
about eight days since, with a Tuarick of En-Noor.
The city of Maradee is but an bour from Gonder,
and is about twice the size of Zinder. The whole
occupation of these two cities is that of razzia, and
their subsistence and riches are all derived from this
source. ‘These places also swarm with Tuaricks,
Kilgris, Iteesan, and Kailouees, who join the blacks
of Maradee and Gouber in their slave-hunting expe-
ditions. A grand razzia is being perpetrated by the
united forces of the Sultans of Maradee, Gouber, and
Korgum, with the assistance of a thousand Tuarick
horse, on the territories of the Sultan of Sakkatou.
282 INDUSTRY IN ZINDER.
The cavalry of the marauders consists of some five
thousand, and there are more than this number on
foot. My informant says they will go near Kashna,
perhaps to its very gates. So it seems the Sultan
of Sakkatou, with all his power and his great cities,
is unable to check, or apparently even to avenge,
the depredations committed upon his most import-
ant provinces. It is said that the product of this
razzia will be some of the finest slaves in this part
of Africa, many of them almost white. We are to
leave here to-morrow. Inshailah! It is too bad to
be kept so long here, when Haj Beshir has sent
orders for us to come immediately.
7th—The morning was cool; thermometer at
sunrise, 58°. I slept little, being angry at being
kept here so long. I read Milton to divert my
mind awhile from African subjects.
There seems to be little industry in Zinder.
The education of the greater part of the males is to
fit them for razzias, and this must be considered as
the principal cause of the unfeeling manner with
which the blacks hereabouts look upon their cap-
tive brethren. These captives are their means of
livelihood ; they live on the products of the razzias,
and, of course, the superior intellects with which
they may come in contact countenance all their
proceedings; for the foreign merchants are equally
interested with them in their inhuman expeditions.
Africa is bled from all pores by her own children,
seconded by the cupidity of strangers.
THE HAJAH—CATTLE. 283
All the Moors and Arabs whom I conversed with
extol the power of the Sheikh of Bornou, and repre-
sent him as the greatest sheikh in Central Africa.
Nevertheless, the Fellatahs are everywhere, far and
wide, from Sakkatou to Adamaua, a dominant peo-
ple, though few in number compared with the popu-
lation of the subjected kingdoms.
One of the most remarkable women, perhaps the
only remarkable woman in Zinder at the present
moment, is a certain Hajah (¢.e. a woman who has
made the pilgrimage of Mekka). She is a native of
Fezzan, and is now employed in the household of
the Sheikh of Bornou. She is excessively free and
easy with all men folks; and although such a saint,
her chastity, I am told, does not rate high. She
returns to Kuka with us—no great gain to our
caravan.
Near our enclosure is a long space full of
bullocks and cows—some four hundred and fifty.
These are distributed amongst the whole population
by ones, twos, and threes. I have seen no herd but
this, and if this is really the only one, it speaks little
for the wealth of the people of Zinder. In fact, with
regard to horses it is much the same,—the Shereef
ean hardly find me a horse to ride on in the whole
town.
Apparently, Zinder is a wretchedly poor place.
All are needy, from the Sarkee downwards, and
when they get any property it all comes from the
razzias. ‘The system of living on rapine and man-
284 TUARICK PATIENTS—PALMS.
stealing seems to bring its own punishment along
with it.
A posse of Tuarick patients assailed me very
early this morning. The Tuaricks, who have more
intellect than the blacks, let loose their imagination
to fancy they have all sorts of complaints. Thus I
have more patients from them than from the people
of Zinder, and am quite undeceived as to my having
done with this tribe when I entered the gates of this
town. There is, however, this difference now, that
they treat me with the greatest respect, and are very
quiet, bringing presents instead of demanding pre-
sents.
The Tuaricks of Gurasu, I hear, have a bad
name, and are troublesome to the Sheikh.
I went to the gardens this morning and yesterday
morning —it is an immense relief from the enclosure
of huts in town—but have not observed anything
new. Iam told that the suburbs of Kanou are full of
palms. Zinder, ifthe people were industrious, could
have its forests of palms, bearing luscious fruit twice
a-year. But, alas! the excitement of the razzia de-
stroys the taste for all rational industry. What bandit
could ever setile down into a tiller of the ground?
8th.—The people came this morning, in a great
hurry, to take off the luggage, and afterwards pre-
tended that I should go to-morrow, whilst the bag-
gage must be forwarded to-day. This arrangement
I positively refused to comply with, being determined
to stop no longer.
FAREWELL TO THE SARKEB. 285
I went to take leave of the Sarkee. His high-
ness had nothing to say, and we as little to him.
We just shook hands, and that was all. He is not
very well pleased with his late man-hunt. He still
owes twenty thousand dollars, which it will require
a dozen such speculations to pay off. The castle
outside was besieged with soldiers, all lounging and
listening to two or three drummers. I am disgusted
to see so many idle people. The only novelty was
four or five singing-women, who sung choruses
inside the walls toa drummer. All the soldiers in
undress, or not going on razzia, are bareheaded, and
also nearly all the inhabitants of the town.