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

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

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Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2, by James Richardson This
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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