Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51 Volume Ii Part 17

This cousin of the Sheikh is a great merchant, and comes backwards and forwards to Zinder from Kuka.

_28th._--The nights are still rather cool, but the days not so. The weather continues heavy, with a south-east wind. I went to the cousin of the Sheikh to administer to him a dose of Epsom salts. I have often been surprised to see how greedily these people drink off this nauseous medicine, and smack their lips as if it was something excessively delicious.

Afterwards I had a visit from a great sister of the Sarkee, a woman who is a Sheikha (female Sheikh), and receives the revenues of fifty villages for her own private use. She was quite well, but begged hard for medicine. At last I gave her some tea, which she drank off, after laughing a good deal.

A small caravan has arrived from Ghadamez in three months, but brought no news, except that Aaron Silva is living, and not dead, as reported.

These merchants make continual inquiries respecting the state of the country (i.e. of Soudan), and are answered, "_Afia, afia._" However, it is these same slave-dealing merchants who occasion the greater part of the wars and troubles in these countries, by their perpetual demand for slaves.

I am told that many cantars of indigo can be purchased in Soudan (in Kanou), at a price which would bring a great profit in Tripoli; but the merchants refuse to engage in this commerce. I think I shall make a trial of it.

The cousin of the Sheikh recommended me to dress in my English clothes on my arrival in Kuka. By doing this, he observed, "you will please the people, and get many presents." It was ever my intention to dress in European clothes in Bornou.

The common mode in which a poor person salutes a great man, is by kneeling down and throwing dust upon the bare head. The degree of humility and respect is expressed by the quant.i.ty of dust thrown! The Sarkee, of course, gets a great deal of dust, and every personage under him his portion, according to his rank. The beggars throw the dust about in clouds. At first, it is painful to see this custom.

CHAPTER XV.

Political News--Animals of Zinder--Sleepy City--District of Korgum--Razzias--Family of Sheikh Omer of Bornou--Brothers--Sons--Sisters--Daughters--Viziers--Kashallas--Power of the Sheikh--A Cheating Prince--Old Slave--Fetis.h.i.+sm--Devil in a Tuarick's head--Kibabs--Fires--A Prophecy--Another Version of the Razzia--Correspondence between Korgum and Zinder.

Some political news has arrived to-day by the caravan from Ghat.

According to the gazette of the caravan there is peace now between the Porte and Musku (Russia), and Musku is to restore to the Porte the one hundred countries taken by her, as also to pay the expenses of the war.

Hostilities have broken out between the Emperor of Morocco and the French; a Shereef has appeared to recommence the holy war, and Muley Abd-Errhaman supplies him with the means to fight the French. Thus the news is all fas.h.i.+oned to Muslim tastes. Also it is said, that in future the red colour in flags is always to be uppermost. This seems likewise a compliment to the Muslim power in Europe and Africa. It is very curious to see how dexterously the caravan-newsman has coined his wares.

The shonshona of Gouber is very faint, and consists of nine very small cuts.

Gouber is full of Tuaricks, Kilgris, and Iteesan. It is said the Sarkee will bring an immense number of Hazna, or pagans, with him, on his return from the razzia.

_29th._--At sunrise, when the thermometer is at 57, I feel the cold. I am told that, though Kuka is very hot, it is quite free from fever,--in fact, from all periodic epidemics. So we may expect to do well, if we escape the fever of Soudan.

The household G.o.ds of Zinder are a large species of lizard, who make their dwelling-places in the walls and roofs of the huts. These are in great numbers. Cats are the princ.i.p.al nuisance and the thieves of the place--attacking and devouring fowls. Of rats and mice I have observed none. But few small birds show themselves. The small filthy vulture is everywhere, and a few eagles of a diminutive white species are seen amongst them. Some few dogs are kept, ill-looking and mongrel in their breed. The domestic cattle are horses, a.s.ses, oxen, sheep and goats, and a few camels.

The life of the male population of Zinder seems to pa.s.s in dreamy indolence, varied continually by the excitement of a razzia. The women divide their time between the kitchen and the toilette. No amus.e.m.e.nt is sought, except from drum-beating and the attendant dance. Thus time lapses with these black citizens. As for the foreign merchants and traders, they, too, drowse away the period of their residence in this sleepy city. They sell their goods in a lump, on trust, to the Sarkee, and then compose themselves to slumber whilst he goes forth on a razzia, and brings them slaves in payment. The thick, heavy atmosphere--at any rate during this season--appears to forbid any other kind of life. It weighs upon the eyelids, and oppresses the soul. Existence pa.s.ses away in a tropical dream, and death finds its prey, as Jupiter found Maia, "betwixt sleep and wake," in this poppied climate. Altogether--as far as I can see through my own winking eyes--Zinder is a most unlovely place; by no means desirable for a stranger to live in. I manage, however, now and then to grasp at, and hold, something like definite information. In looking over the itineraries of Captain Lyon, I find that the razzias have obliterated many towns and villages from the map. At any rate, the people now are ignorant of their names.

Korgum, half-a-day's distance from Konchai, two days from Zinder, is, according to a report come in this afternoon, the place or theatre of the present razzia. The pretext is--for I now hear of a pretext--that they will not pay tribute to the Sheikh. Korgum consists of three villages and a town, upon and under some rocky hills, which are visible during three days' march. The district is the residence of a sultan. Ten years ago it belonged to Maradee, but since then has been wrested from it, though it has ever shown a doubtful allegiance. When the former chief fled to Maradee, he stopped to drink water at Korgum; but the sultan refused to grant him permission. The present Sarkee, on being restored to his government,--though he made war upon his brother--nevertheless determined to avenge this barbarous inhospitality.

He went and attacked the Sultan of Korgum, captured several of his people, and cut off, it is pretended, eight hundred heads. Not satisfied with this slight vengeance, the chief of Zinder seems to have remained anxious to pick a quarrel. He next sent for wada; in other words, for tribute. The Sultan of Korgum forwarded some. The Sarkee despatched a message, that what he had received was "few." The Sultan replied, "Why should I send many?" A pertinent question, 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 consciences of my Muslim friends. The Sarkee is expected back on Friday.

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.

_30th._--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 Limbaua 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.)

Bas.h.i.+r: 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.

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.