might be found, that promised more security and profit to the
complainant, and would be more formidable to the guilty. The man
whom I have already mentioned as my broker was to take the slave,
as if she had really been violated[36], and agreed to pay whatever
her master should charge as the price. The latter had the modesty to
ask ten head of slaves. He was then to make his demand on me for the
value of ten slaves, and if I carried the matter before the Cadi,
which he supposed I should hardly venture to do, he had suborned
witnesses to prove that I had received of him property to that amount.
On my removal from Cobbé to El Fasher, I had caused my small
remaining property, among which were few articles of value, but many
of much use to me, to be lodged in the house of _Hossein_, (the owner
of the slave,) and his companion. On my return thither, which happened
within a few days after the accident, I claimed it: they resisted,
as they alleged, at the suit of my broker, and would not deliver it
till the value of ten slaves should be paid to him. I had from the
first considered their conduct as so violent, that if it reached the
ears of the government, the claim must unquestionably be abandoned:
and indeed my adversaries had only rested their expectations on the
timidity which they had been accustomed to observe in Christians
of the country, whose accusation and condemnation are in fact the
same. I had not neglected to give the transaction all the notoriety
I could, without having recourse to public authority, and those to
whom I had applied were decidedly in my favour: I therefore now went
to my adversaries, Hossein and his companion, and in their presence
offered to Ali Hamad a promissory note for the value of ten slaves,
at the market price on my arrival in Kahira. It was refused; and
my chest, in which were some German dollars and other articles,
was still detained by them; the rest was given up.
In the mean time much had been said on the subject, both among the
natives and foreigners; and the flagrant injustice I was likely to
suffer forcibly struck all that were not in a state to profit by it,
but none more than the Egyptian merchants: they were indignant to
see that so enormous a penalty should be forfeited to those who had
no claim but effrontery to demand it; and that they had no share,
and were too numerous to expect to be all rewarded for connivance;
accordingly some of them were diligent in carrying the news to
the monarch.
It is not to be imagined that he would have moved in the business,
from any love of justice, or commiseration with the sufferings of a
person to whom himself had shewn such pointed disregard, not to say
manifest injustice. But he was told that the Franks enjoyed great
favour with the Senjiaks, and that whatever one of their number
suffered in Fûr, might be retaliated on the jelabs on their arrival
at Kahira, with very little effort, by getting their property there
seized by the magistrate, either as an indemnification for what should
have been lost, or a security for what might happen. Add to this,
he thought his own dignity compromised, should a foreigner thus be
permitted to vindicate himself by force in his country. I had indeed
been told that the Sultan was apprised of the transaction previously
to my departure from El Fasher, and that he intended to grant me
redress; but after waiting about fifteen days without hearing any
thing farther of his intentions, weary of suffering, I determined
to return. I had been there but a short time when a _fulganawy_
(messenger) arrived express from the court, with orders for me to
repair to El Fasher immediately. The object of the message was kept
in profound secrecy, nor could I discover whether it portended good
or evil. I left Cobbé the same evening, and arrived at the end of
my journey the following day about noon.
I repaired as before to the Melek Ibrahim, who on the following day
introduced me at the public audience. The Sultan, as he retired to the
palace after it was over, ordered all the parties to appear. Being
come within the inner court, he stopped the white mule on which
he was mounted, and began a short harangue, addressing himself to
Hossein and Ali Hamad, my servant, in which he censured, in a rapid
and energetic style, their conduct towards me.—“One,” said he,
turning to Ali, “calls himself Wakîl of the Frank; if he were a
Sherîf and a Mûslim, as he pretends, he would know that the law of
the Prophet permits not a Mûslim to be Wakîl to a Caffre: another
calls himself his friend—but both are agreed in robbing him of
his property, and usurping the authority of the laws.—Henceforth
I am his Wakîl, and will protect him.” He then ordered all the
parties to repair to the house of Musa Wullad Jelfûn, Melek of
the jelabs, under whose appropriate jurisdiction are all foreign
merchants. Here it may not be improper to relate briefly how I had
been before received by the Sultan.
On my first audience I was too ill to make much observation: I was
seated at a distance from him; the visit was short, and I had no
opportunity of opening a conversation. He was placed on his seat
(_cûrsi_) at the door of his tent. Some person had mentioned to
him my watch, and a copy of Erpenius’s Grammar, which I had with
me. He asked to see both; but after casting his eyes on each he
returned them. The present I had brought was shewn him, for which
he thanked me, and rose to retire.
During the following summer, the first time I got admission to him,
he was holding a diwan in the outer court. He was then mounted
on a white mule, clothed with a scarlet _Benish_, and had on his
head a white turban; which however, together with part of his face,
was covered with a thick muslin. On his feet were yellow boots, and
the saddle on which he was seated was of crimson velvet, without any
ornament of gold or silver. His sword, which was broad and straight,
and adorned with an hilt of massy gold, was held horizontally in
his right hand. A small canopy of muslin was supported over his
head. Amid the noise and hurry of above a thousand persons who were
there assembled, I was unable to make myself heard, which the nature
of my situation obliged me to attempt, though not exactly conformable
to the etiquette of the court, that, almost to the exclusion of
strangers, had appropriated the diwan to the troops, the Arabs,
and others connected with the government.
On another occasion I contrived to gain admittance to the interior
court by a bribe. The Sultan was hearing a cause of a private nature,
the proceedings on which were only in the Fûrian language. He
was seated on a kind of chair, كورسي, which was covered with a Turkey
carpet, and wore a red silk turban; his face was then uncovered: the
Imperial sword was placed across his knees, and his hands were engaged
with a chaplet of red coral. Being near him I fixed my eyes on him, in
order to have a perfect idea of his countenance, which, being
short-sighted, and not thinking it very decent to use a glass in his
presence, I had hitherto scarcely found an opportunity of acquiring. He
seemed evidently discomposed at my having observed him thus, and the
moment the cause was at an end, he retired very abruptly. Some persons
to whom I afterwards remarked the circumstance seemed to think that his
attendants had taught him to fear the magic of the Franks, to the
operation of which their habit of taking likenesses is imagined by some
of the Orientals to conduce. He is a man rather under the middle size,
of a complexion adust or dry, with eyes full of fire, and features
abounding in expression. His beard is short but full, and his
countenance, though perfectly black, materially differing from the
negro; though fifty or fifty-five years of age, he possesses much
alertness and activity.
At another of my visits I found him in the interior court, standing,
with a long staff tipped with silver in his right hand, on which
he leaned, and the sword in his left. He then had chosen to adorn
his head with the folds of a red silk turban, composed of the same
material as the western Arabs use for a cincture. The Melek Ibrahim
presented him, in my name, with a small piece of silk and cotton,
of the manufacture of Damascus. He returned answer, _Barak ulla
fi!_—May the blessing of God be on him!—a phrase in general use on
receiving any favour, and instantly retired, without giving me time
to urge the request of which I intended the offering should be the
precursor. It is expected of all persons that, on coming to El Fasher,
they should bring with them a present of greater or less value,
according to the nature of the business in hand. It is no less usual
before leaving the royal residence, to ask permission of the Sultan
for that purpose. With this latter form, which was to me unpleasant,
I sometimes complied, but more frequently omitted it. But on this
occasion, having been long resident there, I thought fit to make a
last effort to promote my design. The day preceding that which I had
fixed for my return happened to be a great public audience. I found
the monarch seated on his throne (_cûrsi_), under a lofty canopy,
composed not of one material, but of various stuffs of Syrian and
even of Indian fabric, hung loosely on a light frame of wood, no two
pieces of the same pattern. The place he sat in was spread with small
Turkey carpets. The Meleks were seated at some distance on the right
and left, and behind them a line of guards, with caps, ornamented in
front with a small piece of copper and a black ostrich feather. Each
bore a spear in his hand, and a target of the hide of the hippopotamus
on the opposite arm. Their dress consisted only of a cotton shirt,
of the manufacture of the country. Behind the throne were fourteen or
fifteen eunuchs, clothed indeed splendidly in habiliments of cloth or
silk, but clumsily adjusted, without any regard to size or colour. The
space in front was filled with suitors and spectators, to the number
of more than fifteen hundred. A kind of hired encomiast stood on
the monarch’s left hand, crying out, _a plein gorge_, during the
whole ceremony, “See the buffaloe (جاموس), the offspring
of a buffaloe, a bull of bulls, the elephant of superior strength,
the powerful Sultan Abd-el-rachmân-el-rashîd! May God prolong thy
life!—O Master—May God assist thee, and render thee victorious!”
From this audience, as from those which had preceded it, I was
obliged to retire as I had come, without effecting any purpose. I
was told there were occasions when the Sultan wears a kind of crown,
as is common with other African monarchs; but of this practice I
had no opportunity to bear testimony. When he appeared in public,
a number of troops armed with light spears usually attended him, and
several of his slaves were employed to bear a kind of umbrella over
his head, which concealed his face from the multitude. When he passes,
all the spectators are obliged to appear barefooted, and commonly to
kneel—His subjects bow to the earth, but this compliance is not
expected from foreigners. Even the Meleks, when they approach the
throne, creep on their hands and knees, which gave occasion to an
Egyptian to remark, that the _Jarea_[37] in Fûr was a Melek, and the
Melek a _Jarea_—alluding to the servile behaviour of the ministers,
and the publicity of women in the domestic offices of the palace.
The Sultan Abd-el-rachmân, soon after he became possessed of
sovereign authority, with the ostensible motive of testifying his
attachment to the religion of the Prophet, but more perhaps with a
view of obtaining greater weight among his subjects, by some mark
of the consideration of the first of Mohammedan princes, thought
proper to send a present to Constantinople. It consisted of three
of the choicest eunuchs, and three of the most beautiful female
slaves that could be procured. The Othman emperor, when they were
presented, had, it is said, never heard of the Sultan of Dar-Fûr,
but he returned an highly-ornamented sabre, a rich pelisse, and a
ring set with a single diamond of no inconsiderable value.
CHAP. XVI.
DAR-FÛR.
_Residence with the Melek Musa — Dissimulation of the Arabs —
Incidents — Return to Cobbé — Endeavours to proceed farther
into Africa — Necessity of exercising Medicine — Festival —
Punishment of Conspirators — Art of the Sultan — Atrocious Conduct
of my Kahirine servant — At length find an opportunity of departure,
after a constrained residence in Dar-Fûr of nearly three years._
My reception with Musa Wullad Jelfûn was very different from that
which I had experienced in the house of Misellim, or Ibrahim. All
the principal people saluted me, and sought my conversation. The
Melek, by those who knew him, was esteemed a man of consummate
dissimulation, and boundless ambition; quick of apprehension,
decisive, and energetic. I found him easy and dignified in his manner;
and, by his communication with foreigners perhaps, more polished,
and better informed, than the rest of his order. His behaviour
toward myself was complacent; and he affected to seek opportunities
of hearing my sentiments on such subjects as occurred. During three
days we were generally seated with him, and partook of his table,
which was remarkable for the abundant supply, if not for the delicacy
of the food. On these occasions I was indeed frequently harassed
with questions, the simplicity of which disgusted me, and was even
in some instances indirectly reviled for my supposed attachment to
a sect, whose tenets among Mohammedans are thought absurd and even
impious. However, when they were led to imagine that the favour of
the Sultan was beginning to brighten my prospects, their disposition
on that head appeared much more easy and tolerant. But I was also
frequently impressed with the clear intelligence, and penetrating
sagacity, with which the claims of the respective suitors were
investigated, and the equity and firmness with which they were
terminated by this officer. Oftener than once even, during my short
abode with him, the best constructed plans to disguise the truth,
and elude the purposes of justice, were laid open and rendered
abortive; for it is remarkable with how much artifice the Arabs,
however ignorant in other respects, defend themselves, whether
right or wrong, as long as they have any profit to hope, or loss to
dread. So clear is their discernment, so retentive their memory,
and so firm their resolution on these occasions, that no word, no
look, not even an involuntary movement escapes them, which can in the
smallest degree betray their cause; and the longest cross-examination,
or questions put at the greatest distance of time, will bring to
light no fact unfavourable to the interest which they are to defend.
In obedience to the Sultan’s command, I gave in an exact statement
of the property I had lost, and substantiated the proof by the
strongest circumstantial evidence. With regard to the slave, the
most complete redress was accorded me. The charge brought against me
was judged absolutely futile, and she was restored to her master;
while he, on the other hand, was compelled to give up the chest,
&c. which had been violently withheld. The plunder which had fallen
into the hands of my servant and his accomplice was not so easily
restored. The Melek, tired of gratuitous justice, began to think
that a lucrative composition was more eligible. The offenders,
who had been obstinate in the first instance, seeing how the cause
relative to the _jarea_ (female slave) had been decided, thought
proper to offer to the Melek marks of their gratitude for the lenity
they expected from him; and the Sultan was unwilling to imagine
that the sufferings of a Caffre could fall heavy on himself at the
day of final retribution. In fact, his disgust at the complaints
continually preferred, and jealousy and resentment against some
of the Egyptians, who in this and other instances appeared to have
usurped his authority, certainly influenced him in the first part
of the proceedings, rather than any love of justice.
At length the Melek, who in reality was supreme arbiter of the
contest, contented himself with giving me in intrinsic value about
four head of slaves, instead of twenty-four or twenty-five, which
at first he had unequivocally declared due to me, and promised I
should receive. And thus the matter was terminated.
I a second time retired to Cobbé, with little expectation of ever
leaving the country. Of the property which the king’s agents had on
my arrival purchased, no part of the price had yet been discharged. I
had been insulted with the mockery of justice, yet obliged to thank
my oppressors for the compensation which their corruption and malignity
alone had rendered incomplete.
I had not indeed omitted to renew to the Melek Musa, the request which
had been previously made to Misellim and Ibrahim. I explained to him
in the manner least exceptionable, my intention in coming thither,
completely did away all the suspicions, which my enemies had at first
been assiduous to excite, and too successful in establishing; and
concluded with desiring permission to go to Sennaar, or to accompany
the first _Selatea_ (an armed expedition for the purpose of acquiring
slaves) to the South or South-west; or finally to have a safe-conduct,
and one of the Sultan’s slaves, acknowleged as such, to accompany
me to _Bergoo_ (the first Mohammedan kingdom to the West). By
the _first_ route I hoped to have reached Abyssinia; or, if that
had been impracticable, to have gone through Nubia to Egypt, or by
Suakem to the Red Sea, and thence to Mocha or Jidda. By the _second_
I was almost certain of settling some important points relative to
the White River, possibly of tracing it to its source. And by the
_third_, either of passing directly West, and tracing the course of
the Niger, or of penetrating through Bornou and Fezzan to Tripoli.
To the first proposal, he answered in a manner which gave me no
reason to doubt his sincerity, that the road to Sennaar was at
present impassable, the Sultan being as yet master of but one
half of Kordofan; that the natives of all that part of it which
remained unsubdued, were his implacable foes, and would infallibly
destroy any person who came from Dar-Fûr; that he thought however,
if I waited another year, that route might possibly be more secure;
and in case it should be so, that he would use all his efforts to
obtain the Sultan’s permission for my departure. Of the _Selatea_
he said, that I should only encounter certain death by attempting
it, as between the jealousy of those who accompanied me, and the
actual hostility of the country attacked, there would be no hope of
escaping. I hinted that the Sultan might give me a few attendants,
whom I was very ready to pay, and an order to enable me to pass
unmolested, as his physician in search of herbs. He replied that he
would propose such a measure, but did not expect it would receive
the Sultan’s approbation, whom he represented as very adverse to
strangers, and still suspicious of me individually, in consequence of
the reports that had been spread on my arrival. To the third proposal,
he answered, that he had no hope of my succeeding; and if I should
attempt it, would by no means be answerable for what might happen,
since the utmost distrust subsisted between the monarchs of Fûr
and Bergoo, and the most implacable enmity to Christians in the
latter country. He concluded with strongly recommending it to me to
seize the first opportunity of returning to Egypt; but assured me,
that if he could accomplish either of the measures I so much wished,
he would not fail to inform me, and afford me the necessary aid. I
left matters thus when I retired to Cobbé, dejected, and little
expecting to realize even my least sanguine hopes. Not more than
six weeks after this conversation had taken place, I was sent for
in haste to attend the Melek, who was confined by an old disorder
in his lungs. I found him yet sensible, but his eyes were fixed,
and the extremities incapable of motion. In five hours afterwards
he expired. Thus were blasted my returning hopes of success; for no
mediator now remained between myself and the monarch, and no longer
was there near the court a man, even of seeming liberality and good
sense, to whom my projects might safely be opened.
The transactions I had been engaged in, and my frequent appearance in
public, had given me a degree of notoriety, which I shunned rather
than sought. Having learned by accident that I was in possession
of a few medicines, which indeed were rather studiously concealed,
all the town grew indisposed, and sought for remedies. Under various
pretences, I as often as possible declined administering any; but
one or two of the sick having recovered, spread the news of their
supposed cure, with such additions as they thought proper. It then
became necessary for me to attend at El Fasher, whither I was sent
for on several occasions, in the course of the subsequent year. Soon
after Musa’s death, a messenger arrived requiring my presence,
but, as is usual with them, without specifying the object. Judging
it might possibly be something favourable to my interests, I used
all possible dispatch. On my arrival I was directed to attend the
_Faqui Seradge_, the principal Imam, who was ill of a fistula. It
appeared that palliatives could afford him no relief, and I declined
the responsibility attached to more violent remedies. On this occasion
however the Sultan had seen me, and addressed me personally, telling
me that he should give orders for the payment of what was due to me,
and that he should consult my inclination in all things. I began to
press my request for permission to travel; but to this he turned a
deaf ear, and soon left the place of audience. Another time I was
called to a Melek, a man of advanced age, who had been blind of
one eye for nine years, but was much displeased at being told his
disorder was incurable. Many instances of the same kind occurred.
The same winter I was sent for by Misellim, to receive a part of
what was due to me. He was at Gidîd, a town about forty miles from
Cobbé. I was not long detained, having been permitted to return
in a few hours after my arrival. But the payment was made in oxen,
a commodity to me of very little value. They however afforded me
subsistence for some months, which otherwise probably I should
have wanted.
The first week of the month _Rabîa-el-achir_, this year, was
distinguished by a festival which I conceive peculiar to this
country—the _Geled-el-Nahâs_, the leathering of the kettle-drum. It
lasts eight or ten days successively; during which time the Meleks and
great men offer to the monarch considerable presents. I have known
the Melek of jelabs take with him in his visit of congratulation
presents, of various kinds, worth sixty head of slaves. Almost
all, except absolute mendicants, are obliged to come forward
with some offering, proportioned to their rank. In recompence of
this involuntary generosity on the part of the people, a kindness
almost as involuntary, but somewhat cheaper, is exhibited on the
part of the Sultan—his kitchen during the time is devoted to the
public service. But as too great a number of animals is frequently
slaughtered on the first day, the meat often remains to be devoured
in a corrupt state; which gave occasion to some one to remark,
that the festivals of Fûr resembled those of the Leopard[38]. The
celebrity is also marked by a review of the troops. But as their
equestrian exercises are no more than a clumsy imitation of those
of the Mamlûks, a more particular description of them would afford
nothing new. They serve however to characterise the mode of warfare,
where victory is always the effect of personal exertion. The monarch
and his chief officers have fine horses of Dongola, which they
mount without skill, carrying in one hand five or six javelins,
in the use of which they are adequately expert.