Fault was found because a newspaper commenced a police-office report of
one of the humane endeavours of the warm-hearted member for Galway, in
behalf of the proverbially most patient of all quadrupeds, by saying,
“Mr. Martin came to this office with another ass.” Ridicule, however,
never injures a just man with the just-minded; Mr. Martin has been
properly supported in every judicious effort by public opinion.
The notice of the all-enduring ass, in former pages, occasions a letter
from a gentleman, (with his name) whose researches have been directed to
the geographical and natural history of foreign countries. In this
communication he refers to a work of considerable interest relative to
Africa, which it may be important for inquirers regarding the interior
of that region to be acquainted with.
_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._
Sir,
_November_ 29, 1825.
The facetious TIM TIMS, in your _Every-Day Book_, of the 19th of
September, (p. 1309.) cites the amusing and accurate Leo Africanus, as
asserting “that asses may be taught to dance to music.” This is an
error. Leo, in his description of Africa, (Elzevir edition, 1632. p.
749.) says, “I saw in Cairo a _camel_ dance to the sound of a drum, and
as the master told me, this is the mode of teaching: a young camel is
selected and placed for half an hour in a place prepared for him of
about the size of a stove, the pavement of which is heated by fire. Some
one then, outside the door, beats the drum, and the camel, not on
account of the music, but of the fire by which his feet are hurt, lifts
first one leg then another, after the manner of a dancer, and after
having been thus trained for ten or twelve months, he is led into
public, when, on hearing the drum, and remembering the burning of his
feet, he immediately begins to jump, and thinking himself to be on the
same floor, he raises himself on his hind legs, and appears to dance;
and so, use becoming second nature, he continues to do.”
The only ass described by Leo, is the ass of the woods, found only in
the desert or its borders. It yields to the Barb, or Arabian, (Leo says
they are the same,) in swiftness, and is caught with the greatest
difficulty. When feeding, or drinking, he is always moving.
A word more about the camel. He is of a most kind and mild nature, and
partakes in a manner of the sense of man. If, at any time, between
Ethiopia and Barbary (in the great desert) the day’s journey is longer
than ordinary, he is not to be driven on by stripes (or beating,) but
the driver sings certain short songs, by which the camel being allured,
he goes on with such swiftness, that no one is able to keep up with him.
When I open this highly valued book, I never know when to close it; and,
indeed, the less at this time, when we are all on tip-toe with respect
to Africa.
Now it does appear strange to me, that not one word has been said,
either by the travellers, or those who have traced them, about this
little work. One reason may be, that it has never been wholly translated
into English. It is called by Hartman, (who has been deemed the ablest
editor of these oriental authors,) a golden book, which had he wanted,
he should as frequently have wanted light. The author, who was a man of
a noble family and great acquirements, had been at Tombuto twice at
least. Once he accompanied his father on his embassy from the king of
Fez to that city, and afterwards as a merchant. This must have been at
the very beginning of the sixteenth century, for he finished this work
at Rome, the 5th of March, 1526. He describes Tombuto, as well as
Bornou, and Cano, and many other of the Negro kingdoms with great
minuteness, and with respect to the Niger, (which, like the Nile, rises,
falls, and fertilizes the country,) he says, that its course is from the
kingdom of Tombuto towards the west as far as Ginea or Jinnea, and even
Melli, which joins the ocean at the same place where the Niger empties
itself into the sea. He also says, that at Cabra, which is situate on
the Niger, about twelve miles from Tombuto, the merchants sailing to
Ginea or Melli, go on board their vessels.
Moore, who resided as a writer and factor under the African company, at
the mouth of the Gambia, about five years, and in 1738, published his
travels, describing the several nations for the space of six hundred
miles up that river, concludes that river and the Niger to be the same.
In this work will be found an English translation from the Italian, of
parts of Leo’s work.
Jackson is a coxcomb, who copies without acknowledgment. He fancies the
Niger runs backwards, and joins the Nile, after which they most
fraternally run into the Mediterranean.