Travels in Nubia / By the late John Lewis Burckhardt. Published by the Association for promoting the discovery of the interior parts of Africa. With maps, &c.

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt

Date:: 1819

Credit: Travels in Nubia / By the late John Lewis Burckhardt. Published by the Association for promoting the discovery of the interior parts of Africa. With maps, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

594/650 (page 494)

$confined by the rocks of the desert, and the villages are at considerable distances from one another on both banks. The trees are the date and the Moke].* * * * The higher parts are broader than those which are lower down, and the vine is there cultivated. There is no natural irrigation of the soil, from its being too elevated. The inhabitants sow by the fedan, or two and three fedans,f and cows are employed to raise the water from the river by means of water-wheels. Wheat is scarce among them; barley and selt are more abundant.]: As their soil is so confined, they cultivate it a second time.§ In the summer (after having re- newed the soil with dung and earth) they then sow Dokhen, Dhourra, Djawars,|| Sesamum and Loubya. In this district lies Bedjrash, the town of the chief of Merys,^} and the castle of Ibrim, and another smaller castle, with a harbour called Addoa, which is said to have been the native place of Lokmat and Jonas.** * * §§ A wonderful ruin (Birbe) is seen here. In this district resides a governor named by the great chief of the Noubas, who has the title of Lord of the Mountain, and is one of their prin- cipal governors, because he is so near the territory of the Moslims. Whenever any Moslim travels to this country, and has a stock of merchandize either for sale, or as a present to the king or governor, the latter receives it all, and returns the value in slaves ; for no one, whether Moslim or not, is ever permitted to present himself in person to the king. On the first cataract of Nouba lies the city called Tukoa,\\ on a level ground, where the boats of the Nouba ascending from the Kaszer usually stop. The boats dare not pass this village, and no Moslim, nor any other person, dare ascend the river further up, without per- mission from the Lord of the Mountain. From hence to the upper Maks are six days journey.]]: Cataracts continue the whole way up. These are the worst parts of Nouba which I have seen, owing to the difficulty and narrowness of the ground, and the fatiguing road. The river is constantly interrupted by rapid falls and projecting mountains, so that it is precipitated down the rocks, and is in some places not above fifty peeks (cubits) wide from one bank to the other. The country abounds in high mountains, narrow passes, and roads along which you cannot proceed mounted, and if weak, you will in vain attempt to walk.§§ These mountains are the strong holds of the Noubas, and among them the inhabitants of the districts bordering on the Moslim country take refuge. A few date trees, and some poor fields are found on the islands. The principal food of the inhabitants is fish, with the fat of which they anoint * Probably the Doum. t Meaning, I suppose, the extent of ground irrigated by each water-wheel, which exactly corresponds with what I have observed on that subject in my journal. + Vide note 2 at the end. § Vide note 3. || Vide note 4. Perhaps the ruined city of Meharraka, mentioned in my journal. ** The castle of Adde and the colossal temple of Ebsambal, are probably meant here. ff Wady Haifa. XX From Wady Haifa to Sukkof, are four long days journey. §§ An exact description in all its details of the Batn el Hadjar, or the country above M ady Haifa.$