An enquiry into M. Antoine d'Abbadie's journey to Kaffa, in the years 1843 and 1844, to discover the source of the Nile / [Charles T. Beke].

  • Charles Tilstone Beke
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into M. Antoine d'Abbadie's journey to Kaffa, in the years 1843 and 1844, to discover the source of the Nile / [Charles T. Beke]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/68 (page 8)
    who, in conformity with Galla^ customs, would have been sure to retm'd hjs progress with all sorts of obstacles; and even when he^ad managed to get free from these and had reached the ford of A'muru, which (as it will be perceived by the map) lies at a distance of about sixty geographical miles_.:^s^ard from Melka-Furi, he is there occupied in making metei^la gical and other^ experiments, among which that on the patien^ce_ of his exemplary brother must have been far from being the most insignificant. As to the motives for this eccenj^ric course, M, d’Abbadie, as usual, leaves us in the dark.^ But to return. Thofigh we thus possess direct evidence of the presence of M. d’Abbadie at the ford of A^muru on the April, 1844. the precise date of his arrival at that spot is not indicated. But from a desire to afford him all the time possible for his return journey from Enarea to Godjam, it shall be assumed that it was not till the very day on which he made the experiments adverted to that he reached the ford of A'^muru. If, then, we consider the time which he had occupied in performing the direct journey from Baso to Enarea by the caravan road to have been, as stated, “more than two months/’^ we may, with¬ out fear of falling into any material error, assign a similar period, at the least, for his return by the circuitous and unfrequented road from Sakka to the ford of A'muru. Consequently, we may fix the departure of M. d’Abbadie from Enarea, on his way back to Godjam after his second_ captivity, as early as at the begin¬ ning of February, 1844. But on the hypothesis that M. d’Abbadie crossed the Godjeb on his way into Kaffa towards the end of December, 1843, and that he finally quitted Enarea on his return to Godjam in the beginning of February, 1844, there would remain only one^month (that of January) for his stay in Kaffa,—his several months’ labour on the spot in disentangling the elements of the vast basin of the Godjeb,—his return through Djimma-Kaka,—and his ar¬ rival in Enarea and second detention by Abba Bogibo, with its attendant difficulties, and negociations and communications with ‘ See Athen. No. 918, p. 542; Nouv. Ann. 1845, vol. ii. p. 219. M. d’Albkadie says liere—doubtless from an oyersight—that be crossed tbe GodjeFToiiiiLis way to Kaffa ‘Gn the month of December, 1842,’’ in¬ stead of December, 1843 ; and that he crossed the ford of A'muru ‘4n April, 1843,” instead of April, 1844b. But, of course, in an under¬ taking like that of M. d’Abbadie, it is no easy task to remenibex- eye^thing. ^ In a recent communication (see page 32, 2^ost) M. d’Abbadie states that the King of Enarea hastened to send [him] back to Abessinia.” How is this to be reconciled with the facts aboye mentioned ? ^ See page 4, ante.