Notes taken during travels in Africa / By the late John Davidson.

  • John Davidson
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes taken during travels in Africa / By the late John Davidson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    came alarmed ; I then got my sword, &c. afterwards gave them snuff: they all smoked my pipe, and whenthat was finished, and I had examined all their eyes, and given many of them medicines, and would not take money for it, I was told I had only to say ‘ Resili Mohammed,’* and go any where. . This was the general wind up, and La’b el Baréd finished the day: and as the evening saw my rooms filled again with these wild men, I was fairly tired out. ; Tuesday, June 14.—Therm. 76°. It felt so cold in the night, that I was obliged to put my cloak over me. Day had hardly dawned, when Aba called me up to write to Mogador: my door was instantly beset by my Damani friends, all asking for He jjam (Physician). The intense curiosity of these people forms a striking contrast to the apathy of the Moors. They, however, overdid the thing, and I was compelled to order them all out. The Sheikhs ’Ali and Hamed then visited me: they said they were the sons of the great Sheikh of Taghakanth, and hoped I would allow them to come in, and they would not sit upon the carpet. From both of these intelligent persons I learnt many particulars respecting the route to Tumbukté. They said they had been fifty days coming from Jennah, but they had often done it in less: the last time they were only forty-four days, allowing for halts; they say there are three roads to Tum- bukté; from hence to Wadd4n twenty-five days; but it can be done in twenty-two with light loads ; from thence to Tishit in thirty-five, if a person were a good traveller, and would go direct to that place, but by Waden he would want rest ; from thence to Walatah ten days, and fifteen from thence to Jennah. The time will be the same by the other route to Tumbukti; from hence to Taudenni twenty-five days, where one must halt ; thence to Arrowan ten days, and stop again ; from thence to Tum- buckté, five or six days; but the whole distance is sometimes performed without. stopping : and this the Sheikh Beirik says I must do for safety. The situation of Tumbukta, as far as I can understand the account given by the Sheikh’s sons, is very different to what is laid down on the map. They gave a flattering account of Hamed Libbé; that he has recovered from all his losses, and has an army of 100,000 men, in good order, and * My prophet is Mahomet. Q
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