The Ancient Name Of This River Was Daradus.
The Territory Around Is Not Very Fertile On Account Of The Neighbourhood
Of The Desert, But Produces Gum, Wax, And Ostrich Feathers In Abundance.
The Inhabitants Are Mostly Arabs With A Sprinkling Of Shelouh, Estimated
By Graeberg [35] At 2,000.
The population is somewhat thickly scattered;
there are at least twenty villages between the district of Stuka and
Wadnoun.
The annexed is a sketch of Wadnoun after the design left by Mr.
Davidson.
[Illustration]
Wadnoun is an important rendezvous of caravans. Many Timbuctoo caravans
break up here, and some Saharan. Several Saharan merchants come no
further north, disposing of their slaves and goods to Maroquine
merchants, who meet them in this place.
It is safe travelling through these countries, provided no extraordinary
plot be laid for taking away a traveller's life, as in the case of
European explorers attempting to penetrate the interior. Mr. Treppass
thinks that, notwithstanding the ill-will of the Moorish Government,
Davidson could have succeeded in his attempted journey to Timbuctoo had
he been more circumspect. He gave out to all persons whom he met that he
was going to Timbuctoo. This insured his being stopped and murdered _en
route_ by some party or other, more especially as he at last abandonod
the idea of protecting himself by a caravan-party, and started alone.
But I am not altogether of this opinion. Too much publicity is certainly
injurious to a journey of discovery, and far and near awakens attention
and suspicion; but a too sudden and unexpected appearance in the towns
of the Desert, equally excites distrust and suspicion, if not hostile
feelings.
Mr. Robertson, whilst at Morocco, heard one of the numerous versions of
the death of Mr. Davidson. He is said to have been killed by the mere
freak of a young Arab, who wished to have the pleasure of killing a
Christian, and who called out to his companions, "Come, let us go and
have a shot at the Christian." The party of Arabs to whom this
mischievous young man belonged, was afterwards extremely grieved at what
had been done. One of the Arabs, in plundering the baggage, lost his
hand by breaking a bottle containing aqua fortis. The glass cut a large
gash, and the aqua fortis entering immediately, consumed the hand. The
people cried out, "The devils of the Christian are in the water!" From
all I have heard, the great fault of Davidson appears to have been his
wishing to travel as like "a fine gentleman." This prejudiced all his
travelling-companions against him, and could not fail to render him
unpopular wherever he went.
It is of no use for a man to cry out in the Desert, "I am an
Englishman!" he must exclaim, "I am an Arab, and will do and suffer like
an Arab." If any one were to ask me, "What would carry a roan to
Timbuctoo through the Desert? is it courage, or money, or prudence?" I
would reply, "The first thing is suffering, the second is suffering, and
the last is suffering." [36] I consulted an old man on this journey to
Timbuctoo.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 90 of 102
Words from 46223 to 46751
of 52536
