The Albert N'Yanza, Great Basin of the Nile - Samuel White Baker (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📗

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THE FUNERAL DANCE.

 

A Funeral Dance—Bari Interpreters—Commoro, the Lion—Conversation

with Commoro—“Where will the Spirit live?”—“Good and bad all die”—

Failure of the religious Argument—Further Conversation—The Camel

poisoned—Habits of the Camel—Camel’s peculiar Constitution—The

Hygeen, or riding Dromedary—Loss of Camel a Misfortune—Dirty Donkeys

 

CHAPTER VII.

 

LATOOKA.

 

Herds of the Latookas and Game—Storm—Effects of Rain upon Natives—

Native Blacksmiths—Their Tools—Elephants—Elephant Hunt—Tetel, my

old Hunter—Charged by a herd of Elephants—Cowardly Followers—Track

the wounded Elephant—Nearly caught—Tetel distressed—Return to Camp

—African and Indian Elephants—Height of Elephants—Food of Elephants

—African and Ceylon Elephants—Difference in Formation of Brain—

Rifles and Bullets for heavy Game—Character of Country and its Sports

—The “Baby”—Method of killing Elephants—Elephant Pitfalls—

Circling them with Fire—Native Hunting—The Bagara Hunters—Danger

of Elephant Hunting

 

CHAPTER VIII.

 

IBRAHIM’s RETURN.

 

The African Black—Comparison between Whites and Blacks—Varieties in

Creation—The Negro—Character of the Negro-Originated African Slave

System—Indisposition to Work—Negro Slave Hunters—Ibrahimawa; or,

Sinbad the Sailor—Makkarika Cannibals—My daily Employments—

Quarrels with the Latookas—Parley with Latooka Chiefs—The Latookas

seize a Gun—Helplessness in an Advance—Hope to the South—Journey

to Obbo—Uncomfortable Night—Enter the Mountains—Beautiful Scenery

—Arrive at Obbo—Natives of Obbo—Butter Nuts and Fruits—Pottery

and Utensils—Natural Features of Obbo—Katchiba, Chief of Obbo—

Entertained with a Dance—Women of Obbo—Languages of Tribes—

Katchiba’s Diplomacy—Katchiba “always at Home”—Family Government—

The great Magician—Reconnaissance to the South—Mrs. Baker’s Dwelling

—An Upset—Loss of Filfil—My Bivouac—Ceremony of Welcome at

Farajoke—Elevated Country at Farajoke—Stopped by the Asua—Return

to Obbo—Gallantry of Katchiba—Katchiba determines to ride—First

Attempts at Horsemanship—Recover the lost Horse—Ceremony at parting

with Katchiba—Return to Latooka—Discovery of supposed Yams—Beware

of Botanists—Baboons—The Maharif Antelope—The Giraffe—Hunting

Giraffes—Unsuccessful Hunt—Benighted—Regain the Party—

Bread-baking on the March—Sickness; Smallpox—Wani, the Interpreter

—First Clue to the Lake—Brown Men are called White

 

CHAPTER IX.

 

THE TURKS ATTACK KAYALA.

 

The “Pleasant Robber” killed—Division of the Spoil—Discord among the

Natives—The Life of Women spared in War—Scarcity of Salt, among the

Latookas—Another Cause of Alarm—The Turks murder a Native—Country

disturbed—Good Sport—Two Thieves—Ibrahimawa’s Reminiscences of

England—Party recalled to Obbo—White Ants—Destructiveness of Birds

—Cattle Stealers at Night—A Thief shot—My Wife ill with Fever—

March to Obbo—Great Puff Adder—Poison-fangs of Snakes—Violent

Storm—Arrive again at Obbo—Hostility caused by the Turks—The M.D.

attends us—Death of “Mouse”—Marauding Expedition—Saat becomes

scientific—Saat and Gaddum Her—Will England suppress the Slave

Trade?—Filthy Customs of the Natives—The Egyptian Scarabaeus—

Bacheeta, the Unyoro Slave—Intelligence of the Lake—Its probable

Commercial Advantages—Commerce with the Interior—Obbo the Clothing

Frontier—Death of my last Camel—Excellent Species of Gourd—A

Morning Call in Obbo—Katchiba’s Musical Accomplishments—Loss of

remaining Donkey—Deceived by the Turks—Fever—Symptoms—Dismal

Prospect, “Coming Events,” &c.

 

CHAPTER X.

 

LIFE AT OBBO.

 

Physician in General—Influence gained over the People—Katchiba is

applied to for Rain—“Are you a Rainmaker?”—Katchiba takes Counsel’s

Opinion—Successful Case—Night-watch for Elephants—Elephant killed

—Dimensions of the Elephant—Wild Boars—Start for the South—Mrs.

Baker thrown from her Ox—The Asua River—Stalking Mehedehet Antelope

—A Prairie Fire—Tracking an Antelope—Turks’ Standard-bearer killed

—Arrival at Shooa—The Neighbourhood of Shooa—Fruitfulness of Shooa

—Cultivation and Granaries—Absconding of Obbo Porters—“Wheels

within Wheels”—Difficulty in starting South—Departure from Shooa—

Fatiko Levee—Boundless Prairies—Fire the Prairies—Deceit of the

Guide—Arrive at the Victoria Nile—Arrive at Rionga’s Country—Start

for Karuma—The Karuma Falls—Welcome by Kamrasi’s People—Passage of

the River forbidden—To await Reply of Kamrasi—The Natives’ Dread of

Kamrasi—They hold a Conference—Resolve to cross the River alone—

The Ferry of Atada—Reception by Keedja—I lull the Suspicions of the

Natives—Appellations of Speke and Grant—Freemasonry of Unyoro—

Native Curiosity—The Bark Cloth of Unyoro—Comparative Civilization

of Unyoros—Native Pottery—The Bottle Gourds used as Models—“Great

Men never in a Hurry to pay Visits”—Pronounced to be Speke’s Brother—

The Escort cross the River—Neatness of the Natives in packing—Native

Manufactures—March parallel with the Victoria Nile—Severe Illness of

Mrs. Baker—March to the Capital—Kamrasi suspects Treachery—Arrive

at last at the Capital—Imprisoned on the Marsh—Expectation of an

Attack—Kamrasi makes a State Visit—Conversation with the King—His

Reception of my Presents—Another Interview with Kamrasi—Exchange

Blood and become Friends—Avarice of the King—Permitted to leave our

Fever-bed—Ibrahim and Party return North—Sulkiness of Bacheeta—

Attempt to barter for Speke’s Rifle—Rapacity of the Chiefs.

 

CHAPTER XI.

 

THE START FOR THE LAKE.

 

Despicable Conduct of the King—Pertinacity of Kamrasi—Kamrasi’s

Infamous Proposal—Resentment of the King’s Insolence—The King’s

Apology—Expectation of a Fight—Kamrasi’s Satanic Escort—The Rout

at a Gun-shot—A disagreeable Escort—Passage of the Kafoor—Mrs.

Baker receives a Sun-stroke—Dismissal of the brutal Escort—Misery

and Distress—Return to Consciousness, but afflicted with Brain-fever

 

CHAPTER XII.

 

RECOVERED.

 

The Sugarcane indigenous—Unyoro People clean Feeders—Close to the

Lake—Discovery of the Albert N’yanza—Gratitude to Providence—

Denominate it “The Albert N’yanza”—Fishing Tackle—The Lake declared

to be the Sea—Feast in honour of the Discovery—Survey of the Lake—

Geography of the Lake—Countries bordering the Lake—The Great Basin

of the Nile—Sources of the Nile—Affluents of the Albert Lake—Our

whole party Fever-stricken—Yearning for Home—Arrange Canoes for Lake

Voyage—Start from Vacovia—Voyage upon the Lake—Shore Encampment—

Deserted by the Boatmen—No Pilot—Endeavour to civilize the Canoes—

Adapt a Scotch Plaid for a Sail—Natives volunteer as Boatmen—Storm

on the Lake—Nearly swamped—Land safely on Shore—Falls of the

Kaiigiri River—Shoot a Crocodile—Taste of Crocodile Flesh—

Discomforts of Lake Voyage—Elephants in the Lake—Inhospitable

Natives—Procure Supplies—The Lake changes its character—Arrival at

Magungo—Embouchure of the Somerset River—Fish and Fishing—The

Baggera and Lepidosiren Annecteus—Native Fishing Arrangements—Exit

of the Nile from the Lake—Nile navigable from Lake to Madi—The

Victoria Nile at Magungo—Determination to settle Nile Question—Nobly

seconded by Mrs. Baker—Leave Magungo—Voyage up the Victoria Nile—

Stricken again with Fever—Guided by Waterplants—Numerous Crocodiles

—The Murchison Falls—Hippopotamus charges the Canoe—Narrow Escape

from Crocodiles—Arrival of Oxen, but not the Guide—Loss of Oxen from

Fly-bite—Sickness on the March—The Island of Patooan—Information

about Ibrahim—Difference in the Level—Difference in Observations—

Altitudes

 

CHAPTER XIII.

 

TREACHEROUS DESIGNS OF THE NATIVES.

 

Confined in the Country—Determine to proceed—Deserted by the Natives

—Discovery of a “Tullaboon” Granary—Misery at Shooa Moru—Hard Fare

—Preparation for Death—Kamrasi’s Tactics—The Bait takes—We are

carried to the King’s Camp—Rejoin the Turks’ Detachment—Their

Welcome—Kamrasi seeks my Alliance—Deception of Kamrasi—M’Gambi has

impersonated the King—The real Kamrasi—Prefer seeing Meat to a King

—The begging Envoy—Carried to the Camp of Kamrasi—Introduction to

the real King—Description of Kamrasi—The Native Court

 

CHAPTER XIV.

 

AT HOME IN KISOONA.

 

System of Fattening—Native Preparations of Food—Native Manufactures

—Knavery of Native Butter-dealers—Vapour Bath for Fever—State Visit

from the King—Mendicancy again—The King in love with a Tooth-comb—

Effect of concave Mirror—Attempts at Ancient History—Kamrasi’s

Request—Kamrasi affronted—Sudden Invasion of the Country—Alarm and

Cowardice of Kamrasi—The British Flag protects Unyoro—Diplomatic

Arrangement—Conference with Debono’s Party—Settle authoritatively

all Objections—Retreat of the Invaders.

 

CHAPTER XV.

 

KAMRASI BEGS FOR THE BRITISH FLAG.

 

The pertinacious Beggar—Summary Justice for High Treason—Arrival of

Ivory for the Turks—Frightful Barbarities upon Captives—The Female

Captives—Treacherous Murder of Sali—Disputes with Kamrasi—Advice

to Kamrasi—The Turks begin to bully—Eddrees refused Admittance at

Court—Communicate with Ibrahim—Drunkenness among the Unyoros—

Native Sorcerers—Implicit Belief in Sorcerers—Invasion of the M’Was

—Consulted by the King in the Extremity—Kamrasi will not Fight—An

invigorating little Difficulty—Mock Valour by Unyoros—Kamrasi’s

Retreat—We are Deserted—Prepare for Retreat—Leave Kisoona—Arrive

at Deang—No Water—Deserted again by the Porters—Richarn missing—

Richarn reported as killed—The M’Was’ Drums beat—March to Foweera—

The Night Retreat—Lose the Road—At a Loss for direct Route—Capture

a Native—Recover the Route—Exhaustion of Mrs. Baker—Arrive at

Foweera—Well prepared—Refuse to assist Kamrasi—Richarn’s Return—

Richarn’s Story—The King in Distress—Arrival of Ibrahim with

Reinforcements—Receive Letters and Papers from Home—Kamrasi “is

himself again”—Invasion of the Langgo Country—The Whisky Distillery

—Kamrasi tries the Whisky—Butcheries by Kamrasi—Kamrasi orders the

Murder of Kalloe—Attempt to save Kalloe—Pursuit and Capture of Kalloe

—I intercede on his behalf—Death of a Headman—Shot by order of

Kamrasi—The Warning—The Bodyguard

 

CHAPTER XVI.

 

KAMRASI’S ADIEU,

 

Begging to the last—We quit Kamrasi’s Territory—March to Shooa—

Arrive at Shooa—The Lira Tribe—Resemblance of Natives’ and Lawyers’

Wigs—Result of the Turks’ Razzias—Loss of Cattle by the Turks—The

Fight with Werdella—Courage of Werdella—Werdella defeats the Turks—

Murder of a Native—Runaway slaves recaptured—Brutality of the Turks

—Little Abbai—The Children of the Camp—Pleasant Time with the

Children—Shoot a Crocodile—The Black Rhinoceros—The Lira

Headdress—Native Use of Donkeys

 

CHAPTER XVII.

 

THE NATIVES IN MOURNING.

 

Results of the Ivory Campaign—Preparations for starting Homeward—

Part regretfully with the Children—The Traveller’s Tree—View of the

Nile—Koshi and Madi—Gebel Kookoo—On Speke and Grant’s Route—

Changes in the Nile—The Asua River—Suspicious Movements of the

Natives—Attacked in the Pass—Night in a hostile Country—Camp

surrounded by Natives—Poisoned Arrows shot into Camp—Sight Belignan

—Approach Gondokoro—Arrive at Gondokoro—Neither Letters nor

Supplies—Disappointment.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

 

THE LATEST NEWS FROM KHARTOUM.

 

Intelligence from Khartoum—Retreat of the Slaves—Influence gained

over Traders’ People—Sail from Gondokoro—The Nile cleared of its

Mystery—The Victoria Source—Ptolemy’s Theory—Rainfall—Affluents

of the White Nile—Action of the Abyssinian Rivers—Colonization

impossible—Slavery the Curse of Africa—Impotence of European Consuls

—Impossibility of convicting a Trader—Central Africa opened to

Navigation—Tribes of Central Africa—Vestiges of a Pre-Adamite

Creation—Geological Formation—Hypothesis of Equatorial Lakes—Sir

Roderick Murchison’s Theories confirmed—Sir Roderick Murchison’s

Address

 

CHAPTER XIX.

 

THE BLACK ANTELOPE.

 

Antelope shooting—Arrive at Junction of Bahr el Gazal—Arrive at the

Nile Dam—Character of the Obstruction—Passage through the Dam—The

Plague breaks out—Saat smitten by the Plague—Entertained by Osman

Bey—Saat dies—Burial of Saat—Arrival at Khartoum—Albert Lake

Reservoir of Nile—Destruction by the Plague—A Darkness that might be

felt—Horrible Slave Cargo—Meet with Mahommed Her—Mahommed Her

punished—Nearly wrecked—Stranded among Cataracts—Clear the Danger

—Start from Berber to Souakim—A Row in the Desert—Combat with the

Arabs—“Bravo, Zeneb!”—Disarm the Arabs—Cross the Mountains—First

View of the Sea—Souakim—Arrival at Suez—Farewell to Africa—

Exertions appreciated

 

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

 

General Map of Country, Nile Basin

Arms and Instruments of various Tribes

Nuehr Natives coming to the Boats

Joctian, Chief of the Nuehr Tribe

Chief of Kytch and Daughter

Starving boy of Kytch Tribe begging

The Boys who have begged

A Homestead of the Bari Tribe-The usual Attitudes of the Men

Legge the Chief

Commoro running to the Fight

Bokke-Wife of Moy, Chief of Latooka

Drake’s Head

Crimson-headed Spur-winged Goose

The Latooka Funeral Dance

Latooka Blacksmiths

The last Charge

Headdress of Obbo (1) and Shoggo (2)

Women of Obbo

Katchiba’s eldest Son

Katchiba and his Hebe on a Journey

Overhauling the Giraffes

The Obbo War Dance

Mehedehet Antelope

Natives of Lira (1) and Madi (2) in the Camp at Shooa

My Examination by the Chiefs on entering Unyoro-Resolved,

that I am Speke’s Brother

The Start from the M’rooli for the Lake with Kamrasi’s Satanic

Escort

The Storm on the Albert Lake

The Baggera

Lepidosiren Annecteus

The Murchison Falls, about 120 ft. high from the Victoria Nile

or Somerset River to the Level of the Albert Lake

The Welcome on our Return to the Camp at Shooa

Head of Black Rhinoceros

The Chief of the Lira Tribe

Skirmish with the Natives

 

INTRODUCTION.

 

The primary object of geographical exploration is the opening to general

intercourse such portions of the earth as may become serviceable to the

human race. The explorer is the precursor of the colonist; and the

colonist is the human instrument by which the great work must be

constructed—that greatest and most difficult of all undertakings—the

civilization of the world.

 

The progress of civilization depends upon geographical position. The

surface of the earth presents certain facilities and obstacles to

general access; those points that are easily attainable must always

enjoy a superior civilization to those that are remote from association

with the world.

 

We may thus assume that the advance of civilization is dependent upon

facility of transport. Countries naturally excluded from communication

may, through the ingenuity of man, be rendered accessible; the natural

productions of those lands may be transported to the seacoast in

exchange for foreign commodities; and commerce, thus instituted, becomes

the pioneer of civilization.

 

England, the great chief of the commercial world, possesses a power that

enforces a grave responsibility. She has the force to civilize. She is

the natural colonizer of the world. In the short space of three

centuries, America, sprung from her loins, has become a giant offspring,

a new era in the history of the human race, a new birth whose future

must be overwhelming. Of later date, and still more rapid in

development, Australia rises, a triumphant proof of England’s power to

rescue wild lands from barrenness; to wrest from utter savagedom those

mighty tracts of the earth’s