Chapter III: Arrival at Morzouk (3)

The merchants to whom I suggested the idea, generally agreed with me, that the immense population which is said to exist there, may be thus accounted for. Many of the kafflés from Morocco, Ghadams, Tripoli, and the Negro states along the banks of the Nil, are obliged to remain there during the rainy season, or until their goods are sold. During their stay, they find it necessary to build huts or houses, to shelter themselves and their merchandise. These buildings are got up in a few days; and thus, perhaps, ten or fifteen thousand inhabitants may, in the course of a month, be added to the population, which occasions Tembuctoo to be thought an immense town by those who are only there at the same time as other strangers; but when the causes which detain the travellers cease, the place appears (what in reality it is said to be) insignificant. Thus it is that the accounts of it differ so much.

Kabra, which is its port, is situated south of it about 12 miles, and a person on foot may easily walk to and return from it in a day. It is more properly a collection of store-houses than a town; the few people residing there being employed to take care of the cargoes of vessels. Large boats from Jenne come and unload at this place. The river, called Goulbi or Nil (the former name is Soudan, merely a generic term for all waters, and by no means applicable to the Niger alone), is here very broad, and flows slowly past from the westward. Many people agree in saying, that in the dry season, a camel may pass over it without swimming; but after the rains, it becomes very deep, rapid, and dangerous.

Tembuctoo is governed by a King or Sultan, who has but little power. The people are all blacks, and dress like the natives of many parts of Soudan; the better class in shirts and trowsers, while the poorer order are nearly naked. Gold, cotton clothes, leather, and arms, are the principal manufactures of Tembuctoo and the surrounding villages. Jenne is said to be the place from which gold comes, and is thence called Bledd el Tibbr بلد التبر, or the country of gold.

I could obtain no account of Mr. Park, but every one agreed that it would be quite impossible (the buildings being so small and ill constructed) for him or any other white man to be confined in the town unknown to the traders, who enter every house, not excepting that of the Sultan himself. This, I think, entirely confutes the idea that Mr. Park has been, or is still confined by the Sultan, on account of his skill in surgery; and there is equal reason to doubt his being in existence, which some have supposed. Many Jews trade from Morocco, which, as they differ from the Mohammedans in their customs, has given rise to the report that there are Christians in the country; they are said to be circumcised, eat no pork, kill their animals in a peculiar way, and neither acknowledge Christ nor Mohammed. A nation of these people is said to exist south of Tembuctoo, the language of which place is peculiar to itself,—though Arabic is a little spoken; the people are regarded as good Moslems.

_Language of Tembuctoo._
Man Ahinda.
Woman Afintoo.
Boy Aberry.
Girl Aterry.
Hand Akhood.
Head Agodi.
Iron Azeli.
Eye Aiti.
Ass Ehaid.
Camel Elgimmo.
Goat Egghsi.
Sheep Taili.
Gold Agreef dodi.
Pillow Kote.
Corn Attow.
Tree Esheri.
Wood Esheri.
Water Ami.
Fire Ofi.
God Allah.
House Bactoo.
Town Agherri.
Heaven Engi.
Father Abbi.
Mother Emmi.
Brother Kati.
Sister Aghotoo.
Grandfather Ajeddi.
Friend Sehhi.
I understand Foni.
I do not Mofedi.
Sun Ofitti.
Moon Hitti.
Meat Taasoo.
Flesh Hamo.
Horse Aïs.
Cow Abari.
Sweet Zaidi.
Milk Alebbi.
Mat Boshti.
Carpet Fershit.
Foot Edthi.
Leg Edthair.
Beard Heti.
Nose Hoshti.
River Bori.
Eat Tay.
Drink Ushti.
Walk Kaedodi.
Sleep Auti.
Come Ka.
Go Dodi.
Bad Ferri.
Large Koti.
Small Katch.
Heavy Toozi.
Mouth Fetti.
Light Afi.
Arm Eghrai.
Belly Teddis.
Back Kerri.
Neck Terri.
Nipples Foffi
Fingers Beddi.
I Anikikki.
You Ani looloo.
He Hooti.

Here the intelligence of my informant ceased.

The King of Tembuctoo is an old man, named Kaoo, which, I believe, means governor or master; his wife is an old woman, and he has many concubines. The Sultanship is hereditary.—Tembuctoo is distant from Downa, a large town or district on the banks of the Nil, one day and a half east. Arowan is north of the city seven days, and is a place of consequence. Ezawen is east twenty days, and is also a large town. Taudenny, from whence the large kafflés, who bring rock salt, come annually, is twenty-four days north of Tembuctoo. Telemsen, which is twelve days north of the latter, or indeed half-way to Taudenny, is remarkable for a desert, having no water for ten days; thence called Asherïa. Mabrook is three days north of this place, ten days south of Taudenny, seven days east of Arowan, and eighteen days south of Awlef in Tuat.

Sala is a place three days from Tembuctoo, on the Nil to the eastward.

The Nil, Goulbi, Joliba or Kattagum, runs from Tembuctoo, through Melli in the country of the Fellata; thence to Kebbi, which is three days north of Nooffy: past this place or country, it runs to Yaowri, which is seven days east; from thence to Fendah, a Fellāta country S.W. of Kashna, which latter kingdom it passes at thirteen days south of the capital. It again makes its appearance at Kattagum, four days W.S.W. of the capital of Bornou, where it runs into a lake, called the Tsaad. Beyond this lake, a large river runs through Baghermee, and is called the Gambarro and Kamadakoo; the word Nil being also used for the same stream.—Thus far are we able to trace the Nil, and all other accounts are merely conjectural. All agree, however, that by one route or other, these waters join the great Nile of Egypt, to the southward of Dongola.

Wangara is a place of which we cannot obtain any decided account; it is, however, generally supposed to be a low country, and sometimes inundated. One person states it to be twenty days south of Tembuctoo; another places it south of Kashna; and many even assert, that it is beyond Waday: but it is quite impossible from the varied accounts given of it, to form any idea as to its actual situation, or even existence.

Should there really be three places so called, may it not be probable that it is a general name for marshes and swamps? In the one spoken of behind Tembuctoo, the capital is said to be Battagoo, and is a large town, near which much gold is reported to be found. An invisible nation, according to our informant, inhabit near this place, and are said to trade by night. Those who come to traffic for their gold, lay their merchandise in heaps, and retire. In the morning, they find a certain quantity of gold dust placed against every heap, which, if they think sufficient, they leave the goods; if not, they let both remain until more of the precious ore is added. These traders in gold dust are by many supposed to be devils, who are very fond of red cloth, the favourite article of exchange. I cannot conceive Arabs to be the merchants, for assuredly they would, least of all people, refrain from stealing the gold thus temptingly placed in their view.

Haousa, Soudan or Afnoo, may be comprehended between Kanno, which is four days east of Kashna, and the borders of Tembuctoo. It appears, that the name only extends to the country which runs east and west, near the great river; for Aghades, which is north of Kashna, is not in Soudan: neither is Yemyem, which is south.

Soudan is an Arabic word, signifying the black country; and is also named by them Ber el Abeed بار البيد or “Land of Slaves;” but the natives all agree in calling it Haousa, which has been mistaken for a town. The language of the country, of which I shall give a specimen, is called by the people, “Haousa Tongue.”

Always Koollum.
All Doka.
Afterwards Zoōashan.
Ass Jackee.
Antelope Baraiwa.
Arm Dumsi.
A fly Koodda.
Arrow Kibbia.
Alive Derrai.
Asleep Bershi.
Butter Mai Ferri.
Bad Moogoo.
Bread Korāsa.
Boil Taffasa.
Bucket Googa.
Boy Yaroo.
Bowl Akooshee.
Bring Kaoo.
Bone Kushēe.
Beads Doosi.
Better Yafi.
Burn Jugrinica.
Black Bekki.
Breast Gubba.
Belly Shikki.
Blood Jinni.
Basket Sanfoo.
Before Dowree.
Brother Kani.
Bull Sania.
Bird Soonsoo.
Book Littafi.
Bitter Deddāshi.
Beat Boogga.
Buy Saïya.
Beard Gaymi.
Blue Dafoa.
Brass Jankerfi.
Blacksmith Mekeri.
Bag Jekka.
Box Sandook.
Come Yaka.
Crest of hair Doka.
Cry Ikooka.
Cold Daree.
Corn Elcamma.
Camel Rakomie.
Cow Sania.
Cotton Abdiga.
Copper Jankērfi.
Check Komatoo.
Cat Fatoo.
Country Garee.
Chin Habba.
Clean Fittatai.
Don’t Kaddakai.
Do this Kai.
Drink Isha.
Dance Eewassa.
Drunk Iasha Gheea.
Don’t go Kadda Kattafi.
Don’t cry Kaddakai Kooka.
Day Rana.
Door Kofa.
Dirty Dowda.
Dates Dibino.
Daughter Ia.
Dog Karre.
Die Meteshey.
Date tree Kershemi.
Dry Kaikasusshi.
Deaf Korma.
Eye Iddo.
Ear Koonnēh.
Eggs Koi.
Enough Iaisi.
Earth Kassa.
Eunuch Baba.
Elephant Gheewas.
Eat Ishee.
Fire Oota.
Fear Kai sooro.
Fat Kibba.
Flesh Nāma.
Fingers Fershi.
Fall Yafādi.
Forget Namanshi.
Face Fiska.
Friend Abokee.
Fish Keevi.
Fowl Kazā.
&c. &c.
1 Daya.
2 Bïoo.
3 Okoo.
4 Fooddoo.
5 Bïat.
6 Shidda.
7 Bokkoi.
8 Tokkos.
9 Tara.
10 Goma.
11 Goma shadaya.
&c.
100 Daree.
1000 Doobboo.
From 20 to 100 are as in Arabic:—
Asherin, Thalateen, Erbain, &c.

Bornou is comprehended between Kanno and Baghermee. The people of Waday bring dried fish from a large river to the East of Baghermee to Wara, the capital.

I did not find any one who knew any thing of Solan, Berissa, Tirka, Gana, or Noro. People are said to go constantly from Noofy to the Great Sea, to trade with the Whites, and they even bring back crockery ware, powder, brandy, and arms. One of our informants went so far as to assert, that there were one or two people there who understood the language of the Whites. I must observe, that from Kanno to Zegzeg the road is dry even in winter; but in summer in many places the country is covered with water, which for forty days gives it the appearance of a great lake. Our present informant, an observing man, said that he saw no rivers flowing there; but the water which was “sleeping” came, as he supposed, from the Nil of Kashna. He remained trading in Zegzeg until the inundation was over, and made some great bargains. For seven yards of red cloth, resembling baize, he purchased nine females, three of whom he showed to me; they were grown up girls, and very handsome, taken from Yagooba.