Chapter I: Front Matter

_Printed by C. Hullmandel._

RENÉ CAILLIÉ.

_London. Published by Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street._]

=TRAVELS=
THROUGH
CENTRAL AFRICA
TO
=TIMBUCTOO;=
AND
ACROSS THE GREAT DESERT, TO MOROCCO,
PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1824-1828.

BY RENÉ CAILLIÉ.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY,
NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1830.

* * * * *
LONDON:
PRINTED BY G. SCHULZE, 13, POLAND STREET.

ADVERTISEMENT.

* * * * *

Among the geographical problems which, during the last half century, have occupied the attention of the scientific world and awakened a spirit of adventure in enterprizing individuals, has been the existence of a large and populous city in the heart of Central Africa. The solution of this problem appeared to be a subject worthy of the solicitude even of Societies and Governments; and various expeditions have been dispatched at their expense to explore the unknown interior of that continent, with a particular view to the settlement of this long agitated question. In vain, however, have Houghton, Browne, Hornemann, and Park—in vain have their successors, our countrymen, Tuckey, Peddie, Campbell, Gray, Ritchie, Bowdich, Oudney, Clapperton, Denham and Laing—in vain have other European travellers, Burckhardt, Beaufort, Mollien, Belzoni, started from different points of the coast of Africa, animated with the hope of removing the veil which enveloped the mysterious city:—all have either perished or been baffled in the attempt. Of this number Major Laing alone reached the desired goal; but the results of his perseverance and his observations were lost to his country and to the world through the barbarous murder of that officer, and the consequent dispersion of his papers and effects.

Our neighbours, the French, have therefore just ground for exultation in the fact, that what British enterprize, seconded by the liberality of the British government, failed to accomplish, has been achieved by a very humble individual of their nation, and by means of his own slender unassisted resources; and they have certainly a right to boast that M. Caillié, the author of the work here presented to the public, is the first European who has succeeded in the attempt to penetrate to Timbuctoo, and returned, in spite of the perils interposed by the climate and by the still more destructive passions of men, to communicate all the information that circumstances enabled him to collect.

Of the importance of this information the adjudication of a premium of 10,000 francs (upwards of £400 sterling) by the Geographical Society of Paris to the traveller, affords presumptive evidence. When it is considered that, pursuing his course eastward from the French colony on the Senegal, he advanced by way of Kakondy, Kankan, and Timbo, to the distance of two hundred miles beyond Soulimana; that he then proceeded northward through more than one hundred villages to Jenné; that, there embarking on the great river Dhioliba (the Joliba of Mungo Park) he enjoyed the best opportunities for observing its course, its islands, and the extensive lake of Debo, which has afforded matter for so much discussion, during a voyage of nearly a month to Timbuctoo; that he has furnished positive information of high political and commercial interest respecting that city; and that he has proved the practicability of reaching it from the coast of the Mediterranean by traversing the great Desert which girdles Africa, and through which he returned to the territories of Morocco:—when all this is considered, it must be admitted that his merits have not by any means been overrated.

In this country also, which has long taken the lead in the encouragement of geographical discovery, it is fair to presume that the work in which M. Caillié has recorded, in language of unaffected simplicity, the observations made in a journey of 4500 miles, (of which 3000 were through regions either absolutely, or nearly unknown), cannot but possess powerful attractions for every class of readers, whether pursuing the career of trade, of science, or of politics, whether in quest of individual advantage or personal information.

CONTENTS
OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

* * * * *

CHAPTER I.

Page

Pedestrian journey from St. Louis to Neyreh. — Passage to
N’ghiez. — Manners of the inhabitants. — Miraculous
stone. — Departure. — Robbers. — Mode of fishing with
nets. — The steam-vessel. — The author’s arrival among
the Braknas. — Conversation with Mohammed Sidy Moctar, chief
Marabout to the king. — Reception by the king. 21

CHAPTER II.

The author is forced to turn physician. — Distrust of the
Moors. — Description of the camp of King Lam Khaté. —
Schools. — Amusement of the women. 49

CHAPTER III.

Method of cultivating and using millet. — Character of the
Hassanes or warriors. — The Balanites Ægyptiaca, its fruit,
method of extracting oil from it. — Quarrel excited by a
woman. — Manner of protecting oneself from cold in the tents. —
Method of collecting gum. — Marriages of the Marabouts, and of
the Hassanes. — Inheritance of property. — Method of tanning
leather. — Dress of the Moors. 79

CHAPTER IV.

Difficulty in going to market. — Oxen stolen by a neighbouring
tribe. — The Ramadan. — Circumcision. — The feast of
Tabasky. — Gum trade with the Europeans. — Author’s return
to St. Louis. 111

CHAPTER V.

Disappointments experienced at St. Louis. — The author takes up
various occupations. — He departs once more. — Particulars
respecting the environs of Kakondy. — The Nalous, Landamas,
or Lantimas and Bagos. 140

CHAPTER VI.

Departure of the author on his great expedition. — Manners
and customs of his travelling companions, and account of the
caravans in this part of Africa. — The Caura. — Mountains
of Lantégué. — River of Doulinca. — Smelting of iron. —
Rio-Pongo. — Mountain of Touma. — Description of Irnanké
and its inhabitants. — Telewel. — Cataract of Cocouo. —
Orange trees. 168

CHAPTER VII.

Popoco. — Granite mountains. — The Author’s party crosses
the Bâ-fing (the principal tributary of the Senegal) near its
source. — Great cataract. — Fouta-Dhialon. — Langoué. —
Couroufi. — Schools. — Albinos. — Industry of the
inhabitants. — The traveller obliged to turn physician. 191

CHAPTER VIII.

Bridge over the Tankisso. — Departure for the Kankan. —
Description of Fouta-Dhialon. — Character, manners and customs
of the Foulahs. — Country of Kankan-Fodéa. — Butter-tree. —
Course of the Dhioliba. — Countries of Couranco, Sangaran, and
Kissi-kissi. — Mandingo marriages. — River of Bandiégué. —
Bagaraya. — Saraya. — Bacocouda. — Warlike dances. 218

CHAPTER IX.

Description of Baléya. — Arrival on the banks of the
Dhioliba. — Courouassa. — Sambarala. — Bouré, a mountainous
country, rich in gold. — Crossing the Dhioliba. — The
river Yendan. — Kankan. — Description of the town. — The
market. — Gold of Bouré. — A religious festival. — Ordeal
of fire. — Critical situation of the traveller. — Diseases
of the country. 245

CHAPTER X.

Further account of Kankan and its environs. — Council of
elders. — State of trade, and civilization. — Kissi. —
Bouré. — Trade between Bouré and Bamako, Yamina, Ségo,
Sansanding, and Jenné. — Working of gold mines. —
Establishment of Bamako. — Passage of the Milo, and several
other tributary rivers of the Dhioliba. 280

CHAPTER XI.

Wassoulo. — Manners and customs of the inhabitants. —
Flourishing state of agricultural industry. — Hospitality. —
Kankary. — Sambatikila. — Reflections on the sale of
slaves. — Scarcity. — Description of the residence of the
Almamy. — Commerce. — Smith’s work. — Bambara villages. —
Arrival at Timé. — Ranges of mountains. 301

CHAPTER XII.

Abode at Timé. — Weekly market. — The traveller falls
seriously ill of the scurvy. — Is nursed by a negress. —
Rainy season. — The author prevented from joining the caravan
departing for Jenné. — Fertility of the neighbourhood of
Timé. — Desperate condition of the traveller. — His recovery
after four months’ illness. — Description of a funeral. 321

CHAPTER XIII.

Description of Timé and its environs. — Character, manners,
and customs of the inhabitants. — Period of circumcision for
males, and excision for females. — Manufactures, trade, and
agriculture. — Indigenous plants. — Diseases. 345

CHAPTER XIV.

Departure from Timé, January 9th, 1829. — The name of Kong,
applied by Mungo Park to a chain of mountains, is a generic
term. — Use of bells in caravans. — Loubakho. — Cacoron. —
Dancing and music of the Bambaras. — Sananso. — Dhio. —
The oil palm-tree. — Talé. — Customs of the inhabitants. —
Borandou. — Grotesque mask. — Tangrera. 361

CHAPTER XV.

Cultivation of tobacco. — Tangrera. — Fara. — Bangaro. —
Itinerant musicians. — Débéna. — Tiara. — Part of the
caravan proceeds to Sansanding. — Beehives. — Siracana. —
The Bagoé, a navigable river. — The Lous. — Bandiarana. —
Bridge over the Koua. 385

CHAPTER XVI.

Oulasso. — Facibrisso. — Toumané. — Implements of
husbandry. — Couara. — Koraba. — Douasso. — Kong. —
Baunan. — Garo. — Forges. — Nibakhasso. 408

CHAPTER XVII.

Dwarf cotton. — Coloni. — The Iolas, a Foulah tribe. —
Bancousso. — Carabara. — Marshes. — Ropes made of the
hibiscus. — Brick-making. — Construction of houses. —
Kerina. — Foudouca. — Medina. — Lotus bread. —
Touma-dioman. — Manianan. — Arrival at Galia on the banks of
the Dhioliba, opposite to Jenné. 423

CHAPTER XVIII.

Crossing the Dhioliba. — Abode at Jenné. — Description of the
town. — Manners and customs of the inhabitants. — Trade. —
English and French goods. — Buildings. — Population. —
Schools. — Religion. — Food and clothing. — Geographical
details. — Course of the river. — The Massina. — Residence
of the sherif of Jenné. — A dinner. — Use of tea, sugar
and porcelain. — Preparations for the Author’s departure
for Timbuctoo. 443