Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846 (Volume 1); Containing a Narrative of Personal Adventures, During a Tour of Nine - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848. Excerpt: ... 330 CHAPTER XII. PREPARATIONS FOR GOING TO SOUDAN. His Excellency the Rais questions me on my rumoured Journey to Soudan.--The Devil has in safe keeping all who are not Mahometans.--I am wearing to a Skeleton.--A Caravan of Women. Predestination.--The Shanbah begin their Foray.--The Gardens and their Products.--Varieties of the Date-Palm.--Locusts.--Brigands spare the Property of the Marabout Merchants of Ghadames.--Agricultural Implements in The Desert.--Violent capture of a Souf Caravan by the Governor.--Uses of the Date-Palm.--The Touarghee Bandit's opinion as to Killing Christians.--Combat between an Ant and a Fly.--Loose Phraseology in The Mediterranean.--Harsh Hospitality of the Souafah, and Usurpation over their Oases by the French.--Money disappearing from Ghadames.--The Affair of Messrs. Silva and Levi, and their connexion with Ghadamsee Slave-Dealers.--Visit, with his Excellency the Governor, the Ruins of Kesar-elEnsara "the Castle of the Christians."--Antiquity of Ghadames, and Account of it by Leo Africanus. The 23rd, 24th, and 25th, employed in writing letters. On one of these days the Rais called me to him and asked, " Whether I really intended to go to Soudan, as the people had reported to him V I told him Yes, and that I was already making preparations. His Excellency affected great amazement, and looked exceedingly mysterious, but did not know what to reply. At last he observed, "I must write to Ahmed Effendi of The Mountains, and if he says you may go, all well, if not, you must not go." I then asked the Rais, what I was to do in Ghadames? His Excellency said anxiously, " Stay with me to keep me company. I am surrounded with barbarians. I am weary of my life here." As the Rais spoke what I knew to be the truth, I pitied him and said noth...