Transcriber's note:

“Gibraltar, Sept. 16,1835.“My Dear Sir,—The advice I thought it my duty to give you was undoubtedly dictated by political reasons, which, although they may not in European States interfere with projects purely scientific, such as that of your gallant enterprize, appear to be of a widely different kind in Marocco.“I gave the advice after mature consideration, and with an ardent desire for the success of your undertaking, in which I take a peculiar interest.“I told you, I believe—but if not, I may now assure you—that I should probably save myself considerable trouble by taking immediately the step you wish, notwithstanding my advice and the reasons for it which I laid open to you in unreserved confidence, which I considered due to you as the bearer of a letter from his Majesty in furtherance of your object. I felt also the full weight of the responsibility I took upon myself in proposing some delay previous to your setting out upon the journey, and Iwas well aware how much I should expose myself to the obloquy of society in general, and to the injurious criticism in particular of the literary world, of which, although I can hardly presume to consider myself a member, there is not an individual more zealous than I am, and ever have been, in the cause of geographical enquiry. I felt that it is impossible, and would remain for a long time impossible, to exculpate myself, by publishing reasons that I am not at liberty to divulge, and which cannot, without going into long and difficult details, be rendered intelligible, except to thevery fewintimately acquainted with all the circumstances of my official position, the relations of our government with that of Marocco, and the peculiar character of the latter.“But since you tell me that you are still decided in your own views of the matter, not only after duly considering the advice I gave, and the conversation you had with his Excellency the Governor, but after what you heard from Mr. Judah Benoliel, the agent for the Sultán of Marocco; and as you give me the distinct assurance that you take all the responsibility of failure upon your own shoulders, I shall not lose a day in complying with your request for me to write to the Court of Marocco, for permission to present in person to the Sultán the royal letter, of which you are the bearer, when and where his Imperial Majesty shall think fit to appoint.“I leave Gibraltar, if the wind is fair, the day after to-morrow, and would go sooner if I could; and before I have been twenty-four hours in Tangier, I hope to have a letter dispatched to the effect you suggest.“I beg to repeat, my dear sir, that you will be a welcome guest in my house at any time; and whenever you do come, nothing shall be wanting on my part to promote your brave purpose, as far as my sense of what is politic may allow.“I may get an answer within a fortnight from the date of my letter to the court; three weeks may, however, elapse before I receive a reply. On the very day it comes to hand I will, if you wish it, dispatch a boatexpress, in case there are no other means of communicating the answer, which will be sent to you in the original Arabic.“With renewed assurances of my admiration for your enterprize, and of cordial wishes for its success,“I remain, dear sir, your’s faithfully,“E. D. Hay.”“P.S.—Before I seal this letter I shall read it to his Excellency Sir Alexander Woodford and Mr. Judah Benoliel.”

“Gibraltar, Sept. 16,1835.

“My Dear Sir,—The advice I thought it my duty to give you was undoubtedly dictated by political reasons, which, although they may not in European States interfere with projects purely scientific, such as that of your gallant enterprize, appear to be of a widely different kind in Marocco.

“I gave the advice after mature consideration, and with an ardent desire for the success of your undertaking, in which I take a peculiar interest.

“I told you, I believe—but if not, I may now assure you—that I should probably save myself considerable trouble by taking immediately the step you wish, notwithstanding my advice and the reasons for it which I laid open to you in unreserved confidence, which I considered due to you as the bearer of a letter from his Majesty in furtherance of your object. I felt also the full weight of the responsibility I took upon myself in proposing some delay previous to your setting out upon the journey, and Iwas well aware how much I should expose myself to the obloquy of society in general, and to the injurious criticism in particular of the literary world, of which, although I can hardly presume to consider myself a member, there is not an individual more zealous than I am, and ever have been, in the cause of geographical enquiry. I felt that it is impossible, and would remain for a long time impossible, to exculpate myself, by publishing reasons that I am not at liberty to divulge, and which cannot, without going into long and difficult details, be rendered intelligible, except to thevery fewintimately acquainted with all the circumstances of my official position, the relations of our government with that of Marocco, and the peculiar character of the latter.

“But since you tell me that you are still decided in your own views of the matter, not only after duly considering the advice I gave, and the conversation you had with his Excellency the Governor, but after what you heard from Mr. Judah Benoliel, the agent for the Sultán of Marocco; and as you give me the distinct assurance that you take all the responsibility of failure upon your own shoulders, I shall not lose a day in complying with your request for me to write to the Court of Marocco, for permission to present in person to the Sultán the royal letter, of which you are the bearer, when and where his Imperial Majesty shall think fit to appoint.

“I leave Gibraltar, if the wind is fair, the day after to-morrow, and would go sooner if I could; and before I have been twenty-four hours in Tangier, I hope to have a letter dispatched to the effect you suggest.

“I beg to repeat, my dear sir, that you will be a welcome guest in my house at any time; and whenever you do come, nothing shall be wanting on my part to promote your brave purpose, as far as my sense of what is politic may allow.

“I may get an answer within a fortnight from the date of my letter to the court; three weeks may, however, elapse before I receive a reply. On the very day it comes to hand I will, if you wish it, dispatch a boatexpress, in case there are no other means of communicating the answer, which will be sent to you in the original Arabic.

“With renewed assurances of my admiration for your enterprize, and of cordial wishes for its success,

“I remain, dear sir, your’s faithfully,

“E. D. Hay.”

“P.S.—Before I seal this letter I shall read it to his Excellency Sir Alexander Woodford and Mr. Judah Benoliel.”

To the preceding Mr. Davidson gave the reply following:—

“Gibraltar, Sept. 16,1835.“My Dear Sir,—Pray accept my best thanks for your letter, which I have just had the honor of receiving, and allow me to assure you that I shall ever most gratefully appreciate the kindness with which it teems.“I presume you are aware that a Mr. Hodgson, who leaves this place to-morrow, is on his way to Morocco on a mission from the United States. He has kindly offered, should I obtain the wished-for permission, to wait a few days here ere he proceeds. I think it right, and I hope you will not think it intrusive on my part to inform you, that Mr. Hodgson was three years at Constantinople, has visited Egypt, and published a biographical sketch of Mehemet Ali; he is well versed in Arabic, and has a great knowledge of the Mussulman character. Once again offering you my thanks for your kindness, and assuring you of my respect, believe me,“My dear sir, your truly obliged,“John Davidson.”

“Gibraltar, Sept. 16,1835.

“My Dear Sir,—Pray accept my best thanks for your letter, which I have just had the honor of receiving, and allow me to assure you that I shall ever most gratefully appreciate the kindness with which it teems.

“I presume you are aware that a Mr. Hodgson, who leaves this place to-morrow, is on his way to Morocco on a mission from the United States. He has kindly offered, should I obtain the wished-for permission, to wait a few days here ere he proceeds. I think it right, and I hope you will not think it intrusive on my part to inform you, that Mr. Hodgson was three years at Constantinople, has visited Egypt, and published a biographical sketch of Mehemet Ali; he is well versed in Arabic, and has a great knowledge of the Mussulman character. Once again offering you my thanks for your kindness, and assuring you of my respect, believe me,

“My dear sir, your truly obliged,

“John Davidson.”

As a specimen of the style in which a correspondence is kept up by the Court of Morocco with strangers, the letters from and to Mr. Hay relating to Mr. Davidson’s entrance into the Sultan’s dominions, and his obtaining a personal interview with the Prince, are herewith subjoined.

“To the Noble Prince, exalted by the Lord, Mulai Abd Errachnan ben Hussein, whom God protect.“An English gentleman having arrived at Gibraltar within a few days past, as bearer of a letter, which he is charged to deliver to his Imperial Majesty, from the King my most gracious sovereign, may it please your Imperial Majesty to deign to cause me to be informed when and where it may be convenient for your Imperial Majesty to receive the bearer of the royal letter.“Peace—this 20th day of September, in the year of Christ 1835 (26th Joomad the 1st, 1251).“Edw. Drummond Hay,“H. B. M.’s Agent and Consul-General in Morocco.”

“To the Noble Prince, exalted by the Lord, Mulai Abd Errachnan ben Hussein, whom God protect.

“An English gentleman having arrived at Gibraltar within a few days past, as bearer of a letter, which he is charged to deliver to his Imperial Majesty, from the King my most gracious sovereign, may it please your Imperial Majesty to deign to cause me to be informed when and where it may be convenient for your Imperial Majesty to receive the bearer of the royal letter.

“Peace—this 20th day of September, in the year of Christ 1835 (26th Joomad the 1st, 1251).

“Edw. Drummond Hay,

“H. B. M.’s Agent and Consul-General in Morocco.”

“In the name of the merciful God, and there is no power or strength but in God the high and excellent.“To the faithful employed Drummond Hay, Consul for the English nation—this premised—“Your letter has reached our presence, exalted of God, regarding the gentleman who arrived at Gibraltar with a letter from the Pre-eminent of your nation; in consequence whereof, if he please to deliver the letter to our employed, the kaid............[202]Essedy, for the purpose of being forwarded to our presence, exalted of God, he may do so; but if he wish to bear it himself, he is to proceed to Swerrah by sea, and thence he may come to our high presence, since the voyage by sea is more convenient than that by land, and the journey from the said port to our presence is short.“Peace—11th Joomad the 2d, 1251 (4th October, 1835).

“In the name of the merciful God, and there is no power or strength but in God the high and excellent.

“To the faithful employed Drummond Hay, Consul for the English nation—this premised—

“Your letter has reached our presence, exalted of God, regarding the gentleman who arrived at Gibraltar with a letter from the Pre-eminent of your nation; in consequence whereof, if he please to deliver the letter to our employed, the kaid............[202]Essedy, for the purpose of being forwarded to our presence, exalted of God, he may do so; but if he wish to bear it himself, he is to proceed to Swerrah by sea, and thence he may come to our high presence, since the voyage by sea is more convenient than that by land, and the journey from the said port to our presence is short.

“Peace—11th Joomad the 2d, 1251 (4th October, 1835).

THE END.

LONDON:Printed byJ. L. CoxandSons, 75, Great Queen Street,Lincoln’s-Inn Fields.

FOOTNOTES:[127]For the notes at the foot of the page, the Foreign Secretary is answerable.[128]Vol. vi. p. 102, and which is reprinted at page 208 of this volume.[129]Tanjah.[130]Adwár, plural of dár, a circular tent.[131]Autád plural of Watad, a peg or stake. Autád is corruptly pronounced Útséd or Útsét.[132]Wádí Nun, or Núl, the valley or river of Noon or Nool.[133]Rabát,i.e.Resting-place, Caravan-seraï; but here the name of a town.—F. S.[134]Terjumán, or Tarjumán, interpreter, a word of the same origin as the Chaldee, ‘Targum.’[135]The Kubbah (sepulchral chapel) of a saint named Múláï (Doctor) Ibn ’Abdes-salám.[136]Mehedíyah (the city of Mehed).[137]Salá.[138]Wedáyá (valley-man.)[139]Dár el beïdá, the white house.[140]Múlaï Abd-er-rahmán, Duke or Prince Abd-er-rahmán.[141]Azamúr.[142]Umm-er-rabí,i.e.the mother of spring.[143]Kantarah,i.e.bridge.[144]Baïrám, or ’Id ed Dohá.[145]Aswák, plural of Sók, or Súk, the Arab word for market—bazár in Persian.[146]Meshwár, Council.[147]Sídí Ibn ’Abbás, ’Abd el kádir, Abú Sheĭb, Mubàrek.[148]Aulád Abú Sebá, the tribe of Father Lion.[149]Tárúdánt, capital of Sús.[150]May we be allowed to lament the impetuosity of our lamented traveller’s zeal. At Téródánt he would, for a considerable time, have had ample occupation for every leisure moment. In a country known only by name, abounding with vegetables and fossils never yet examined, and in the midst of the Berbers, whose history and habits so few have been able to study, supported also by the favour of the Court, how largely might Mr. Davidson have increased our stores of knowledge, had he been willing to yield to the Sultán’s precautions![151]This is doubtless a mistake, unless the Jews call the place Umm-Síwah. The man did not understand the meaning of the name, and therefore said this to screen his ignorance.[152]This is Aghmát Waríkah of the Arabs, so named from a Berber tribe, to distinguish it from Aghmát Aïlán.—F. S.[153]Mr. Davidson’s Letter, Journ. of Geogr. Soc., vol. vi. p. 430.[154]Sahrá is a large level area, a plain, but applied peculiarly to the Great African Desert.[155]Káfilah, the Arab word answering to the Persian Kár-raván.[156]Dar’ah, pronounced Dr’ah.[157]Delím, or the diminutive, Duleïm.[158]Abú-s-seba,i.e.Father Lion.[159]Ibn or Bin Dáúd, David’s Son.[160]A’ra-wán.[161]Sók, or súk,i.e.market or fair.[162]Ziweïtah or zumeïtah, a kind of paste made of millet (dhurrah).[163]Dar’ah.[164]Háyik,i.e.white woollen wrapper.[165]Abú-l’asel,i.e.Father Honey.[166]El Wád Dar’ah, the Vale of Dar’ah.[167]El Gharib, pronounced by the Berbers El ’Aríb.[168]Yahyá ibn Dávid, John the son of David.[169]Dhú-l-Ka’dah, the 11th Mohammedan month.[170]Salám, salutation.[171]Tebíb, physician.[172]Aulád Hishém, children of Hishám, a large Arab tribe.[173]In-sha-llah, “if it please God!”[174]To Sídí Haj Habíb; salám: To my Lord, the Pilgrim; Habíb (or the beloved Pilgrim); salutation.[175]Mohammed el ’Abd. Mahomet the Slave or Servant [of God].[176]Ah’med Moulúd.[177]Sha’ban, the eighth month;A.H.1252, 29 Sha’bán = 8 December, 1836.[178]Wold or Aulád Hamdán, an Arab tribe.[179]Aït-Ata.[180]Bú Sebá-iyah (a place) belonging to the tribe of Abú Seba. M. D’Avezac writes Búzebayat, following probably Ibnu-ddén: an unsafe guide.[181]El Mohammedí, the Mahometan.[182]The situation of Tátá has been determined with great probability by M. D’Avezac, in his Etudes de Géographie sur l’Afrique Septentrionale. See also Bullétin de la Société de Géographie, vii. 112.[183]Afterwards Swekeya, which is probably more correct.[184]Ramadán, the Mohammedan Lent, is the ninth month;A.H.1252, 8 Ramadán =A.D.1836, 17th Dec.[185]I’gidí. Mármol, iii. 19.[186]Before Shehkeya.[187]Walátah of the Arabs, Aï-weláten (Aít Walâtah?) of Ibn Batútah.[188]That is, “Descended from Mohammed.”[189]“Kabílah,” which properly signifies “tribe,” but appears to be used by Abú Bekr in the sense of “family.”[190]The same as Emír.[191]That is, Abú Bekr’s father, as appears from the sequel.[192]Al-súdán for Bilád-as-súdán—the countries of the blacks.[193]Literally “with the other tribes.” It probably means “with the other families of the same tribe.”[194]That is, kárúis, or blackmoor’s teeth, the Cypræa Moneta of Linnæus.[195]He means her name as a Mohammedan; by her countrymen of Haúsá she was called Nághódí, a significant word in their language.[196]Ghilmán means “young men,” but it also means “slaves;” however, Abú Bekr seems to have used it in the sense here given.[197]Sultánán may mean ‘a sultán;’ but the power of living securely is probably what is here meant.[198]The price of blood, or fine for having taken away a man’s life.[199]This is—the people of Buntukkú, Ashantí, and Fantí. This is more distinctly expressed in another paper written by him.[200]That is—pray five times a day.[201]Nearly resembling the Tombutto of Leo Africanus, (p. 642,) and clearly an abbreviation of the Tungubutú of De Barros, (Asia, i. 220.)[202]The word in the original cannot be decyphered.

FOOTNOTES:

[127]For the notes at the foot of the page, the Foreign Secretary is answerable.

[128]Vol. vi. p. 102, and which is reprinted at page 208 of this volume.

[129]Tanjah.

[130]Adwár, plural of dár, a circular tent.

[131]Autád plural of Watad, a peg or stake. Autád is corruptly pronounced Útséd or Útsét.

[132]Wádí Nun, or Núl, the valley or river of Noon or Nool.

[133]Rabát,i.e.Resting-place, Caravan-seraï; but here the name of a town.—F. S.

[134]Terjumán, or Tarjumán, interpreter, a word of the same origin as the Chaldee, ‘Targum.’

[135]The Kubbah (sepulchral chapel) of a saint named Múláï (Doctor) Ibn ’Abdes-salám.

[136]Mehedíyah (the city of Mehed).

[137]Salá.

[138]Wedáyá (valley-man.)

[139]Dár el beïdá, the white house.

[140]Múlaï Abd-er-rahmán, Duke or Prince Abd-er-rahmán.

[141]Azamúr.

[142]Umm-er-rabí,i.e.the mother of spring.

[143]Kantarah,i.e.bridge.

[144]Baïrám, or ’Id ed Dohá.

[145]Aswák, plural of Sók, or Súk, the Arab word for market—bazár in Persian.

[146]Meshwár, Council.

[147]Sídí Ibn ’Abbás, ’Abd el kádir, Abú Sheĭb, Mubàrek.

[148]Aulád Abú Sebá, the tribe of Father Lion.

[149]Tárúdánt, capital of Sús.

[150]May we be allowed to lament the impetuosity of our lamented traveller’s zeal. At Téródánt he would, for a considerable time, have had ample occupation for every leisure moment. In a country known only by name, abounding with vegetables and fossils never yet examined, and in the midst of the Berbers, whose history and habits so few have been able to study, supported also by the favour of the Court, how largely might Mr. Davidson have increased our stores of knowledge, had he been willing to yield to the Sultán’s precautions!

[151]This is doubtless a mistake, unless the Jews call the place Umm-Síwah. The man did not understand the meaning of the name, and therefore said this to screen his ignorance.

[152]This is Aghmát Waríkah of the Arabs, so named from a Berber tribe, to distinguish it from Aghmát Aïlán.—F. S.

[153]Mr. Davidson’s Letter, Journ. of Geogr. Soc., vol. vi. p. 430.

[154]Sahrá is a large level area, a plain, but applied peculiarly to the Great African Desert.

[155]Káfilah, the Arab word answering to the Persian Kár-raván.

[156]Dar’ah, pronounced Dr’ah.

[157]Delím, or the diminutive, Duleïm.

[158]Abú-s-seba,i.e.Father Lion.

[159]Ibn or Bin Dáúd, David’s Son.

[160]A’ra-wán.

[161]Sók, or súk,i.e.market or fair.

[162]Ziweïtah or zumeïtah, a kind of paste made of millet (dhurrah).

[163]Dar’ah.

[164]Háyik,i.e.white woollen wrapper.

[165]Abú-l’asel,i.e.Father Honey.

[166]El Wád Dar’ah, the Vale of Dar’ah.

[167]El Gharib, pronounced by the Berbers El ’Aríb.

[168]Yahyá ibn Dávid, John the son of David.

[169]Dhú-l-Ka’dah, the 11th Mohammedan month.

[170]Salám, salutation.

[171]Tebíb, physician.

[172]Aulád Hishém, children of Hishám, a large Arab tribe.

[173]In-sha-llah, “if it please God!”

[174]To Sídí Haj Habíb; salám: To my Lord, the Pilgrim; Habíb (or the beloved Pilgrim); salutation.

[175]Mohammed el ’Abd. Mahomet the Slave or Servant [of God].

[176]Ah’med Moulúd.

[177]Sha’ban, the eighth month;A.H.1252, 29 Sha’bán = 8 December, 1836.

[178]Wold or Aulád Hamdán, an Arab tribe.

[179]Aït-Ata.

[180]Bú Sebá-iyah (a place) belonging to the tribe of Abú Seba. M. D’Avezac writes Búzebayat, following probably Ibnu-ddén: an unsafe guide.

[181]El Mohammedí, the Mahometan.

[182]The situation of Tátá has been determined with great probability by M. D’Avezac, in his Etudes de Géographie sur l’Afrique Septentrionale. See also Bullétin de la Société de Géographie, vii. 112.

[183]Afterwards Swekeya, which is probably more correct.

[184]Ramadán, the Mohammedan Lent, is the ninth month;A.H.1252, 8 Ramadán =A.D.1836, 17th Dec.

[185]I’gidí. Mármol, iii. 19.

[186]Before Shehkeya.

[187]Walátah of the Arabs, Aï-weláten (Aít Walâtah?) of Ibn Batútah.

[188]That is, “Descended from Mohammed.”

[189]“Kabílah,” which properly signifies “tribe,” but appears to be used by Abú Bekr in the sense of “family.”

[190]The same as Emír.

[191]That is, Abú Bekr’s father, as appears from the sequel.

[192]Al-súdán for Bilád-as-súdán—the countries of the blacks.

[193]Literally “with the other tribes.” It probably means “with the other families of the same tribe.”

[194]That is, kárúis, or blackmoor’s teeth, the Cypræa Moneta of Linnæus.

[195]He means her name as a Mohammedan; by her countrymen of Haúsá she was called Nághódí, a significant word in their language.

[196]Ghilmán means “young men,” but it also means “slaves;” however, Abú Bekr seems to have used it in the sense here given.

[197]Sultánán may mean ‘a sultán;’ but the power of living securely is probably what is here meant.

[198]The price of blood, or fine for having taken away a man’s life.

[199]This is—the people of Buntukkú, Ashantí, and Fantí. This is more distinctly expressed in another paper written by him.

[200]That is—pray five times a day.

[201]Nearly resembling the Tombutto of Leo Africanus, (p. 642,) and clearly an abbreviation of the Tungubutú of De Barros, (Asia, i. 220.)

[202]The word in the original cannot be decyphered.

Transcriber's note:pg22(footnote28) Changed: Georg. Journ. to: Geogr.pg71Changed: attained its full heighth to: heightpg93Changed: sphynge and kukusú to: kuskusúpg102(footnote102) Changed: C. C. R. to: G. C. R.pg104(footnote104) Changed: C. C. R. to: G. C. R.pg137Changed: theatened to leave to: threatenedpg148Changed: satified with his to: satisfiedpg159Changed: of the Skeïkh to: Sheïkhpg165Changed: the masters are Bebers to: Berberspg176Changed: view of explaning to: explainingpg177Changed: life in Afric, to: Africapg193Changed: whom Mr. Daividson to: Davidsonpg202Changed: Tâfillêt is only to: Tâfilêltpg203(footnote173) Changed: In-sha-Uah to: In-sha-llahMinor changes in punctuation have been done silently.Other spelling inconsistencies have been left unchanged.

Back to Index Next