Of the other articles of sale which the extensive Empire of Cashna affords, the principal are—
Gold Dust—the value of which appears to be estimated at a higher rate in Cashna than in Fezzan; for in the former the worth of an ounce of 640 grains (which is the weight of an ounce in Fezzan, Cashna, and probably in all the States between that kingdom and the Niger) is said to be nine mitkals, or 4l. 10s. sterling; whereas an ounce of the same weight is worth in Fezzan but 4l. In Cashna the value of an English ounce of 480 grains is consequently 3l. 7s. 6d. whereas in Fezzan it is only 3l.
Slaves—In what manner these are obtained, does not distinctly appear; but the value of a male slave is said to be from 15 to 20,000 cowries, or from 3l. to 4l. sterling:
That of a female slave is described as being two-thirds of theformer, or from 10,000 to 13,334 cowries, which in English money would be from 2l. to 2l. 13s. 4d.
Cotton Cloths—which are the general manufacture of Cashna, of Bornou, and of the Negro States to the South of the Niger:
Goat-skins—of the red and of the yellow dyes:
Ox and Buffalo Hides:
Civet—the mode of obtaining which, as well as the principal markets for its sale, were described in the account which has been given of the trade of Bornou.
In return for these articles the inhabitants of Cashna receive—
Cowries—a sea shell which is brought from the coast, and constitutes the common specie of the empire:
Horses and Mares—which are purchased from the Merchants of Fezzan; but whether bred in that country, or procured from the Arabs, or from the people of Bornou, is not mentioned by the Shereef:
Countries South of the Niger.
Theaccount which the Shereef has given of such of the kingdoms to the South of the Niger as he himself has visited, is too deficient in geographical information to furnish a clear and determinate idea of this part of his travels: and though the names of the principal States in whose capitals he traded, or through whose dominions he passed, may be used with advantage as the means of future enquiry, and are therefore inserted in the map which accompanies this Narrative; yet the places assigned them must be considered as in some degree conjectural. That the line of his journey was towards the Gold Coast, there is, however,the strongest reason to believe; and the following brief account of his remarks may lead to conclusions which are neither uninteresting nor unimportant.
From that part of the Niger which forms the southern limit of the great Empire of Cashna, to the Kingdom of Tonouwah, which borders on the coast of the Christians, and of which the Town of Assenté is said to be the capital, a succession of hills, among which are mountains of a stupendous height, diversifies or constitutes the general face of the country. Most of the lands are described as already cleared, but some particular districts are still incumbered with woods of a vast extent; and though for the most part the highlands are pastured by innumerable stocks of sheep, and by herds of cows and goats, and the vales exhibit the captivating view of successive villages, encompassed with corn and rice, and fruits of various kinds, yet thereareplaces of native sterility and eternal barrenness.
The combined occupations of the shepherd and of the husbandman compose the general employment of the people; while the cotton cloth, and the goat-skins of the red and of the yellow dyes, that are offered in several of the towns for sale, announcethe rudiments of future manufactures, and perhaps of an extensive commerce.
Exempted by the nature of their climate from many of those hardships from which, in other countries, dress is the principal protection, a large proportion of the inhabitants wear only the covering that decency requires. But most of the Mahometans, as the mark of a religion which they are proud to profess, adorn their heads with the folds of the turban, and also adopt, at least in some of the States, the cotton shirt, which is so much worn in the empires of Cashna and Bornou.
Tents, which are formed of the hides of cows or of buffaloes, and which are peculiarly suited to the shepherd life, are the only dwellings of multitudes of the Negros; while the huts, which others erect with the branches of trees, are of a construction almost equally simple.
Several of the towns are described as surrounded by walls; and bows and arrows are mentioned as the common instruments of war.
In the description of their Governments, a few instances ofsmall Republics are given; but most of their States are monarchical; and of these, the inhabitants of the Mahometan Kingdom of Degombah are distinguished by the custom of taming the Elephant, and by that of selling for slaves the prisoners they take from such of the bordering nations as motives of religion or of avarice prompt them to invade.
Such, however, is the mildness of the Negro character, that even the asperities of religious disagreement appear to have no effect on their general conduct; for there is reason to believe, from the Shereef’s account, that the Musselman and the Pagan are indiscriminately mixed, that their cattle feed upon the same mountain, and that the approach of evening sends them in peace to the same village: and though the nations who are attacked by the people of Degombah punish with death, as guilty of atrocious injustice, such of the invaders as the chance of war throws into their hands, yet those of the Mahometans who visit them for the purposes of trade, are received with protection and respect.
To the Merchants of Fezzan, who travel to the southern States of the Negros, the purchase of gold, which the dominions of several, and especially of those of Degombah, abundantlyafford, is always the first object of commercial acquisition. The other articles which they obtain, consist of
No commercial value appears to be annexed to the fleeces which the numerous flocks of the Negro kingdoms afford; for the cotton manufacture, which, the Shereef says, is established among the tribes to the South of the Niger, seems to be theonly species of weaving that is known among them. Perhaps the dark colour of the fleece, as disqualifying it for the dye, may be one reason, and its coarse and hairy nature may be another, of the little esteem in which it appears to be held.
Inreturnfor the articles which they sell to their foreign visitors, the Negros receive—
Fire Arms are unknown to such of the nations on the South of the Niger as the Shereef has visited; and the reason which he assigns for it is, that the Kings in the neighbourhood of the coast, persuaded that if these powerful instruments of war should reachthe possession of the populous inland States, their own independence would be lost, have strictly prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures, have effectually prevented this dangerous merchandize from passing beyond the limit of their dominions.
General View of the Trade from Fezzan to Tripoli, Bornou, Cashna, and the Countries on the South of the Niger.
Inthe general description of Fezzan, an account was given of the various articles of native produce which supply the wants, or contribute to the trade of its people; but of theirForeignCommerce, for which, like the Dutch in Europe, they are eminently distinguished, the detail was purposely deferred: for till a previous account of the countries to which that commerce is established had been exhibited, no adequate conception of its nature or extent could be easily conveyed.
At the latter end of October, when the ardent heat of the Summer months is succeeded by the pleasant mildness and settled serenity of Autumn, the several caravans that are respectively destined for Tripoli and Bornou and Cashna, and the Negro Nations beyond the Niger, take their departure from Mourzouk, the capital of Fezzan. The parties which compose them are generally small; for unless information has been received that the road is infested with robbers, ten or a dozen Merchants, attended by twice as many camels, and by the necessary servants, constitute the usual strength of the caravan; but if an attack is apprehended, an association of forty or fifty men, with muskets for their defence, is formed; and as none of the Africans to the South of Fezzan (the people of Agadez and the nations on the coast excepted) have yet possessed themselves of fire-arms, the collective force of such a number is sufficient to insure their safety.
Their store of provisions usually consists of dates; of meal prepared from barley, or from Indian corn, and previously deprived of all its moisture in an oven temperately heated; and of mutton, which is cured for the purpose, by the treble process of being salted and dried in the sun, and afterwards boiled in oilor fat; a process which gives it, even in that climate, a lasting preservation.
In all the principal towns to which they trade, the Merchants of Fezzan have Factors, or confidential Friends, to whose care, till their return, or till their instructions as to the market shall arrive, they consign such Negros as they purchase, perfectly assured that the slaves will be forwarded by the Agents according to the orders they receive; but their gold dust, as being more easily conveyed, and less dependent for its value on the choice of the market, is seldom entrusted to the Factor.
The caravans which proceed toTripoliare freighted partly with trona, the produce of their native land, and partly with senna and gold dust and slaves, the produce of the southern countries with which they trade; and in return they bring back the cutlery and woollens (particularly red woollen caps) and silks, wrought and unwrought, together with the Imperial dollars, the copper and the brass, which are requisite for the consumption of those countries or for their own.
The caravans which travel toBornouare loaded with the following goods:
Brass and Copper—for the currency of Bornou. The caravan which Mr.Lucasaccompanied from Tripoli to Mesurata, had brought ten camel loads or forty hundred weight of these metals for the Bornou market: their value in Bornou is about four shillings sterling for each pound weight.
Imperial Dollars—which are called in Arabic Real Abotacia, and the value of which, in comparison with the dollars of Spain, is, at Tripoli, as 365 piastres to 340, or nearly as 16 to 15:
Of the native produce of Fezzan the only article which is brought as merchandize to Bornou is a preparation of pounded dates, and of the meal of Indian corn, highly dried in an oven. It is called Tickera, and is valued, especially by Travellers, as a portable and highly salubrious food.
Inreturnfor the goods which they bring toBornouthe Merchantstake backwith them,
[Decoration]
Theexportsfrom Fezzan toCashnaand its dependent States, consist of the following articles:
Cowries—a sea shell (in Arabic, called Hueddah) which constitutes the circulating specie of this empire, and of the Negro kingdoms, and which the Merchants procure from the Southern nations who border on the coast; 17,062 are considered in Cashna as equivalent to an English ounce (480 grains) of gold:
Brass—from which the Smiths of the country manufacture rings and bracelets for their women:
Gooroo Nuts—which are brought from the Negro Countries on the South of the Niger.
The articles received inreturn, are—
Gold Dust:—of which an English ounce (or 480 grains) appears to be valued at 3l. 8s. 3d. though in Fezzan it seems to be worth no more than 3l. The Fezzanners, in all probability, make themselves amends by the price which they charge upon their goods.
Slaves—a male slave is worth in Cashna, from 3l. 10s. to 5l.—a female slave is worth two-thirds of the amount, or from 2l. 6s. 8d. to 3l. 6s. 8d.
Cotton Cloths—of various colours, principally blue and white, of which in the Empire of Cashna, and in the Negro States to the South of the Niger, great quantities are made:
Senna from Agadez—a province of the Cashna Empire; the Agadez senna is worth at Tripoli, from fourteen to fifteen mahaboobs (4l. 4s. to 4l. 10s. sterling) per hundred weight; that which the Fezzanners obtain at Tibesti is only worth per hundred weight, from nine to ten mahaboobs, or from 2l. 14s. to 3l. sterling.
Civet.
[Decoration]
To such of the various nations inhabitingthe Country on the South of the Nigeras they are accustomed to visit, the Merchants of Fezzan convey the following articles:
Inreturnthe Merchants receive—
Such are the principal branches of the extensive commerce of the Merchants of Fezzan; from a view of which it appears,that, vast as their concerns are, they have little communication with any of the States that are situated to the West of the Empire of Cashna; a circumstance which the Shereef ascribes to the want of a proper conveyance for their goods; for the country on the West of Cashna furnishes but few camels, and even horses and mules are singularly scarce and dear.
Rout from Mourzouk to Grand Cairo, according to Hadgee Abdalah Benmileitan, the present Governor of Mesurata.
Placedin a situation which affords an easy intercourse with the Mediterranean, and therefore with the States of Europe, on the one hand, and on the other with the extensive Empires of Bornou and Cashna, the dominions of Tombuctou, and the various nations of Negros to the South of the Niger, the Merchants of Fezzan are happily possessed of the farther advantage of communicating by a safe and comparatively commodiouspassage with the Cities of Grand Cairo and of Mecca. A pilgrimage to the latter, the object, from time immemorial, of veneration in Arabia, is prescribed to every Musselman; and though the greatest part of the believers in Mahomet, deterred by distance, or restrained by the avocations of business and the feelings of domestic attachment, content themselves with imperfect resolutions of performing at some future period this arduous journey, yet there are persons, even from the innermost recesses of Africa, who think, that a positive injunction of their faith is too solemn for excuses, and too momentous for delay. Prompted by this urgent consideration, or allured by the honourable distinction which attends upon the title of Hadgee, the envied appellation of those who have visited the sacred Temple, a number of the faithful from the Empires of Bornou and Cashna, from the extensive kingdom of Caffaba, and from several of the Negro States, resort to Fezzan, and proceed from thence, with the caravan, which in the Autumn of every second or third year takes its departure for Mecca. The caravan, which seldom consists of less than one hundred, or of more than three hundred Travellers, assembles at Mourzouk, and begins its journey in the last week of October, or in the first of the succeeding month.
Temissa, a town in the dominions of Fezzan, and situated to the East North East of Mourzouk, receives them at the close of the seventh day; and in two days more, of easy travelling, they arrive at a lofty mountain, rocky, uninhabited, and barren, of the name of Xanibba. Having recruited their goat-skin bags from the only well which these sullen heights afford, they descend to a vast and dreary desart, whose hilly surface, for four successive days, presents nothing to the eye but one continued extent of black and naked rock; to which, for three days more, the equally barren view of a soft and sandy stone succeeds. Through all this wide expanse of varied nakedness no trace of animal or vegetable life, not even the desart thorn, is seen. On the eighth day, the vast mountain of Ziltan, the rugged sides of which are marked with scanty spots of brushwood, and are enriched with stores of water, increases the labour of the journey. Four days are devoted to the toils of this stupendous passage; four others are employed in crossing the sultry plain that stretches its barren sands from the foot of the mountain to the verdant heights of Sibbeel, where the wells of water and the chearing view of multitudes of antelopes suspend their fatigues, and anticipate the refreshments that await them on the next evening; for the close of the following day conducts them to the town of Augéla.
From that place, which is subject to Tripoli, and is famed for the abundance and excellent flavour of its dates, they proceed in one day to the little village of Gui Xarrah; another brings them to the long ascent of the broad mountain of Gerdóbah, from whose inflexible barrenness the Traveller, in the course of a five days passage, can only collect a scanty supply of unpalatable water. Descending from these mournful highlands, he enters the narrow plain of Gegabib, sandy and uninhabited, yet fertile in dates, which the people of Duna (a town dependant on Tripoli, and situated on the Coast at the distance of eight days journey from Gegabib) annually gather.
From this scene of gladsome contrast to the inveterate rocks of Gerdóbah, a three days march conducts the caravan to another desolate mountain of the name of Buselema, that furnishes only water; and in three days more they enter the dominions of the independent Republic of See-wah.
Governed by a Council of six or eight Elders, whose lasting dissentions divide the opinions and distract the allegiance of the people, this unfortunate State is constantly involved in the miseries of intestine war. Its chief produce is the date tree; for the lands, though not destitute of water, furnish but little corn.
From See-wah, the capital, the caravan proceeds in a single day to the miserable village of Umseguér, which is one of the dependencies of the State, and is situated at the foot of the mountainous Desart of Le Mágra, where, in the long course of a seven days passage, the Traveller is scarcely sensible that a few spots of thin and meagre brushwood slightly interrupt the vast expanse of sterility, and diminish the amplitude of desolation. The eighth day terminates with his arrival at the hill of Huaddy L’Ottrón, which is distinguished by a small convent, of three Christian Monks, who reside there under the protection of Cairo, and to whose hospitable entertainment the Traveller is largely indebted. Buildings, surrounded with high walls, and erected in the neighbourhood of the convent, are opened for his reception; and for three successive days, if he chuses to be their guest so long, his wants, as far as their means extend, are chearfully and liberally supplied.
Their garden, in which is a well of excellent and never-failing water, affords an ample store of vegetables of various kinds; the maintenance of a few sheep is furnished by an adjoining pasture; and they raise, without difficulty, a numerous breed of fowls. All other articles, except their bread, which they manufacture themselves, they receive from Cairo.
Respected by the Arabs, who revere their hospitality more than they hate their religion, these venerable men are apparently secure.—Yet as too much confidence might invite the meanest plunderers to invade their peaceful dwelling, they have cautiously guarded their convent by a separate and lofty inclosure from an opening in which a ladder of ropes furnishes the means of descent.
Leaving this hospitable hill with such refreshments as the generous Fathers could supply, the caravan continues its course, and on the fifth day arrives at the City of Cairo, from whence, at the usual season, it proceeds by the customary rout to Mecca.
Conclusions suggested by the preceding Narrative.
Fromthe perusal of the preceding account, the Society are enabled to judge of the credit which it deserves, and of the value of the information which it offers. If the evidence of its truth should be thought insufficient, they will keep their minds in suspence till Narratives of more confirmed authenticity shall disprove or establish the relation. But if they should think that the Shereef’s account of Bornou and of the Niger is too strongly supported by the corresponding description of Ben Alli, to leave a suspicion of its falsehood; and that the fidelity of this part ofhis Narrative warrants the belief of whatever else is equally described on the authority of his personal knowledge, then they will feel that conclusions of an important and interesting nature result from the various, though imperfect intelligence which he has furnished.
The present state of the Empire of Bornou, compared with its condition when Leo Africanus, who wrote his account in the year 1526, was its visitor, exhibits an interesting proof of the advancement of the Mahometan Faith, and of the progress of imperfect civilization.[35]A savage nakedness, or the rude coveringwhich the skins of beasts afford, are now relinquished, for the decency and convenience of a dress of cotton manufacture. Tempered by the courtesy of commerce, and the conciliating interchange of important benefits, the antient barbarism of the people is softened to habits of kindness; and, in the minds of the greatest part, the absurd superstitions of Paganism have given place to the natural and sublime idea of the Unity of God.
From the account of the nations to theSouth of the Niger, it appears, that, among the Mahometan Blacks, the sternness of the Musselman is softened by the mildness of the Negro; andthat if the zeal of the invader be not inflamed by the value of the captive, the propagation of the faith is seldom considered as a reason or pretext for war.
Perhaps the attention of thePhilosophermay be engaged by the use to which the small shells of the Maldive Islands are equally applied by the inhabitants of Cashna, and by the natives of Bengal. Sameness of opinion, or resemblance of conduct, when founded in natural feeling, or a similar state of society, are seen without wonder in nations unconnected and remote; but that a custom so arbitrary and artificial as that of employing Cowries as a substitute for coin, a custom which instinct could not have produced, and chance could scarcely have occasioned, should equally prevail among the Negros of Africa and the natives of Bengal, may justly be deemed a curious and interesting phenomenon.
To the BritishTraveller, a desire of exchanging the usual excursion from Calais to Naples, for a Tour more extended and important, and of passing from scenes with which all are acquainted, to researches in which every object is new, and each step is discovery, may recommend the Kingdom of Fezzan. If Antiquities be his favourite pursuit, the ruins which shadow thecottages of Jermah and of Temissa, promise an ample gratification: or if the study of Nature be his wish, the expansive scenes and numerous productions of that uninvestigated soil may equally promote his entertainment and his knowledge. But if a spirit of more adventurous research should induce him to travel with the Merchants of Fezzan, discoveries of superior value may distinguish and reward his toil. The powerful Empires of Bornou and Cashna will be open to his investigation; the luxurious City of Tombuctou, whose opulence and severe police attract the Merchants of the most distant States of Africa, will unfold to him the causes of her vast prosperity; the mysterious Niger will disclose her unknown original and doubtful termination; and countries unveiled to antient or modern research will become familiar to his view. Or should he be willing to join the Cairo Caravan, the discovery of the antient scite, and of whatever else may remain of the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, may perhaps be attempted with success: for the same causes which gave birth to the springs, and, by their means, to the luxuriant vegetation of the antient domains of the Temple, must still continue to distinguish the fortunate soil; and there seems no reason to doubt that the hospitable convent of Huaddy L’Ottrón, or the neighbouring Republic of See-wah, will not only furnish a place of convenient departure and of easy retreat, but will also supplythe requisite information, and the necessary aid. At this time, an Interpreter, who is equally acquainted with Arabic and English, may be found in London; and, at all times, the Cities of Tripoli, of Tunis, and of Ceuta, afford a number of Mahometans who are almost as conversant with the Italian or the Spanish, as with the Arabic, their native language.
But of all the advantages to which a better acquaintance with the Inland Regions of Africa may lead, the first in importance is, the extension of the Commerce, and the encouragement of the Manufactures of Britain. That fire-arms are in request with all nations, civilized and savage, who have the means of obtaining them, experience uniformly proves; and we now learn, that to the jealousy which the Princes on the Southern Coast entertain of the powerful Interior States, and to the total neglect of all opportunities of opening, from more favourable quarters, an immediate communication with the inland country, it is owing that the sale of one of the most profitable manufactures of Great Britain is still in a great measure confined to the scanty Tribes which inhabit the shores of the Atlantic. From the same information we are also led to conclude, that the anxious policy which prohibits the conveyance of fire-arms to the Inland Tribes, dictates, as a necessary caution, the severest restraintson the transit of other merchandize. But if, on the system of the Moors, the effect of which has been tried too long for its wisdom to be disputed, associations of Englishmen should form caravans, and take their departure from the highest navigable reaches of the Gambia, or from the settlement which is lately established at Sierra Leona, there is reason to believe, that countries new to the fabrics of England, and probably inhabited by more than a hundred millions of people, may be gradually opened to her trade. On this system, much greater would be their profits than those which the Merchants of Fezzan receive; for they would reach, by a journey of 700 miles from their vessels, the same markets to which a land-carriage of 3000 conveys from the Mediterranean the goods of the Fezzanners; and they would also possess the farther advantage of obtaining at prime cost, the same articles for which the Merchants of Fezzan are subjected to the complicated disadvantages of a high price, of an inferior quality, and of the varying exactions that the despotic Governments of Barbary impose. Now if it be considered, that notwithstanding the vast expence of land-carriage, and of an exorbitant price on the purchase of the articles which they sell, the Traders of Fezzan are still enabled to collect a profit that upholds and encourages their commerce, it must be evident, that the gain which the Merchants of Englandwould derive from a similar traffic, conducted as is here proposed, would be such as few commercial adventures have ever been found to yield. That no difficulties will attend the execution of the Plan, the general history of new undertakings forbids us to believe; but as far as theclimateandreligionof the Negros are in question, there seems to be little discouragement; for the long descent of the rivers is a proof that the elevation of the inland country is raised above the level of the coast and consequently that the climate is much more temperate, and probably more salubrious: and while the Narrative of the Shereef announces that the Merchant is considered by the Negro as the general friend of Mankind, common experience convincingly shews that, in the judgement of the Pagan, the Crescent and the Cross are objects of equal indifference; and that the comparative welcome of the Musselman and of the Christian depends on their Merchandize rather than their Creed.
As little discouragement is suggested by a view of the purchasable goods of which the natives are possessed; for, independently of their cotton, which in all the interior nations is described as of common manufacture, and therefore as of general growth, their mines of gold (the improveable possession of many of the Inland States) will furnish, to an unknown, andprobably boundless extent, an article that commands, in all the markets of the civilized world, a constant and unlimited sale.
Such are the important objects of mercantile pursuit, which the various intelligence obtained by the first efforts of the Association, enables them to point out and recommend to their Country: and while the contemplation of national interests, and of the still more extended interests of philosophy, directs their efforts and animates their hopes, they cannot be indifferent to the reflection, that in the pursuit of these advantages, and by means as peaceable as the purposes are just, the conveniencies of civil life, the benefits of the mechanic and manufacturing arts, the attainments of science, the energies of the cultivated mind, and the elevation of the human character, may in some degree be imparted to nations hitherto consigned to hopeless barbarism and uniform contempt.
Forthe following Memoir, and for the Map which it describes, the Society are indebted to the eminent talents and ardent zeal in the Promotion of Geographical Improvement that distinguish the character ofMajor Rennell.
Forthe following Memoir, and for the Map which it describes, the Society are indebted to the eminent talents and ardent zeal in the Promotion of Geographical Improvement that distinguish the character ofMajor Rennell.
Construction of the Map of Africa.
Thatthe Geography of Africa has made a slower progress towards improvement than that of every other part of the world, during the last, and the present century, is to be attributed more to natural causes, than to any absolute want of attention on the part of Geographers. Formed by the Creator, with a contour and surface totally unlike the other Continents, its interior parts elude all nautic research; whilst the wars and commerce in which Europeans have taken part, have been confinedto very circumscribed parts of its borders. These most productive means of geographical information failing, the next resource is to collect materials from the best informed amongst the travellednatives: I saynatives, because the generality of European Travellers reckon upon some degree of solace, as well as the gratification of curiosity, during their peregrinations: not to mention, that it is more the practice to see what has been already seen, than to strike into a new path, and dare to contemplate an unfashionable subject. To the lovers of adventure and novelty, Africa displays a most ample field: but the qualification of local manners, and, in some degree, of habits, must in this case, be superadded to that of language: and this, unquestionably, renders the undertaking more arduous than that of an ordinary Tour. But the Adventurer in quest of fame, will readily appreciate the degrees of glory attendant on each pursuit.
The 18th century has smiled propitiously on the Science ofGeographythroughout the globe; and an Englishman may be allowed to pride himself that his countrymen have had their full share of the glory attending this, and other kinds of researches tending to increase the general stock of knowledge. It is to this spirit that we are to attribute the acquisition of the materials which form the subject of the present Work. It is no lessto this spirit that we are indebted for the progressive improvements in the North-American and Asiatic Geography: our systems embracing objects far superior to the limited views with which Geographical Surveys are ordinarily undertaken: not the topography of townships, districts, counties; but the Geography of Empires, Regions, and Continents!
As bothEurope, and its adjacent Continent,Asia, are spread over with inland seas, lakes, or rivers of the most extended navigations, so as collectively to aid the transport of bulky articles of merchandize from one extreme of them to the other; and to form (like stepping-stones over a brook) a more commodious communication: so likewise the northern part of the new Continent appears to have an almost continuous Inland Navigation, which must prove of infinite advantage to the inhabitants, when fully peopled; and contribute to their speedier civilization, in the mean time. But Africa stands alone in a geographical view! Penetrated by no inland seas, like the Mediterranean, Baltic, or Hudson’s Bay; nor overspread with extensive lakes, like those of North America; nor having in common with the other Continents, rivers running from the center to the extremities: but, on the contrary, its regions separated from each other by the least practicable of all boundaries, arid Desarts ofsuch formidable extent, as to threaten those who traverse them, with the most horrible of all deaths, that arising from thirst! Placed in such circumstances, can we be surprised either at our ignorance of its Interior Parts, or of the tardy progress of civilization in it? Possibly, the difficulty of conveying merchandize to the coasts, under the above circumstances, may have given rise to thetrafficinmen, a commodity that can transport itself! But laying this out of the question, as an abstract speculation, there can be little doubt but that the progress of civilization amongst the Africans has been as slow as can be conceived, in any situation: and it has also happened, of course, that the destined Instruments of their civilization have remained in a proportional degree of ignorance concerning the nature of the country.
Nothing can evince the low state of the African Geography, more than M. D’Anville’s having had recourse to the Works ofPtolomyandEdrisi, to compose the Interior Part of his Map of Africa (1749.) It is well known, that those Authors wrote in the second and in the twelfth centuries of our æra. Most of the positions in the Inland Part of the great body of Africa are derived fromEdrisi; and it is wonderful how nearly some of the positions agree with those furnished by the present materials.Such was the transcendant judgement of D’Anville in combining the scanty notices that are furnished by the Nubian Geographer!
But the Public are not to expect, even under an improved system of African Geography, that the Interior Part of that Continent will exhibit an aspect similar to the others; rich in variety; each region assuming a distinct character. On the contrary, it will be meagre and vacant in the extreme. The dreary expanses of desart which often surround the habitable spots, forbid the appearance of the usual proportion of towns; and the paucity of rivers, added to their being either absorbed or evaporated, instead of being conducted in flowing lines to the ocean, will give a singular cast to its hydrography; the direction of their courses being, moreover, equivocal, through the want of that information, which a communication with the sea usually affords at a glance. Little as the Antients knew of the Interior Part of Africa, they appear to have understood the character of its surface; one of them comparing it to a leopard’s skin. Swift also, who loses no opportunity of being witty at the expence of mathematicians, diverts himself and his readers both with thenakednessof the land, and the absurdity of the map-makers.
“Geographers, inAfricmaps,With savage pictures fill their gaps,And o’er unhabitable downsPlace elephants, for want of towns.”
“Geographers, inAfricmaps,With savage pictures fill their gaps,And o’er unhabitable downsPlace elephants, for want of towns.”
“Geographers, inAfricmaps,With savage pictures fill their gaps,And o’er unhabitable downsPlace elephants, for want of towns.”
“Geographers, inAfricmaps,
With savage pictures fill their gaps,
And o’er unhabitable downs
Place elephants, for want of towns.”
The Society for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa has been fortunate in collecting much geographical information, in so early a stage of the African researches; and there is little doubt but that in a few years all the great features of this Continent (within the reach of their enquiries) may be known and described. But to accomplish this, it will be necessary that intelligent Europeans should trace some of the principal routes; as well to apportion the distances, as to establish some kind of criterion for the parole information derived from the natives. As yet, in the wide extent of near thirty degrees on a meridian, betweenBeninandTripoli, not one celestial observation has been taken, to determine the latitude.
But as far as materials composed by a scale founded on estimated distances (that is, days journeys of caravans) may go towards the establishment of geographical positions, the itineraries made use of for constructing the new matter in the accompanying map, are less discordant than might be expected in so wide an expanse, and on the foundation of rules so vague as thosewhich necessity has compelled me to apply. On this, however, the Reader must exercise his own judgement, after the following exposition of thedata, and the rules by which I have determined the scale.
It will easily be conceived by the Reader, that all roads, except such as are made through a country, in which the public works are in the highest state of improvement, and where also the face of it is perfectly level (the curvature of the earth excepted) must have some degree of inflexion, both horizontally and vertically; and either of these will occasion a Traveller to trace a line of greater length by the road, than can be measured on a straight line, drawn from the point of commencement, to that of the termination of his journey. The quantity of the difference must vary with the nature of the country; but in ordinary cases, still more with the extent of the line of distance: for a different ratio between the road distance and horizontal distance must obtain, as the line of distance is increased. Let it be admitted, that in stages of ten or twelve miles, the winding of the road occasions a loss of only one-tenth part, which may be termed thesimplewinding: yet as the different stages in an extent of 100 or 150 miles, do not lie in a straight line, drawn through the whole extent, but often very far to the right and left of it,acompoundwinding arises: and I have found by long experience, that one mile in eight must be deducted, to reduce the road measure, on such a length, to horizontal measure. When a line of distance is extended to 500 miles and upwards, the rule becomes much more vague than when applied to moderate distances; because it often happens (and more particularly in unimproved countries) that obstacles present themselves, and give an entire new direction to the course of the road; although the two parts of it, considered separately, may have only an ordinary degree of crookedness. However, as some of the lines of distance applied to the present subject, are from thirty to forty days journey, it becomes necessary that some general rules should be adopted. It happens that examples are furnished, in two cases, on very long journies, where the real distances between the terminating points of the routes are nearly known: such is that of fifty-three days journey, between the Capital ofFezzanandCairo; and the mean horizontal distance for each day, is fourteen and a half geographic miles, or those of sixty to a degree. I confess I should have expected much less. The other example is betweenArguinandGallam: there forty days produce thirteen miles for each day; and this is conformable to my expectations. In the examples of small distances, such as six days journey, sixteen miles per day is the result, and is consistent.For a caravan journey, taken at twenty-two British miles ofroaddistance, will produce, when the allowance for winding is deducted, and the remainder reduced to geographic miles, about sixteen and a half such miles for a single day.
The following are the proportions which I have established, for the application of a scale, to the different degrees of distance.
For one day, sixteen miles and a half; for seventeen to twenty-five days, fifteen miles; for forty to fifty days, thirteen miles. These numbers are particularly selected, because they occurred in the course of the Work. The Reader will be pleased to observe, that the miles spoken of in the construction, are always those of sixty to a degree of a great circle. However tedious this investigation may appear to the generality of readers, it is absolutely necessary; as it is the hinge upon which the whole turns: and a neglect of attention to this particular subject, would warrant the Reader’s taking the whole for granted, without further examination.
Mr.Beaufoyhaving given, from the materials in his possession, so full an account of each road and country, nothing remainsfor me to do, but simply to describe, from the same materials, the mode of fixing the principal positions, in the Map. As the object of it is to exhibit the new matter only, care has been taken to exclude all that has already appeared, except what was absolutely necessary towards explaining the other: and as the borrowed particulars are distinguished from the rest, the Reader cannot be mistaken. The outline of the great body of Africa, together with the courses of the Nile, Gambia, Senegal, and Wad-drah, are copied from Mr. D’Anville.
Fezzan (or rather its capital, Mourzouk) is given in the Itineraries at the distance of seventeen days and half from Mesurata. These, taken at fifteen miles per day, produce two hundred and sixty-two miles. The bearing is said to be South from Mourzouk; and this latter is placed according to D’Anville. Mourzouk, then, falls in latitude 27° 20′.
Agadez, the next principal station, is, at a medium forty-one days from Mourzouk, on a South West course, or thereabouts: and these, at thirteen miles per day, produce four hundred and fifty-five miles; and place Agadez in latitude 20° 20′; and nearly in the meridian of Tripoli. Agadez is the Agadost of Edrisi.
From Agadez to Cashna is seventeen days; which, at fifteen miles per day, give a distance of two hundred and fifty-five miles. The bearing is said to be South South West. Cashna, then, will stand in or about the latitude of 16° 20′ North, and about a degree and half West from Tripoli.
D’Anville’sCasseenah(undoubtedly meant for Cashna) is placed about thirty-seven miles to the North West of the position assumed in the accompanying Map; whence I consider mine as a near approximation, especially as the distance from Mesurata is upwards of nine hundred and seventy miles.
Cashna may be regarded as the central kingdom of the great body of Africa; and as a part of the region namedSoudan, of which at present but few particulars are known.
Ghanah, or Ghinnah, is placed, in respect of Cashna, according to M. D’Anville’s Map. It does not appear whether he had any authority for placing it ninety miles to the North East of Cashna: but its position, in respect of the City of Nuabia, (antiently Meroé, on the Nile) is on the authority of Edrisi. This Author also allows twelve days between Agadez and Ghanah: and by my construction, they are two hundred and eight milesasunder. SeeGeog. Nubiensis, p. 39. Ghanah was in the twelfth century a city of the first consequence. Wangara and Kanem, were also known to Edrisi.
The river known to Europeans by the name ofNiger, runs on the South of the kingdom of Cashna, in its course towards Tombuctou; and if the report which Ben Alli heard in that town, may be credited, it is afterwards lost in the sands on the South of the country of Tombuctou. In the Map, only the known part of its course is marked by a line; and the suppositious part by dots. It may be proper to observe, that the Africans have two names for this river; that is,Neel il Abeed, orRiver of the Negros; andNeel il Kibeer, orthe Great River. They also term theNile, (that is, the Egyptian River)Neel Shem: so that the termNeel, from whence ourNile, is nothing more than the appellative of River; likeGanges, orSinde.
From Cashna the road leads Westward to the Kingdom ofGonjah, ninety-seven days journey from the former.Gonjah, is, from circumstances, theConcheof M. D’Anville, and theGongeof M. Delisle; and the similitude of names, however great, is the least proof it: for the Itinerary of theShereef Imhammedsays, that eighteen or twenty days from Gonjah, towards the North West (or between the West and North) lies the Country ofYarba: and eight days farther West, that ofAffow. Now the countries ofYarraandYaffon, will be found in Delisle’s Map of Senegal (1726), nearly in the position thatYarbaandAffowtake in respect of Gonjah; supposing D’Anville’sConcheto be meant for it. It is extremely difficult to assign a ratio for the decrease of the horizontal distance, on so extended a line as ninety-seven days journey; and therefore it would be losing time to attempt it. Gonjah, by circumstances, is about eight hundred and seventy miles from Cashna, which allows only nine miles for each day. I therefore conclude that the road is very circuitous.
Gonjah is reported by the Shereef to be forty-six days journey from the Coast of Guinea, to which the Christians trade. It is probable that the Gold Coast is the part meant, and that may be taken at five hundred and thirty miles from D’Anville’s Conché. The ratio, at thirteen per day, would give near six hundred. Here again, it would be losing of time, to reason on such a point of uncertainty, since neither of the extreme points of the line of distance are correctly known. The Reader must therefore determine for himself. Of this space of forty-sixdays travelling, from Gonjah towards the Coast, the Shereef had travelled only the first ten days, to the City of Kalanshee, a dependency of the Kingdom ofTounouwah; the capital of which, according to his report, isAssentai(the Assianté of D’Anville) situated midway between Kalanshee and the sea coast: that is, eighteen days journey from each. The Shereef also reports, that there is no communication between this coast (which we may suppose to be the Gold Coast) and the country of Gonjah: for that the King of Assentai, who possesses the space between, prohibits his Inland Neighbours from passing through his country.
But Mr.Norris, a gentleman who resided many years in Whydah, &c. reports differently: for he says, that there are other States, (that is, the Fantees, and their confederates) lying between Assentai and the sea; and that the Assentais have often attempted, but without success, to open a communication with the Coast.
To return to the route from Cashna to Gonjah. There are between them some extensive kingdoms or states, most of which appear to preserve their antient religion. I have generally marked the progress of the Mahomedan Religion, by a crescent; and the Caffre States by an arbitrary mark of a different kind.
It will appear by a slight inspection of the Map, that the Mahomedan Religion, as far as respects the Interior Part of the Country, has spread southward, to about the parallel of twelve degrees of North latitude. Probably though, in some of those countries where the Court religion is Mahomedan, the bulk of the people may profess the antient religion.
Tombuctou, is placed on the following authorities: First, Mr.Matra, the British Consul in the dominions of Morocco, says, on the authority of the natives, that Tombuctou is fifty dayscaravan travellingfromTattah, a place situated on the common frontiers of Morocco, Drah, and Zenhaga; and in the route from Morocco, and Suz, to Tombuctou. Tattah is ascertained in position, by a route of Ben Alli’s. He found it to be nine days and half from Morocco, and one day short of a station on the Wad-drah (or Drah River) which station was four days, or sixty-six miles lower down thanTinjuleen, a place in D’Anville’s and Delisle’s Maps of Africa. It was also twelve days journey from the City of Nun or Non, which city by Ben Alli’s account, is two days from the sea coast; and well known to be opposite to the Cape of the same name. These authorities enable us to place Tattah one hundred and seventy miles South South East from Morocco. Then, fifty days from Tattah toTombuctou, at thirteen each day, produces six hundred and fifty miles. By Ben Alli’s report, Tombuctou is forty-eight days from the capital of Sultan Fullan, lying within the district of Gallam, on the River Senegal. The position of this place is not known to me; but by circumstances it must be near the river: and in using materials of so coarse a kind, trifles must not be regarded. Forty-eight days at thirteen each day, produce six hundred and twenty miles; and this line of distance meets that from Tattah, in latitude 19°. 40′. and nearly midway between Gallam and Cashna. In this position, it falls only twenty-eight miles to the North West of D’Anville’s Tombuctou.
It appears that most of the road from Tattah to Tombuctou, lies across the vast Desart, commonly known by the name ofZahara, or properly,The Desart. Geography is at present, very bare of particulars, in this quarter. Ben Alli went from Tombuctou, direct to Fezzan, skirting the South East border of this great Desart. He reckoned only sixty-four days between Tombuctou and Fezzan, which at twelve miles and half per day, produce only eight hundred miles. The interval on the Map is nine hundred and seventy. Reason, however, points out, that the distance from the nearest place, Gallam, ought to be preferred. And as it is understood, that Agadez and Tombuctouare about fifty-five days asunder, it appears yet more probable that the interval between Fezzan and Tombuctou, ought not to be reduced. It must be recollected, that Ben Alli’s Communications were given from memory, after an interval of twenty years.
The point of the next importance, is Bornou, the capital of an extensive kingdom situated on the South East of Fezzan, and between the twoNeelsorNiles; that of Egypt, and that of the Negros.
Bornou, is given by the Shereef, at about fifty days from Mourzouk (or Fezzan) which may be taken at six hundred and fifty miles. He also reports that it is twenty-five days journey from the course of the Nile, where it passes the country of Sennar; or in distance about three hundred and sixty miles. This would place Bornou in a direction of South East, somewhat southwardly, from Mourzouk; and about the parallel of 19° 40′. It is not probable that Bornou has a more westerly position. Edrisi’s account would place it more easterly; for he says, thatMatthan, a city ofKanem, lies thirty-one days fromNuabia(on the Nile) throughTegua.Geog. Nub.p. 15. Edrisi’s day’s journey is equal to eighteen Arabic miles, or nearly nineteengeographic ones: consequently the thirty-one days give five hundred and eighty-seven miles. Matthan is not reported in the Itinerary; but Kanem is, both as Province and a capital City: and the position of the latter according to my construction, is seven hundred miles from Nuabia. Whether the error lies on the side of Edrisi, or the Shereef; or arises from the faulty position of Nuabia in D’Anville, cannot easily be discovered.
Ben Alli travelled the road between Bornou and Alexandria; but was too much indisposed to make any observations, otherwise than that the Kingdom of Bornou extends fifteen days journey, or about two hundred and thirty miles, in that direction. This was particularly unfortunate; for whichsoever route he went, he must have crossed some one or more of theOases; and of course some important matter would have been added to the Map.
The only route of importance that remains to be discussed, is that from Fezzan or Mourzouk, to Cairo, leading to Mecca; for, at Mourzouk the Mahomedans from the southern and western parts of Africa, who intend to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, assemble at the proper season, as at a common point of departure. The route to Cairo, which requires fifty-three days toatchieve, appears on the Map to be seven hundred and seventy miles; being equal to fourteen and half for each day: and is on the whole, seventy more than I should have expected that number of days to produce. To what degree of accuracy the difference of longitude between Mesurata and Cairo, is ascertained, I am ignorant: as also whether the bearing of Mourzouk from Mesurata, be right. Fourteen miles and half of horizontal distance for each day, on so long a line of distance, and on so rugged a way as the Itinerary describes, is too great a proportion; and we may suspect an error somewhere.
A circumstance occurs in the Itinerary, which would determine how near this route approaches to the Coast of the Mediterranean Sea; if we might depend on the accuracy of the Itinerist. The dates produced in the Plain ofGegabib, are gathered by the people ofDuna, who inhabit the sea coast, eight days journey off; or about one hundred and thirty miles. No such place asDunaappears in the modern maps; butDerna(antientlyDarnis) does: and it is situated within the confines of Tripoli, as Duna is said to be. But the distance must be faulty; becauseAugelais the nearest point in this route, to Derna, though ten days from it: andGegabib, is seven days from Augela, in a direction that still increases the distance.
Augela is found in Herodotus, Book IV. under the name ofÆgila; and in Ptolemy and Pliny it is writtenAugila. In Ptolemy, Africa Tab. III. it is placed about 197 miles from the sea coast, and about a degree of longitude to the eastward ofDarnis. Its longitudinal position from Mourzouk and Cairo, agrees very well: and considering the extent of Ptolemy’s local knowledge in this quarter, we may suppose him well acquainted with its distance from the coast. Allowance must be made for an excess of distance given by Ptolemy’s scale, in this Map; and it being in the proportion of twenty-seven to twenty-three, the one hundred and ninety-seven miles should be reduced to one hundred and sixty-eight: and according to this, Augela ought to stand in latitude 29° 20′; and nearly midway between Mourzouk and Cairo.
Gegabib, as has been said before, is seven days journey from Augela, towards Cairo; and as I have a particular pleasure in producing any authority that serves to prove the veracity of such an Author asHerodotus, I shall just mention, that (in B. IV.) he says, that theNasamonesin the Summer season, leave their cattle on the coast, and go to the plains of Ægila, to gather the fruit of the Palm trees, which abound in that place. The portion of this coast, is marked by its lying on the West ofTeuchira,[36]a sea-port that lay within the district ofCyrene, now better known by the names of Curin and Barca.
Ptolemy’s Nasamones, occupy, in respect ofAugila, the very spot where the dates are now gathered in the plain ofGegabib: and therefore we may conclude that the Nasamones’ Territories extended at least from that plain, to the Eastern Coast of the Great Syrtis. It may, perhaps, in future, be known where the Port or Coast of Duna is; whether it be Derna, the antient Darnis, or some place on the Syrtis.
BetweenAugelaandSee-wah, the next town towards Cairo (and probably theSiropumof Ptolemy) the road passes over a chain of very high mountains, named in these timesGerdobah: and this is unquestionably the same ridge that terminates on the Mediterranean, a few days journey farther on; and which by the suddenness of its descent towards the sea, was antiently namedCatabathmus. This chain or ridge dividedCyrenefromMarmarica.
The scite of the antient Temple ofJupiter Ammon, was a few days journey (perhaps four or five) inland from the plain of Gegabib, so often mentioned. I think I may venture to say this on the authority of Herodotus, Strabo, Pliny, and Arrian; from each of whom, some particulars may be collected respecting its situation. First, Herodotus says, (Book IV.) that the Temple is situated ten days fromÆgila; (frequented by the Nasamones on account of the dates) and on the road from Thebes toÆgila. Next, Arrian says, on the authority of Aristobulus, that Alexander went to it, from the scite of his new city of Alexandria, along the sea coasts of Egypt and Marmarica, toParaetonium: which latter was situated, according to the same authority, sixteen hundred stadia from Alexandria. Pliny gives it at two hundred Roman miles (Book V.) These accounts are perfectly conclusive; and the position ofParaetonium, is also very clear in Ptolemy; and is moreover known to the Moderns under the name ofAl Bareton: so that no difficulty can arise here. Arrian says farther, that Alexander struck inland fromParaetonium, and entered the Desart: but he does not say how far the Temple lay from the sea coast. This is supplied by Strabo, (Book XXVII.) who gives the distance at thirteen hundred stadia. Allowing these to produce one hundred and thirty, or one hundred and forty miles; and taking Herodotus’s ten daysfrom Augela at one hundred and seventy (we must not consider them ascaravanjournies, but asordinaryones) the meeting of these lines of distance, place the Temple in latitude twenty-nine degrees, and a small fraction; and in a South Westerly direction from Parætonium. Pliny says, (Book V.) that the Temple is four hundred [Roman] miles from Cyrene; that is, twice as far as Parætonium is from Alexandria: and this agrees with the former position. Lastly, Ptolemy places it one hundred and ninety-five geographic miles fromParaetonium; and fromCyrenethree hundred and forty.—But Ptolemy’s scale, in Africa Tab. III. gives too much distance (as I have said before), and corrected, it should be one hundred and sixty-six from Parætonium. As these authorities do not vary amongst themselves more than thirty miles, I consider them as conclusive.
M. D’Anville’s position of this Temple is about thirty miles farther to the Southward; that is, from the Mediterranean; but he does not quote his authorities. In hisGeographie Ancienne Abregee, vol. iii. p. 42. he has the following passage: “Selon la Géographie actuelle, ce qu’on trouve sous le nom deSant-rieh, paroit en tenir la place; & par la Nature du pays, qui ne laisse point distinguer d’autre objet, on n’est point embarrassé sur le choix.” Edrisi (Geo. Nub.p. 41.) placesSant-rieten days Eastward from Augela, and nine days from the Mediterranean; which carries Sant-rie farther from the sea-coast, than Strabo allows to the Temple; but accords with Ptolemy. Savary, vol. ii. Lett. VIII.) quotes Abulfeda, to shew that theOaseswere only three days journey West of the Nile; and Ptolemy places the largest of them, namedEl Wahby the Arabs, under the parallel of 27°. I suspect Abulfeda is wrong; and that Ptolemy is nearer the truth, when he allows one hundred and twenty-three miles, (or one hundred and five corrected) for the distance of the Great Oasis from Ptolemais on the Nile, in the direction of West, something Southwardly. Then Edrisi allows only nine days between Sant-rie and El Wah; whereas the scite of the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, by the above authorities, should be, according to my apprehension, at least twelve days fromEl Wah. But we are young in African Geography: and as I have said before, thedatafurnished by Arrian, Strabo, and Pliny, may satisfy us.
The description of theOasis(or Island in the midst of the sandy Desart) which contained the Temple, is pretty generally known: but for the sake of those who may not recollect the particulars, I have extracted the following account.
Arrian says, that it is not more than forty stadia in extent; Diodorus fifty; say, six or seven miles. All accounts agree, that it has one or more fountains of water; and that it was planted with divers kinds of fruit trees: Arrian particularly notices the Palm and Olive. What appeared to be a very great natural curiosity, was, a fountain, which according to Arrian, (whose account is the least extravagant) varied in its temperature, in a greater degree than any other that has been heard of: that is, it was very warm, or hot, at midnight; very cold in the heat of the day. I presume these phenomena will not appear very extraordinary to those, who consider, that a deep-seated spring will preserve a mean degree of temperature at all seasons: so that, in effect, it was the atmosphere that underwent the change; and with it, the bodies of those who made the observations.
The Temple was surrounded by a triple wall, forming three distinct quarters or divisions; one of which was appropriated to the use of the Monarch. In the time of Herodotus, when probably the Temple was in its glory, the dominions of the Ammonites reached within ten days journey of the City of Thebes: the people were a colony of Egyptians and Ethiopians, and spoke a mixed language, (Herod. Book III.) Ammon, or Hammon, was the Egyptian name of Jupiter; and the image of the god,similar to that at Thebes; that is, it had the head of a Ram. (Book IV.)
In the time of Strabo, about four hundred and fifty years after Herodotus, the Temple was almost deserted; as the Oracle was grown out of fashion.
It is probable that some remains either of the triple wall, or of the Temple, may be found at this day; although the materials may have undergone a different kind of arrangement. The transport of the materials across the Desart could only have been accomplished by the strong impulse of superstition: and being once collected, nothing but a like cause could remove them. See-wah appears to be the nearest town to this Oasis; and is probably not more than six days journey on the North East of it: the spring, together with the ruins of the Temple, and the triple wall, might ascertain the spot, if the curiosity of the present age demanded it.