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Chapter 01: Critical Thinking in Health Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. After completing an initial assessment on a patient, the nurse has charted that his
respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58. This type of data would be:
a. objective.
b. reflective.
c. subjective.
d. introspective.
ANS: A
Objective data are what the health care professional observes by inspecting, percussing,
palpating, and auscultating during the physical examination.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 2

2. A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, that he is nauseated, and that he “feels hot.”
This type of data would be:
a. objective.
b. reflective.
c. subjective.
d. introspective.
ANS: C
Subjective data are what the patient says about himself or herself during history taking.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 2

3. The patient’s record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data together form
the:
a. database.
b. admitting data.
c. financial statement.
d. discharge summary.
ANS: A
Together with the patient’s record and laboratory studies, the objective and subjective data
form the database.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 2

4. When listening to a patient’s breath sounds, the nurse is unsure about a sound that is heard.
The nurse should:
a. notify the patient’s physician immediately.
b. document the sound exactly as it was heard.
c. validate the data by asking a co-worker to listen to the breath sounds.
d. assess again in 20 minutes to note whether the sound is still present.
ANS: C
Validate any data when you need to ensure their accuracy. If you have less experience in an
area, ask an expert to listen to the sound.

DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 2

5. Novice nurses, without a background of skills and experience to draw from, are more likely
to make their decisions using:
a. intuition.
b. a set of rules.
c. articles in journals.
d. advice from supervisors.
ANS: B
Novice nurses operate from a set of rules (such as the nursing process).

DIF: Comprehension REF: Pages: 2–3

6. Expert nurses learn to attend to a pattern of assessment data and act without consciously
labelling it. This is referred to as:
a. intuition.
b. the nursing process.
c. clinical knowledge.
d. diagnostic reasoning.
ANS: A
Intuition is characterized by pattern recognition—expert nurses learn to attend to a pattern of
assessment data and act without consciously labelling it.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 3

7. Critical thinking in the expert nurse is greatly enhanced by opportunities to:

a. apply theory in real situations.
b. work with physicians to provide patient care.
c. follow physician orders in providing patient care.
d. develop nursing diagnoses for commonly occurring illnesses.
ANS: A
The depth and breadth of expert knowledge, largely gained from opportunities to apply
theory in real situations, greatly enhances a nurse’s critical thinking ability.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Pages: 3–4

8. Which of the following is an example of a first-level priority problem?

 a. A patient with postoperative pain
b. A newly diagnosed patient with diabetes who needs teaching about diabetes
c. An individual with a small laceration on the sole of the foot
d. An individual with shortness of breath and respiratory distress
ANS: D
First-level priority problems are those that are emergent, are life-threatening, and require
immediate action (e.g., establishing airway, supporting breathing, maintaining circulation,
and monitoring vital signs).

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 5

9. Which of the following are considered second-level priority problems?

a. Low self-esteem
b. Lack of knowledge
c. Abnormal laboratory values
d. Severely abnormal vital signs
ANS: C
Second-level priority problems are those that require prompt intervention to prevent further
deterioration (e.g., mental status change, acute pain, abnormal laboratory values, and risks to
safety or security).

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 5

10. Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse recognize relationships among data?
a. Validation
b. Clustering-related cues
c. Identifying gaps in data
d. Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
ANS: B
Clustering-related cues help the nurse recognize relationships among data.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 5

11. The nurse knows that developing appropriate nursing interventions for a patient relies on the
appropriateness of the:
a. nursing diagnosis.
b. medical diagnosis.
c. admission diagnosis.
d. collaborative diagnosis.
ANS: A
An accurate nursing diagnosis provides the basis for selecting nursing interventions to
achieve outcomes for which the nurse is accountable.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 6

12. Which five steps are included in the nursing process, which is a sequential method of
problem solving?
 a. Assessment, treatment, evaluation, discharge, follow-up
b. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, discharge planning
c. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, discharge planning
d. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
ANS: D
The nursing process is a method of problem solving that includes assessment, diagnosis,
planning, implementation, and evaluation.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 2

13. A newly admitted patient is in acute pain, has not been sleeping well lately, and is having
difficulty breathing. How should the nurse prioritize these problems?
a. Breathing, pain, sleep
b. Breathing, sleep, pain
c. Sleep, breathing, pain
d. Sleep, pain, breathing
ANS: A
First-level priority problems are immediate priorities (remember the ABCs), followed by
second-level problems and then third-level problems.

DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 6

14. Which of the following would be formulated by a nurse using diagnostic reasoning?
a. Nursing diagnosis
b. Medical diagnosis
c. Diagnostic hypothesis
d. Diagnostic assessment
ANS: C
Diagnostic reasoning calls for the nurse to formulate a diagnostic hypothesis; the nursing
process calls for a nursing diagnosis.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 2

15. A nursing diagnosis made by a critical thinker using a dynamic nursing process would
identify the actual problem and would also:
a. continue to reassess.
b. predict potential problems.
c. check the appropriateness of goals.
d. modify the diagnosis if necessary.
ANS: B
A dynamic nursing process, as used by a critical thinker, would include under diagnoses:
diagnoses of actual problems, prediction of potential problems, and identification of
strengths.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 6

16. What is the step of the nursing process that includes data collection through health history
taking, physical examination, and interview?
a. Planning
b. Diagnosis
c. Evaluation
d. Assessment
ANS: D
Data collection, which includes conducting health history taking, physical examination, and
interview, is the assessment step of the nursing process.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 2

17. Which of the following statements illustrates the biomedical model of Western traditional
views?
a. Health is viewed as the absence of disease.
b. Optimal health is viewed as high-level wellness.
c. Health and disease are considered parts of a cyclical process.
d. The treatment of disease is nursing’s primary focus.
ANS: A
The biomedical model of Western tradition views health as the absence of disease.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 7

18. The public’s concept of health has changed since the 1950s. Which of the following
statements most accurately describes this change?
a. Lifestyle, personal habits, exercise, and nutrition are essential to health.
b. Assessment of health is critical to identifying disease-causing pathogens.
c. Accurate diagnosis and treatment by a physician are essential for all health care.
d. An individual is considered healthy when signs and symptoms of disease have
been eliminated.
ANS: A
The accurate diagnosis and treatment of illness are still considered important parts of health
care, but the public’s concept of health has expanded since the 1950s. We have an
increasing interest in lifestyle, personal habits, exercise and nutrition, and social and natural
environments.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 7

19. Why is the concept of prevention essential in describing health?

a. Disease can be prevented by treating the external environment.
b. The majority of deaths among Canadians under age 65 years is not preventable.
c. Prevention places emphasis on the link between health and personal behaviour.
d. The means to prevention is through treatment provided by primary health care
practitioners.
ANS: C
A natural progression to prevention now rounds out our concept of health. Guidelines to
prevention place emphasis on the link between health and personal behaviour.
 DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 7

20. Which of the following statements about nursing diagnoses is true? Nursing diagnoses:
a. evaluate the etiology of disease.
b. are a process based on medical diagnosis.
c. evaluate the response of the whole person to actual or potential health problems.
d. focus on the function and malfunction of a specific organ system in response to
disease.
ANS: C
Nursing diagnoses are used to evaluate the response of the whole person to actual or
potential health problems.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 6

21. An example of objective information obtained during the physical assessment includes the
patient’s:
a. history of allergies.
b. use of medications at home.
c. last menstrual period.
d. 2  5 cm scar present on the right forearm.
ANS: D
Objective data comprise the patient’s record, results of laboratory studies, and information
that the health care professional obtains by inspecting, percussing, palpating, and
auscultating the patient during the physical examination.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 2

22. A visiting nurse is making an initial home visit to a patient who has a number of chronic
medical problems. Which type of database is most appropriate to collect in this setting?
a. A follow-up database to evaluate changes at appropriate intervals
b. An episodic database because of the continuing, complex medical problems of this
patient
c. A complete health database because of the nurse’s primary responsibility for
monitoring the patient’s health
d. An emergency database because of the need to rapidly collect information and
make accurate diagnoses
ANS: C
The complete database is collected in a primary care setting, such as a pediatric or family
practice clinic, independent or group private practice, college health service, women’s
health care agency, visiting nurse agency, or community health care agency. In these
settings, the nurse is the first health care professional to see the patient and has the primary
responsibility for monitoring the person’s health care.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 8

23. Which of the following situations is most appropriate for an episodic history?
 a. A patient’s admission to a long-term care facility
b. A patient having sudden, severe shortness of breath
c. A patient’s admission to the hospital for surgery the following day
d. A patient having cold and flu-like symptoms and seen in an outpatient clinic
ANS: D
In an episodic or problem-centred database, the nurse collects a “mini” database, smaller in
scope than a complete database. It concerns mainly one problem, one cue complex, or one
body system.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 8

24. A patient is at the clinic to have her blood pressure checked. She has been coming to the
clinic weekly since her medications were changed 2 months ago. The nurse should:
a. collect a follow-up database and then check the patient’s blood pressure.
b. ask the patient to read her health record and indicate any changes since her last
visit.
c. check only the blood pressure because the patient’s complete health history was
documented 2 months ago.
d. obtain a complete health history before checking the blood pressure because much
of the patient’s information may have changed.
ANS: A
A follow-up database is used in all settings to follow up short-term or chronic health
problems.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 9

25. A patient is brought by ambulance to the emergency department with multiple injuries
received in an automobile accident. He is alert and co-operative, but his injuries are quite
severe. How should the nurse proceed with the data collection?
a. Collect history information first, perform the physical examination next, and
institute life-saving measures.
b. Ask history questions while performing the examination and initiating life-saving
measures.
c. Collect all information on the history form, including social support patterns,
strengths, and coping patterns.
d. Perform life-saving measures and not ask any history questions until after the
patient has been transferred to the intensive care unit.
ANS: B
The emergency database calls for rapid collection of the database, often compiled while
performing life-saving measures.

DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 9

26. Which of the following statements correctly describes age-specific charts for periodic health
examination?
a. They are used to diagnose an illness.
b. They are helpful in identifying developmental delays in children.
 c. They recommend that every individual receive an annual physical examination.
d. They list a frequency schedule for periodic health visits for a specific age group.
ANS: D
The age-specific charts for the periodic health examination define a lifetime schedule of
health care, organized into packages for eight specific age groups.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 9

27. A 42-year-old patient of Asian descent is being seen at the clinic for an initial examination.
The nurse knows that it is important to include cultural information in his health assessment
to:
a. identify the cause of his illness.
b. make an accurate diagnosis.
c. provide cultural health rights for the individual.
d. provide culturally sensitive and appropriate care.
ANS: D
The inclusion of cultural considerations in the health assessment is of paramount importance
to gather accurate and meaningful data and to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate
health care.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 10

28. In the socioenvironmental model, the focus of the health care professional includes:
a. changing the patient’s perceptions of disease.
b. identification of biomedical model interventions.
c. identifying the negative health behaviours of the patient.
d. helping the patient view health as a resource.
ANS: D
In the socioenvironmental model, the focus of the health care professional is on helping the
consumer choose a healthier lifestyle.

DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 7

29. Which of the following would be included in a holistic model of assessment?

a. Nursing goals for the patient
b. Anticipated growth and development patterns
c. A patient’s perception of his or her health status
d. The nurse’s perception of disease as related to this patient
ANS: C
Holistic health views the mind, body, and spirit functioning as a whole within the
environment. A holistic model includes the patient’s perception of his or her health status,
not the nurse’s perception or goals.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page: 7

30. When nursing diagnoses are being classified, which of the following would be considered a
risk diagnosis?
 a. Identifying existing levels of wellness
b. Evaluating previous problems and goals
c. Identifying potential problems the individual may develop
d. Focusing on strengths and reflecting an individual’s transition to higher levels of
wellness
ANS: C
Risk diagnoses are problems that an individual does not currently have but is particularly
vulnerable to develop.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 5

31. The nurse has implemented several planned interventions to address the nursing diagnosis of
acute pain. Which of the following would be the next appropriate action?
a. Establishing priorities.
b. Identifying expected outcomes.
c. Evaluating the individual’s condition and comparing actual outcomes with
expected outcomes.
d. Interpreting data, identifying clusters of cues, and making inferences.
ANS: C
Evaluation is the next step after the implementation phase of the nursing process. During
this step, the nurse should evaluate the individual’s condition and compare actual outcomes
with expected outcomes.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 2

32. Which of the following best describes a proficient nurse?

a. A nurse who has little experience with a specified population and uses rules to
guide performance
b. A nurse who has an intuitive grasp of a clinical situation and quickly identifies the
accurate solution
c. A nurse who sees actions in the context of daily plans for patients
d. A nurse who sees a patient’s situation as a whole, with long-term goals for the
patient, rather than as a list of tasks to be performed
ANS: D
The proficient nurse, who has more time and experience than has the novice nurse, is able to
see a patient’s situation as a whole, rather than as a list of tasks to be performed, and is able
to see how today’s nursing actions apply to the point the nurse wants the patient to reach at a
future time.

DIF: Application REF: Page: 3

MATCHING

Prioritize the following patient situations:

A = first-level priority problem
B = second-level priority problem
C = third-level priority problem
1. A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus does not know how to check his
own blood glucose levels with a glucometer.
2. A teenager who was stung by a bee during a soccer match is having trouble breathing.
3. An older adult with urinary tract infection is showing signs of confusion and agitation.

1. ANS: B DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 5

2. ANS: C DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 5
3. ANS: A DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 5
Another random document with
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of Expedition to
discover the sources of the White Nile, in the
years 1840, 1841, Vol. 2 (of 2)
 This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United
States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the
laws of the country where you are located before using this
eBook.

Title: Expedition to discover the sources of the White Nile, in the

years 1840, 1841, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Author: Ferdinand Werne

Translator: Charles William O'Reilly

Release date: April 25, 2024 [eBook #73466]

Language: English

Original publication: London: Richard Bentley, 1849

Credits: Galo Flordelis (This file was produced from images

generously made available by The Internet
Archive/University of Pretoria)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EXPEDITION TO

DISCOVER THE SOURCES OF THE WHITE NILE, IN THE YEARS
1840, 1841, VOL. 2 (OF 2) ***
 For Werne’s Expedition to the Source of the White Nile.

Hillmandel & Walton Lithographers.

Richard Bentley New Burlington Street, 1849.
(Large-size)
 EXPEDITION
TO DISCOVER THE SOURCES OF

T H E W H I T E N I L E,
IN THE YEARS

1840, 1841.

BY FER DINAND WERNE.

From the German,

BY CHARLES WILLIAM O’REILLY.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VO L . II.

LO NDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.

1849.
 CONTENTS

OF

TH E SEC OND VO L UME.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE

SLEEPING TOKULS OR BARNS. — CRUELTY AND LICENTIOUSNESS OF

THE TURKS. — ARNAUD AND SELIM CAPITAN’S FEAR OF THE NATIVES.
— NEGROES SHOT BY THE TURKS. — CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES. —
RED MEN. — ARNAUD’S MADNESS. — FEAR OF THE NEGROES AT FIRE-
ARMS. — VISIT OF A CHIEF AND HIS SON. — TOBACCO AND SHEEP. —
MOUNT KORÈK. — NATION OF BARI. — VISIT OF THE BROTHER AND
SON-IN-LAW OF THE KING. — CHAIN OF MOUNTAINS. 1

CHAPTER II.
RECEPTION OF ENVOYS FROM KING LÀKONO. — DESCRIPTION OF
THEM. — RELIGION OF THE BARIS: THEIR ARMS AND ORNAMENTS. —
PANIC CREATED AMONG THE NATIVES AT THE EXPLOSION OF CANNON.
— LIVELY SCENE ON SHORE. — COLOURED WOMEN. — ARRIVAL OF
KING LÀKONO AND SUITE. — HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE COMMANDERS:
HIS DRESS. — THE NATIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF BARI. —
PRESENTS TO KING LÀKONO, AND HIS DEPARTURE. 26

CHAPTER III.
MIMOSAS AND TAMARIND-TREES. — DIFFERENT SPECIES. — DURRA 50
AND CREEPING BEANS. — RELIGION OF THE ETHIOPIANS. — SECOND
VISIT OF LÀKONO. — THE CROWN-PRINCE TSHOBÈ. — PARTICULARS OF
THE COUNTRIES OF BARI AND BERRI. — DESCRIPTION OF LÀKONO’S
FAVOURITE SULTANA. — MOUNTAINS IN THE VICINITY OF BARI: THEIR
FORM AND DISTANCE. — ISLAND OF TSHÀNKER. — REMARKS ON
LÀKONO’S LEGISLATION AND CONDUCT. — THE NJAM-NJAM, OR
CANNIBALS. — CUSTOMS AND ARMS OF THE NATIVES. — THE
TROPICAL RAINS.

CHAPTER IV.
KING LÀKONO’S PRIDE. — BEER KNOWN TO THE ANCIENT
EGYPTIANS. — BAR OF ROCKS. — WAR-DANCE OF THE NATIVES. —
DETERMINATION OF THE TURKS TO RETURN, AND DISAPPOINTMENT OF
THE AUTHOR. — COMMENCEMENT OF THE RETURN VOYAGE. —
REPUBLICANS IN THE KINGDOM OF BARI. — VISIT OF THE FRENCHMEN
TO MOUNT KORÈK. — REASON OF THE AUTHOR’S AVERSION TO
ARNAUD. — CONDUCT OF VAISSIÈRE, AND SCENE IN HIS DIVAN. —
CULTIVATION OF COTTON AT BARI. — APATHY OF FEÏZULLA-CAPITAN
AND THE CREW. — SUPERIORITY OF MAN TO WOMAN IN A NATIVE
STATE. — WATCH-HOUSES. 76

CHAPTER V.
RIVER BUFFALOES. — COMICAL APPEARANCE OF THE NATIVES. —
WILLOWS. — SPECIES OF STRAND-SNIPES. — MODESTY OF THE
WOMEN, AND THEIR APRONS. — THE LIÈNNS. — ORNAMENTS OF THIS
TRIBE: THEIR TOKULS. — THE SERIBA OR ENCLOSURE TO THE HUTS.
— ENORMOUS ELEPHANT’S TOOTH. — LUXURIANCE OF THE SOIL. —
THE COUNTRY OF BAMBER. — DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIVES. —
MANNER OF CATCHING ELEPHANTS. — ROYAL CRANES. — SPLENDID
BARTER. — TRIBE OF THE BUKOS. — STOICISM OF AN OLD NATIVE. —
SLAVES. — HIPPOPOTAMI AND CROCODILES. — THE TSHIÈRRS. — THE
ELLIÀBS AND BÒHRS. — DESCRIPTION OF THE FORMER TRIBE: THEIR
WAR-DANCE. 102

CHAPTER VI.
EXAMINATION OF AN ARM OF THE NILE. — FORESTS ON THE BANKS. 133
— PRICE OFFERED IN ENGLAND FOR A LIVE HIPPOPOTAMUS. — THESE
ANIMALS RARELY MET WITH IN EGYPT. — THE LIÈNNS. — ROPES MADE
FROM THE LEAVES OF THE DOME-PALM. — UÈKA. — CHARACTER AND
DESCRIPTION OF THE LIÈNNS. — THE EMEDDI-TREE. — DÖBKER-TREE.
— COTTON-TREES. — THE TSHIÈRRS. — TRIBES OF THE BODSHOS AND
KARBORAHS. — LABYRINTHS OF THE WHITE STREAM. — BARTER WITH
THE KARBORÀHS: THEIR DRESS, ARMS, ORNAMENTS, ETC. — MOUNT
NERKANJIN. — ISLAND OF TUI. — THE KOKIS. — CONTEST WITH
HIPPOPOTAMI. — CROCODILES’ EGGS. — HOSTILITY OF THE TSHIÈRRS
TO THE ELLIÀBS. — EBONY CLUBS. — THE BÒHRS: THEIR SONGS,
ORNAMENTS, ETC. — ANT-HILLS. — “IRG-EL-MOJE” OR WATER-ROOT, A
SPECIES OF VEGETABLE. — VETCHES. — THE ANDURÀB OR ENDERÀB-
TREE. — THE DAKUIN-TREE. — A SOLDIER STABBED BY A NATIVE. —
ANTIQUITY OF DUNG-FIRES.

CHAPTER VII.
THE BÒHR “JOI”: HIS TREATMENT ON BOARD THE VESSEL: HIS
ESCAPE. — WOMEN’S VILLAGE. — FELT CAPS. — SONGS OF THE BÒHRS.
— TUBERS SIMILAR TO POTATOES. — THE BUNDURIÀLS. — THE TUTUIS
AND KÈKS. — AN ELEPHANT ATTACKED AND KILLED. — TASTE OF THE
FLESH OF THIS ANIMAL. — CHEATING OF THE NATIVES IN BARTER. —
WINTER TOKULS OR WOMEN’S HUTS. — MANNER OF MAKING A BURMA
OR COOKING-VESSEL. — “BAUDA” AGAIN. — FEÏZULLA-CAPITAN’S
INDUSTRY IN SEWING. — THE KÈKS LIVE BY FISHING. — DESCRIPTION
OF THE WOMEN. — SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE VESSEL. — OSTRICHES
AND APES. — FOGS ON THE WHITE STREAM. — WATCH-TOWERS. —
SALE SHOOTS A GIGANTIC CRANE: IS PUNISHED. — THE NUÈHRS. 169

CHAPTER VIII.
NUÈHRS. — ORNAMENTS. — MANNERS OF THE WOMEN. — THE MEN.
— CURIOUS CUSTOM OF DRESSING THE HAIR, AND STAINING
THEMSELVES. — VISIT OF A CHIEF. — SPEARS USED INSTEAD OF
KNIVES. — SINGULAR WAY OF MAKING ATONEMENT, ETC. — WE HEAR
ACCOUNTS OF OUR BLACK DESERTERS. — BOWS AND QUIVERS SIMILAR
TO THOSE REPRESENTED IN THE HIEROGLYPHICS. — THE TURKS
INDULGENT IN ONE RESPECT. — MOUNT TICKEM OR MORRE. — TRACES
OF ANIMAL-WORSHIP AMONG THE NUÈHRS. — ARNAUD’S
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF A LAKE (AND GASCONADES). — ADVICE TO
FUTURE TRAVELLERS ON THE WHITE NILE. — SWALLOWS. — MEANS OF
DEFENCE AGAINST GNATS DISCOVERED. — THE SHILLUKS AGAIN. —
QUESTION OF THE CONTINUAL ALTERATIONS IN THE APPEARANCE OF
THE NILE. — GUINEA-FOWLS. — GIRAFFES. — BLACK WASPS. —
TURTLE-DOVES. — OUR AUTHOR CAUGHT IN A THORN-BUSH. — FABLED
LUXURIANCE OF THE PLANTS IN THE TROPICAL REGIONS. — VIEW
FROM A HILL. — MANNER OF CATCHING FISH AMONG THE NATIVES. —
THE SOBÀT RIVER. — THE INUNDATIONS OF THE NILE CONSIDERED. 203

CHAPTER IX.
 ROYAL CRANES. — SCRUPLES OF FEÏZULLA-CAPITAN. — COMPOSITION
OF THE SHORES. — DESCRIPTION OF THE DHELLÈB-PALM AND ITS
FRUIT. — FORM OF EGYPTIAN PILLARS DERIVED FROM THIS TREE. —
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EGYPTIAN AND GREEK ARCHITECTURE. —
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUNT-TREE. — DEATH OF AN ARABIAN SOLDIER.
— VISIT OF A MEK OR CHIEF. — DANGEROUS RENCONTRE WITH A
LION ON SHORE. — PURSUIT OF THIS BEAST BY THE AUTHOR AND
SULIMAN KASHEF WITH HIS MEN. — FEAR OF THE NATIVES AT THE
TURKS. — PLUNDER OF THEIR TOKULS BY THE CREW. — BREAD-CORN
OF THE DINKAS. — ANTELOPE HUNT. — DIFFERENT SPECIES OF THESE
ANIMALS. — IMMENSE HERDS ON THE BANKS OF THE WHITE NILE. —
LIONS AGAIN. — BAD CONDITION OF THE VESSELS. 237

CHAPTER X.
VARIOUS SPECIES OF GRASSES. — FORMATION OF THE SHORES. —
WATER-FOWLS. — AN ANTELOPE OF THE TETE SPECIES, NOW AT
BERLIN. — STRATA OF THE SHORE. — THE SOBÀT RIVER: THE MAIN
ROAD FOR THE NATIVES FROM THE HIGHLANDS TO THE PLAINS. —
OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURSE OF THE NILE AND SOBÀT. — A
THOUSAND ANTELOPES SEEN MOVING TOGETHER! — WILD BUFFALOES,
LIONS, AND HYÆNAS. — AFRICA, THE CRADLE OF THE NEGRO RACE. —
THE SHUDDER-EL-FAS: DESCRIPTION OF THIS SHRUB. — ARNAUD’S
CHARLATANRY. — OUR AUTHOR FEARED BY THE FRENCHMEN. —
ARNAUD AND SABATIER’S JOURNALS: THE MARVELLOUS STORIES OF
THE FORMER. — THIBAUT’S JEALOUSY. — VISIT OF A SHIEKH OF THE
SHILLUKS. — FEAR OF THE TURKS AT THESE PEOPLE. — SULIMAN
KASHEF PURSUED BY A LION. 257

CHAPTER XI.
THE SHILLUKS, A VITIATED PEOPLE. — CAUSE OF THE VIOLENT 280
RAINS IN INNER AFRICA. — REFUSAL OF THE SULTAN OF THE SHILLUKS
TO VISIT THE VESSELS. — DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIES OF GRASS. —
BARTER WITH THE SHILLUKS. — CONQUEST OF THEIR COUNTRY NOT
DIFFICULT. — FORM OF THEIR BOATS. — AMBAK RAFTS. — IRON
RARELY FOUND AMONG THE EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES. — WORSHIP OF
TREES BY THE SHILLUKS: THEIR RELIGIOUS RITES. — STARS IN THE
SOUTHERN REGIONS OF AFRICA. — SHILLUK WOMEN: THEIR DRESS. —
REFUSAL OF THE MEN TO SELL THEIR ARMS. — THE BAGHÀRAS: THEIR
DRESS, ETC. — RE-APPEARANCE OF THE ISLAND PARKS, AND MOUNT
DEFAFAÙNGH. — ASCENT OF THIS MOUNTAIN, AND FULL DESCRIPTION
OF IT. — THE DINKAS: THEIR LOVE FOR OLD CUSTOMS. — DESERTION
OF TWO DINKA SOLDIERS, AND REFUSAL OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN TO
GIVE THEM UP. — SHEIKHS SEIZED, AND DESERTERS RECOVERED.

CHAPTER XII.
LANDING IN THE TERRITORY OF THE BAGHÀRAS: DESCRIPTION OF
THEM: THEIR HOSTILITY TO THE DINKAS, AND MARAUDING
EXCURSIONS INTO THE COUNTRY OF THIS TRIBE. — CURIOUS
POSITION IN WHICH THE LATTER TRIBE STAND. — MOUNT N’JEMATI:
EXAMINATION OF IT. — A SHRUB-ACACIA. — APPEARANCE OF
ELEPHANTS AND LIONS. — GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE
MOUNTAINS. — MONKEYS APPEAR AGAIN. — MOHAMMED ALI UNDER
THE FORM OF AN HIPPOPOTAMUS. — ISLAND OF ABU. — THE
HASSARIES. — A HIPPOPOTAMUS KILLED BY SULIMAN KASHEF. —
SHORES OF THE NILE COMPARED TO THOSE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. — EL
AES. — THE KABBABISH ARABS. — HEDJASI. — THE MOUNTAIN GROUP
OF ARASKOLL. — CONDUCT OF SULIMAN KASHEF TO A SHIEKH AND
ARABS. — BEST WAY TO TREAT THE TURKS. — THE DOWNS: THEIR
NATURE. — INTELLIGENCE OF THE DEATH OF SOLIMAN EFFENDI AND
VAISSIÈRE. — APPROACH TO KHARTÙM. — ARRIVAL, AND MEETING OF
OUR AUTHOR WITH HIS BROTHER. — CONCLUSION. 309

APPENDIX
 EXPEDITION

TO DISCOVER THE SOURCES

OF THE

W H I T E N I L E.
 CHAPTER I.
SLEEPING TOKULS OR BARNS. — CRUELTY AND LICENTIOUSNESS OF THE
TURKS. — ARNAUD AND SELIM CAPITAN’S FEAR OF THE NATIVES. — NEGROES
SHOT BY THE TURKS. — CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES. — RED MEN. —
ARNAUD’S MADNESS. — FEAR OF THE NEGROES AT FIRE-ARMS. — VISIT OF A
CHIEF AND HIS SON. — TOBACCO AND SHEEP. — MOUNT KOREK. — NATION
OF BARI. — VISIT OF THE BROTHER AND SON-IN-LAW OF THE KING. — CHAIN
OF MOUNTAINS.

20th January.—The vessels were towed further to the southward

by the Libàhn, whilst the commanders, and we Franks with them,
walked on the magnificent shore. The wind, with which, however, we
had previously sailed, although not quicker than the pace we walked
at on shore, freshened at ten o’clock, and we repaired again on
board the vessels. I had made a real forced march, and was at last
compelled to be carried, owing to increasing weakness. Little villages
and isolated tokuls stood in the beautiful woody country, which is
interspersed with solitary light spaces or corn-fields, where, however,
the short fine grass was withered. These tokuls are elevated above
the ground on stakes, and serve to protect the fruits, or as sleeping-
places for security against noxious animals or the temporary damp
of the soil. The natives dance, sing, and jump, slide on their knees,
sell or exchange their god (glass beads—Arabic, sug-sug), amongst
one another, and squat, but not by sitting upright in the Turkish
manner, and smoke their pipes. These pipes have prettily-worked
black clay bowls, with a tube of reeds, and a long iron mouthpiece:
even the tongs, to apply the charcoal to light them, are not wanting.
They are cheated in the most shameful manner by the Turco-Arabian
people; robbed of their weapons, and plundered right and left. What
am I to do? I am ill, and have lost my voice; yet I try to prevent
these outrages as far as I am able.
The so-called elephant-tree prevails here exclusively; and one of
the chief amusements this morning was to shoot down its fruit, in
which exploit Suliman Kashef distinguished himself as the best shot.
The shady trees, the prospect on the river, enlivened by the
glittering sails, the blue chain of mountains—it was a sight that did
me good, and refreshed my inmost soul. But all this was again
clouded by Turks. Is there another word for Turks? No: Turks,—
basta! A negro, who came from the other side to swim over to us,
got into the track of the sailing vessels, and was drowned, although
he might have been easily picked up by two ships following us. The
commanders had gone on a-head, and I was behind with the
Frenchmen; I was not able to call, and therefore fired off my gun, in
order, by signs, to induce them to save him. Arnaud also, whose
vessel was just bearing up, might have easily prevented the death of
the unfortunate creature if he had given a hail to his reïs. He even
blamed my impatience, saying I was ill; and added, with the
contemptuous tone, in which the Arab pronounces his “Abit,” and the
Turk his “kiàfr,” “Why do the fellows swim about in the water?” Upon
this I could not forbear using hard words.
An Egyptian soldier, who, like some others of the libàhn, had
remained behind on shore to ransack the deserted tokuls, ran behind
a young naked girl, when I fortunately noticed the circumstance in
our walk. I hastened to Suliman Kashef, who was gallant enough to
recall, with a voice of command, the libertine from this his wicked
purpose.
The Turkish character involuntarily shews itself on such occasions
as these; it goes against his grain to see an inferior enjoying any
pleasure. There was no merit, therefore, in Suliman’s conduct, even
had he warded off from us a Sicilian vespers. Thibaut had had also a
similar incident on board his vessel with the reïs, who wanted to be
too free with a young girl whom the former, during this voyage, had
purchased for a few glass beads,—I believe from the Keks. This
incident was also announced in due form by us; but they laughed,
and said, “Badèn” (afterwards), and Arnaud even joined in this
opinion.
 At a quarter past ten o’clock, the north wind has completely died
away, and we tack about towards the west for a short tract, when it
becomes again so fresh, whilst the wind is S.W., that we are able to
sail slowly. To all appearance, unfortunately, our vaunted voyage of
discovery will soon have an end. Selim-Capitan is frightened to a
ludicrous degree; Arnaud cannot conceal his fear; and Suliman
Kashef, not being yet restored to health, is utterly indifferent. I
cannot refrain from considering an instant return as a disgrace and
as treachery both to the world and Mohammed Ali. On the right an
island, and the last of those two which we had on our left still
continues, and so we are somewhat free from the noise of the
people on the shore. Sale and Sate Mohammed are no longer seen
on land; they have perhaps become the victims of their passions,
although they were only to shoot for me a pair of turtle-doves.
We halt, for a time, on the left shore, where there is a large
village, partly scattered in the wood that skirts the river so
beautifully. At eleven o’clock we set out again, and our men drive
back the cattle from the island close to us, through the water to the
right shore, for their unfathomable throats appear at last to be
satiated. The clapping of hands, keeping time to the singing, above
which the “kih, kih” of the women is heard, accompanies us from
both sides. We cannot hear or see anything for the crowd and
clatter, especially myself, round whom all the beautiful world floats
as in a mist, and a jarring din sings in my ears, so that my writing,
inexorably necessary as it is, becomes exceedingly difficult. I dared
not close my eyes for fear of becoming completely confused. I
wanted to go to Selim Capitan, or rather to his interpreter, but was
not able to put the requisite questions and to note down the
answers. I continue to write mechanically, and cannot square my
own journal, when I try to revise the entries of the last few days; for
everything flickers before my eyes, and my memory is gone, so that
it all appears to me like a dream.
With a light north-east wind, which also assisted us yesterday,
we proceed S.S.W. It is noon, and we have two islands, lying close
to each other, on our left. A large island ends on our right, and
another one begins, by which the course in the middle of the river is,
in some degree, confined. Nevertheless, the river always retains a
considerable breadth, and a proper depth; and then,—will the
poltroons return? The mountain, already several times mentioned,
peeps into the window from the west; it shews itself as two
mountains lying one close to the other, the western of which rises
conically, and has an obtuse peak, and an undulating tail to the
west. The latter appears somewhat wooded, yet these masses giving
light and shade may be mostly blocks; the conically ascending
mountain, on the contrary, has a smooth surface, and may be an
extinguished volcano, although one would not expect to find such
here. We now find, for the first time, stones in the river, and they
are granite and gneiss. They are not yet rounded; the chain of
mountains from whence they come cannot, therefore, be very far
distant. We proceed S.S.W. An island terminates on the left, and
another follows at the distance of some hundred paces.
Four o’clock. S.W. An occurrence has just happened, which might
be the death of us all if anything were to be feared from the revenge
of these evidently good-natured people. We were on the right side
of the river, and went to the left, where the little sandal was towed
not far from us by the Libàhn. Natives had stationed themselves
here in large and small groups; they greeted us, held up their hands,
pointed to their necks for beads, and sang, danced, and jumped.
There was no end of laughing in our vessel; I was attentive to what
was going on, and saw that the natives had seized the rope of the
sandal, and would not let it be towed further, for they wanted beads.
Probably the crew of the sandal had taken weapons or ornaments
from them, without giving anything in return, as this frequently
happened. We steered close to the left shore to assist our men,
when eight bold armed figures advanced towards us, and gave us to
understand by pantomimic signs, that we had presented beads to
their neighbours below, but would not give them anything. They
offered the rings on their arms, and their weapons, and signified to
us, as we were advancing libàhn, on account of the faintness of the
wind, that they would not allow us to tow any further unless we
gave them something. They said all this, however, with a laughing
countenance, jumped about, and laughed anew. It was plain they
were only in jest; but our bloodthirsty fellows, seeing no danger in
this small number of men, and never thinking of the probable
consequences, just like the Turks, considered this an excellent
opportunity to display their courage. They seized their weapons. I
was unwell, but yet was standing on deck, and kept order as well as
my weak voice would allow me. I went from one to the other, and
enjoined them not to fire, until arrows were first shot at them. The
black soldiers, who were mostly recruits, I admonished especially not
to be filles de joie (the usual expression here applied to those who
exhibit fear in discharging their guns), but men (rigàl, sing. ragel), to
grasp the gun firmly, and to take good aim. Our blacks are generally
very much afraid of the report of guns, and do exactly as the Greeks
did at the commencement of their war for freedom; they lay the
butt-end on the thigh, and fire at random. On the White River, also,
the report of these unknown weapons was more feared than the real
danger itself. They listened to me; but then came the vessel of
Captain Mohammed Agà, a fool-hardy Arnaut, who is always trying
to distinguish himself in some way or another. He shouted to the
sandal to cut away the rope, although the men were still on land.
This was about to be done, when the tallest negro, who had twisted
the rope round a little tree, pointed his bow at the sailor who was
about to cut it through with his knife. He laughed at the same time,
and it was clear that he was not in earnest; for he had wrestled in a
friendly manner with the other sailors, when they tried to get the
rope from him, without making use of his weapons. Yet the Arnaut
commanded them to “fire,” whilst he had already aimed at the
incautious native, being the first to discharge his piece. In a moment
all three vessels fired away, as though they were beset by the devil.
I was only able to pull back a couple of fellows whose guns had
flashed in the pan. Eleven or twelve other victims followed the first,
who was knocked over by the captain’s shot. Those who went away
wounded were not counted. An old woman was shot down by an
Egyptian standing near me, and yet he boasted of this heroic deed,
as did all the others of theirs. There might have been from twenty-
five to thirty natives collected together at that place, scarcely thirty
paces from us, and the high-standing straw might have concealed
several more.
We sailed away with the wind favouring our criminal action, for
our men had again come on board before the firing commenced.
The Dahabiës sailing ahead of us must have heard our shots; they
did not however furl one sail to lend us assistance, which might have
been eventually necessary. Before we caught up these vessels, we
saw a woman on the shore, looking about among the dead men,
and then afterwards running to the city at some distance from the
shore. The natives were hastening towards it, but they did not trust
themselves near us. Yet they knew not the melancholy truth that our
shots would hit at a distance; hitherto they feared only the thunder
and lightning of them, as we had seen several times. We halted a
moment; the unhappy creatures or relatives of the slain came closer
to the border of the shore, laid their hands flat together, raised them
above their head, slid upon their knees nearer to us, and sprang
again high in the air, with their compressed hands stretched aloft, as
if to invoke the pity of heaven, and to implore mercy of us. A slim
young man was so conspicuous by his passionate grief, that it cut to
my heart, and—our barbarians laughed with all their might. This
unbounded attachment to one another, and the circumstance that
that woman, in spite of the danger so close at hand, sought for the
man of her heart among those who had perished, affected me
exceedingly, because such moral intrinsic worth, flowing from pure
natural hearts, is unfortunately more acquired than innate in civilised
nations. We had only advanced a little on our way, and above thirty
unarmed natives, who must yet at all events have been informed of
the tragical incident that had just occurred, sat down on the sand
directly close to the river, without suspicion, or designing any harm
to us, as if nothing had taken place, and really—I had enough to do
to prevent their being shot at.
We reached the vessels of the commanders, and Mohammed Agà
was the first to hasten to them, in order to report the incident. But I
also drew near, and there was a kind of court martial summoned.
Arnaud did honour to the European name, and took the part of the
Turks, who looked upon the whole as a trifle. Finally, the Arnaut,
who had already confessed the fact, faced about boldly and swift as
lightning, declaring that he had never fired a shot, and that he
would bring witnesses to prove it, and—here the matter ended.
Selim Capitan thought he shewed his wish to keep up a good
understanding with the natives, by throwing into the grass on the
shore some miserable bits of glass paste, with a cup. The natives
looked and groped about, whilst we sailed to the neighbouring
island. Here we found two divisions of negroes, whose chiefs were
also presented with strings of beads. Again we threw beads among
the grass, and ordered the whole occurrence to be explained by the
interpreters; more beads, and—every one jumped forward delighted.
One of these chiefs had all his naked body streaked over with ochre:
he looked like the black huntsman of Bohemia. They are said to do
this in particular when they marry; we have seen already several
such red men; even the hair and the ivory bracelets which are thick
and of a hand’s breadth, as well as the numerous iron rings on the
wrists and ankles, are coloured red in this fashion. Rage and
vexation, together with the heat of the sun, compelled me to be
carried back quite exhausted down the shore to the vessel.
Thibaut and Sabatier disclosed to me, as usual, their vexation at
Arnaud’s assuming conduct, and how they are cut up and
calumniated in his journal, which they secretly read, without being
able to call him to account for it at the moment. So likewise I am
obliged to listen to the loud lamentations of his servant Mustaphà, a
Maltese renegade, who always ends with “Credo che sia mezzo
matto quest gran signore o baron fututto.” Although he looks very
fierce, yet he cannot renounce his nature as a tailor, and is
continually asking me whether we are in any danger and begs me,
for the holy Madonna’s sake, to take care that we return as speedily
as possible, for he would rather a thousand times live with his devil
of a wife, than venture again so far among the heathens. Arnaud is
jealous at Suliman Kashef having purchased a young girl with his
beads, and by the assistance of Duschoïl, the interpreter, prettier
than his little sailor’s trull, whom he has hung with glass beads from
head to foot. In a fit of madness he writes a long French letter to
the Kashef, summoning him to restore the girl immediately, although
we are already a long way from her people. Thibaut translates the
letter, and looks as if he had fallen from the clouds, for he is in the
very same boat with Arnaud himself, respecting the purchase of a
girl, that he is going to make a living present to his black Sara,
whom he brought back from England to Khartùm. After the letter
was read aloud, a rude burst of laughter naturally ensued, and
Suliman Kashef said when it was finished, in a pitying tone of voice,
“El shems, el shems!” (the sun, the sun.) Certainly it is not the first
time that the African sun has produced such an effect on Arnaud; he
suffers like all of us, and his arrogance and pride shake him more
violently, because they find opposition on every side.
21st January. I this morning felt myself uncommonly well but had
scarcely stepped out of the door to go ashore, when the stream of
light—I know not what other name to give it—rushed upon me with
such force, and penetrated, as it were, through me, that I was
scarcely able to sink back on my bed; and it is only now, when,
however, the sun is at its height, that I feel myself at all capable of
writing. We have remained since early this morning, in a southerly
direction. The sails have been twice hoisted, but on the average we
are towed by the rope. We leave an island on our right. There are
several red skins among the negroes, who are really handsome men;
the tokuls, standing singly, are large, well roofed, and, resting upon
strong stakes, open on all sides. The stakes form a peristyle, and the
inner wall is smeared inside with clay; perhaps they serve as stables
for cattle, and summer tokuls. A small gohr, or river, in the
neighbourhood of which we repose at noon, comes merrily in from
the right shore, and the stream has a noble breadth, but little depth
of water.
Two o’clock, S.W. We have a slight north wind, and an island on
our right; behind it, the forest continues on the shore. The high
mountainous district beyond it is still blue, for the day is not clear. It
appears, indeed, partly covered with wood, and to form a chain with
the other mountains. The information we possess about this region
is still very scanty, and it would be difficult to make any thing out of
the interpreters, even if my head were less affected. Groups of a
hundred and fifty to two hundred negroes are standing together on
all sides; they generally accompany us a short way, without uniting
themselves to the next swarm. This perhaps arises more from
accident than for the purpose of keeping their boundary stations on
the water, to prevent falling together by the ears, whilst watering
their herds, and on other occasions. Islands impede our course, and
the crew see, to their terror, a number of natives, holding their
weapons aloft, wade through the river from one side to the other.
We immediately take possession of a little islet in the middle of the
river, and surround it with our vessels; a regular military position, for
it is surrounded with deeper water. It is about a hundred paces long
from north to south, and from five to six broad, and the shores fall
away steeply to the river.
Feïzulla Capitan disembarks, and returns soon from Selim
Capitan, with the melancholy intelligence that there is “moje mafish,”
(no water). I was completely in despair, left the vessel, and set off to
the top of the islet, where Turks and Franks were assembled for
further consultation. The black people found on it were driven away
by us; they jumped into the water like frogs, so that we heard a
simultaneous fearful splash. They soon stood on the more shallow
ground, and shouted their huzza, “Hui, ii hui iih!” laughed and joked,
and offered their valuables, &c. We let some of the negroes come on
the islet, and gave them presents of beads. About evening a large
herd of cows appeared on the right shore; they were lean, possibly
having been long in want of fresh grass. The men, armed with
spears, bows, and arrows, drove the herds from the right to the left
shore, where we likewise remarked a herd of cattle. Our gentlemen
were horribly afraid when the people accumulated like a black
swarm of bees on all sides.
It was a lucky circumstance that a large bird of prey perched on
the mast, to take a view aloft of the flesh under him. All eyes were
directed to us and this bird, when Suliman Kashef seized his long
gun; the blacks watched us closely, jostled each other, and were on
tenter-hooks of anxiety, for they did not know what it meant.
Suliman Kashef fired; the report set them in momentary fear, and
they were about to run away, when the sight of the bird falling into
the water, noted them, as it were, to the ground. When, however,
other birds of prey flew down on the water, to see what fate had
befallen their feathered friend, the “Hui, ii hui iih,” immediately came
to a close; they ran as fast as they could, for this appeared too much
for them to stand, having seen no arrow or stone flying at the bird.
This single shot might be of importance at this moment, when the
people generally, though at a distance, might have shewn a bad
feeling; moreover the incident was of inestimable value to the
expedition, because it infused the feeling of our superiority, and
even enhanced it, in their dismayed hearts. If I had previously
strained every nerve to prevent the return already determined upon,
and had got the again-convalescent Kashef on my side, so now even
the timorous Selim Capitan was inclined to have the track more
accurately examined.
22nd January.—There was not a breath of wind, and it is still
undetermined whether we shall proceed further. I therefore
proposed to the Frenchmen, whose courage I could naturally have
no doubt of, to take out some of the freight from their vessel, which
is lightly built and convenient, and thus to press on further. They
agreed to this proposal. I described the country, and we were having
breakfast together, when intelligence was brought to us that it was
decided to go on. No sooner does Selim Capitan see the long-legged
blacks going to their cattle, swimming over to the right shore, than
fear seizes him anew; we, however, by our joint efforts, manage to
remove it.
In the meanwhile, the chief of this country comes to us with his
grown-up son. A red cloth dress of honour is put on the old man; a
red chequered cotton handkerchief tied round his head; and glass
beads are hung round his neck. They also gave the son beads, and
bound a piece of calico round him like a napkin. It was plain to be
seen that they were delighted with these presents, and particularly
at the pleasure of conversing and communicating with us. The old
man’s name is Nalewadtshòhn, his son’s Alumbèh; but their great
Mattà (king or lord, perhaps analogous to the title of honour
previously conferred on us, “Màdam,)” is called Làkono. The latter is
said to possess a beautiful red woollen dress, of a different cut to
the Abbaie, presented to Nalewadtshòhn. It must be truly interesting
to see here, all of a sudden, a negro king in an English uniform,
although it may only come from the Ethiopian sea, or the Indian
Ocean. Sultan Làkono dwells on Mount Pelenja, and rules over a
large country, called Bari, pronounced by the Turks, however,
without further ceremony, Beri. We are said to have been within the
limits of this kingdom for the last two days: those men shot by us
belonged also to Bari.
According to Nalewadtshòhn, who is in general very talkative,
and does not appear very favourably inclined towards his king, all
the mountains in the neighbourhood have abundance of iron; and
Mount Pelenja, a quantity of copper, which is here in great
estimation. Iron-ochre, which the natives here and there use to
colour themselves with, is said to be found on all sides, formed by
them, however, into balls: by this preparation, perhaps, a cleansing
of the material takes place. The high mountain-chain we had already
seen, lies to the west, at some hours’ distance, over the left shore of
the Nile. Its name is Niakanja, and the mountains before us are
called Korèk and Lubèhk, which are said to be followed by many
other higher mountains. Both the men are strikingly handsome,
although not one of the whole multitude can be called ugly. They are
tall and strongly built; have a nose, somewhat broad indeed, but not
flat; on the contrary, slightly raised, such as we see in the heads of
Rhamses; a full mouth, not at all like that of negroes, but exactly the
same as in the Egyptian statues; a broad arched forehead, and a
speaking, honest-looking eye. The latter is not, as we have found
generally in the marsh regions, entirely suffused with blood,
whereby the countenances have a dismal appearance, but clear, full,
and black, yet not dazzling. We observed that their legs were well
formed, though not muscular; their naked bodies were adorned with
the very same decorations of ivory and iron as we had seen in the
others. The name of the village on the right side of the river is
Baràko; the village lying immediately opposite, under the trees,
before which are a small island and pastures, is called Niowàh.
Alumbèh was sent as our envoy to King Làkono.
We leave our island at noon, and have a larger island on our
right, a smaller one on the left, and tow to the south, accompanied
by the negroes in the water: they even come with their long bodies
to the side of the vessel, and part with every thing they have for the
beloved sug-sug.
At Asser (three o’clock in the afternoon), S.S.W., with oars and
sails. A village, on the right side of the river, contains only a few
tokuls; but a large herd of cattle, grazing there, sets our crew
longing again. About sun-set, S. I procure a beautiful spear for a
single glass bead—silly, childish people! Immediately after sun-set,
W.S.W. On the left a small island; a gohr, or arm of a river, appearing
to form a large island, pours forth from thence, if it be not a
tributary stream. The wood before us contrasts by its dark hue with
the coloured horizon, over which, as yet, no alpine country glows.
On the right shore stand a number of armed and laughing negroes,
in picturesque positions; this has been the case the whole time, both
in the water and on land. They walk arm-in-arm, quite in a brotherly
manner, or with their arms round one another’s necks, as the
students in Germany used to do in my time. They help each other in
getting up on shore, and have frequently one foot placed firmly
against the knee, standing like cranes. They lean on their spears, or
long bows, or squat down; but I see none of them sitting or lying on
the ground, according to the lazy custom of the orientals.
The north wind is so faint that we are obliged to lend assistance
with poles; the river has more water, thank God, than we thought;
and even our reïs, whom a longing fit for his wives every now and
then seizes, believes that this water-course will hold on for some
time. We anchor in the middle of the river, and the guards are
doubled in the vessels. I am tired of this constant variety of
sensations, and yet would like to see and hear much more. My head
is so heavy and stupid, that I cannot accept Suliman Kashef’s
invitation.
23rd January.—Half-past eight o’clock. We have gone so far in a
southerly direction by the rope, and we move S. by W. and S.W. The
rapidity of the river has increased from one mile and a half to two
miles. The walk on shore has tired me more, because I was followed
by the natives, with all their effects, and retarded, so that I was
obliged to break a road through them, half by violence, though I am
still very weak in my legs. I purchased for a couple of miserable
beads a little sheep, covered partly with wool, and partly with hair,
as the sheep here generally are, and having a long mane under the
throat, and horns twisted back. Selim Capitan says that a similar
species is found in Crete.
Tobacco is called here also tabac, as mostly on the White River.
The Arabs give it the name of dogàhn; this is the small-leaved sort,
with dun-coloured flowers, which is cultivated likewise in Bellet
Sudàn. I have not seen the tobacco-plant growing wild here;
therefore, I cannot say whether the name of tobacco is indigenous
here with the plant, or has been introduced by immigrants.
Nevertheless, the Arabs are not generally smokers, and it is unlikely
that tobacco was brought in by them; and it is less probable,
because, had it been so, it would have kept the name of dogàhn. In
Sennaar, however, a good but very strong tobacco has been
cultivated for ages, and was probably introduced by the Funghs,
who are likewise a well-formed negro race. Our usual title of honour
is matta, which they, however, only give to the whites. The shores
are very extensively intersected with layers of sand.
Ten o’clock. S. by E., and then S.W. Two villages on the right
shore. We sail with a slight north wind, but scarcely make one mile,
for the current is considerably against us. We meet continually with
some fire-eaters among the blacks on the shore; they are startled,
certainly, at the report, but are not particularly frightened, especially
if it be not close to their ears. We have Mount Korèk in a south-
westerly direction before us. It stands like the Niakanja, to which we
have only come within the distance of from three to four hours, and
which lies behind us, isolated from the other mountains. The summit
appears flat from where we are; it has many indentations, and
seems to rise only about six hundred feet above its broad basis, to
which the ground ascends from the river. The wind having nearly
ceased for half an hour, freshens again for three miles.
At noon. S.S.W. In a quarter of an hour, a gohr or arm of the Nile
comes from S. by E.; we make only two miles more, and the wind
deserts us again; we lie, therefore, as if stuck to the place, after
having been thrown by the current on to the island, formed by the
before-named arm on the right shore. But the wind soon freshens
again; we sail away cheerfully. The ships drive one against the other,
or upon the sand, but work themselves loose again; the negroes
come in the water; confusion here—confusion everywhere. A herd of
calves stop in the water before us; this is really tempting, but we sail
on. The log gives four miles, from which two miles must be
deducted for the rapidity of the current, though the reïs can not
understand this.
At half-past twelve o’clock, the end of the island; we sail S.S.E.,
and then S. by W. On the right shore a large durra-field, apparently
the second crop on the very same stalks. The natives there,
according to the custom of this country, have little stools to sit on,
and a small gourd drinking-cup by their side. As before, part of them
are unarmed, and have merely a long stick, with forks or horns at
the top, in their hands. The covering of the head is various. Several
have differently formed little wicker baskets on their heads, as a
protection against the sun. They wear strings of the teeth of dogs or
apes on various parts of the body, but mostly on the neck, as an
ornament or talisman. They have bracelets, the points of which
being covered with bits of fur, are curved outwards like little horns.
Our envoy Alumbèh imitated all the motions and the voice of an ox,
in order to make us understand the meaning of these bracelets.
These, as well as the forks on their houses and sticks, appear to
denote in some way a kind of symbolic veneration for the bull,
whose horns I had previously seen adorned with animals’ tails; for
the bull is bold, and the support of the family among the herds.
One o’clock. A number of negroes are squatting on the island at
the left, or rather are sitting on their stools, and wondering at us
sailing so merrily to S.S.W. I count eleven villages; but I do not trust
myself on deck, for we have 30° Reaumur. About evening the whole
scene will appear more surprising and pleasing to me; for even my
servants, looking in exultingly at the window, praise the beauty of
the country. On all sides, therefore, plenty of mountains, stones, and
rocks; the great buildings in the interior of Africa are no longer a
fable to me! If the nation of Bari has had internal strength enough to
pursue the road of cultivation for thousands of years, what has
prevented it not only from rising from its natural state, but also from
appropriating to itself the higher European cultivation? It has a
stream, navigable, and bringing fertility, full of eatable animals; a
magnificent land affording it everything: it has to sustain war with
the gigantic monsters of the land and water, and to combat with its
own kind; it possesses the best of all metals, iron, from which it
understands how to form very handsome weapons sought for far
and near; it knows how to cultivate its fields; and I saw several
times how the young tobacco plants were moistened with water, and
protected from the sun by a roof of shrubs. The men of nature it
contains are tall, and enjoying all bodily advantages; yet—it has only
arrived at this grade of cultivation. If the perfectibility of nature be
so confined, this truly susceptible people only requires an external
intellectual impetus to regenerate the mythic fame of the Ethiopians.
The hygrometer seems to have got out of order through Arnaud’s
clumsy handling, for it yesterday morning shewed 82°,
notwithstanding the air is far drier and clearer than this height of the
hygrometer would shew. Half-past ten o’clock. We are driven on the
sand, and there we stop to wait for the other vessels. Alas! the
beautiful wind! Two o’clock. We sail on southwards. On the right two
islands. Selim Capitan is said to have the Sultan’s brother on board
his vessel; we are making every exertion, therefore, to overtake him.
The commander no sooner remarks this than he halts at the nearest
island. I repaired immediately to his vessel, and found two relations
of King Làkono on board. Half-past two o’clock. We leave the island
and the previous direction of S.S.W., and approach the right shore of
the river E.S.E. On the right a gohr, or arm of the Nile, appears to
come from S.W., and indeed from Mount Korèk, or Korèg, as the
word is also pronounced.
The two distinguished guests sit upon their stools, which they
brought with them, with their own royal hands, in naked innocence,
and smoke their pipes quite delighted. An arm of the river leaves on
the left hand the main stream to the north, and may be connected
with a gohr previously seen. A village stands above the arm of the
river on the right shore of our stream, and an island is immediately
under it before the gohr itself. The name of the village is Ullibari,
and the arm Beregènn. It is said to flow down a very great distance
before it again joins the White Stream. The latter winds here to the
south; to the right we perceive a village on the left shore, called
Igàh. On the right shore we remark several villages, and those
summer huts, or rekùbas, already mentioned. All the tokuls have
higher-pointed roofs, of a tent-like form. The country generally, in
the neighbourhood of the residence of the great Negro-King,
appears very populous. The north wind is favourable. The black
princes look at the sails, and seem to understand the thing, although
the whole must appear colossal to them in comparison with their
surtuks, as we perceive from their mutually drawing each other’s
attention to them. The king’s brother, whose name is Nikelò, has a
friendly-looking countenance; and his handsome Roman-like head,
with the tolerably long curled hair, is encircled with a strip of fur
instead of the laurel. On the right he wears a yellow copper, on the
left a red copper bracelet. The latter might have been easily taken
for an alloy of gold, although the noble man did not know the gold
which was shewn him as being of higher value, but distinguished
that it was a different metal. Silver he did not know at all. These
mountains being rich in metals, must afford very interesting results
with respect to the precious metals. The other guest is called
Tombé: he is the son-in-law of the king; stronger and taller than
Nikelò, and always cheerful.
We landed soon afterwards on the right shore, as the nearest
landing-place to the capital, Belènja, on the mountain of the same
name, which was at some distance. They gave us the names of all
the mountains lying around in the horizon. The river flows here from
S.S.W., or rather the right shore has this direction. To N. by W.
Mount Nerkonji, previously mentioned as Niakanja, long seen by us;
to W. by S., Mount Konnobih; behind it, in the far distance, the
mountain-chain of Kugelù; to S.W., the rocky mountain, Korek;
behind which the before-named mountain-chain still extends, and is
lost in misty heights. These do not appear, indeed, to be of much
greater height; but on a more accurate observation, I distinguished
a thin veil, apparently sunk upon them, clearer than the western
horizon, and the blue of the mountain forms vanishing from Kugelù
to the south. As I once looked for the alpine world from Montpellier,
and found it, trusting to my good eye-sight, so now I gazed for a
long time on this region of heights; their peaks were clearly hung
round with a girdle of clouds, apparently shining with a glimmering
light in opposition to the clouds hanging before them in our
neighbourhood. When I view the long undulating chain of Kugelù,
distant at all events, taking into consideration the clear atmosphere,
more than twenty hours behind Konnobih (some twelve hours off),
the highest summit of which, west by south, without losing its
horizontal ridge, disappears first evidently in the west, and is
completely veiled behind Korèk lying nearer over south-west, I
conceive that this Kugelù well deserves the name of a chain of
mountains, even if we only take the enormous angle of the parallax
at twenty hours’ distance.
These mountains lie, to all external appearance, upon the left
side of the river, and Nikelò also confirms this. On the right side of
the Nile, we see the low double rocks of Lùluli to S.S.E., and a little
further to S.E. by S., the two low mountains or hills of Liènajihn and
Konnofih lying together. To S.E. Mount Korrejih, and then lastly to E.
the mountain chain of Belenjà, rising up in several peaks to a