On this page
-
Text (2)
-
November 11, 1854.] THE LEADER. 1071
-
BOOKS OF TRAVEL. Travels of an Arab Merc...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Scottish Metaphysics, Past Ane> Present....
. Nor does Mr Femer hesitate distinctly to intimate that , in his opinion , I lato , Kant , Schellmg , Hegel , R « id , Locke , Leibnitz , and all otlier pliilosphers , Lave made but confused work of it ; and tliat the new Institute of Metapliysic ought to cleanse the Augean stable of their errors and inconsistencies . W hat , then , is the grand initial axiom from -which Mr . . terrier starts m this work , and if you grant him which , all his other propositions , he thinks , hold together like a chain of iron links ? It is this—tbat it is the " primary law or condition of all knowledge" that : — Along with whatever any intelligence knows , it must , as tlie ground or condition of its knowledge , have some cognisance of itself .
This proposition stands as Proposition I . of the first book of tlie " Institutes , " —that book constituting what Mr . Ferrier calls the *< Epistemology , or Theory of Knowing . " Twenty-two distinct Propositions , all reasoned out from the first , compose this book of Epistemology , in which are laid down the necessary limits and grounds of all knowledge . To the Epistemolooy succeeds what the author calls the " Agnoiology , or Theory of Ignorance , " in which , in eight Propositions , tie necessary limits of human ignorance are marked out . Then , in the third book , consisting of eleven Propositions , is given the " Ontology , or Theory of Being . " The last Proposition in this book we shall quote by way of sample , and as showing whither Mr . Ferrier ' s theolojry tends : —
All absolute existences are contingent except one ; in other words , there is One , but only one , Absolute Existence which is strictly necessary ; and that existence is a supreme , and infinite , and everlasting Mind in synthesis with all things . The forty-one Propositions of the entire work , with the attached demonstrations , form the " Institutes ; " but to each proposition there is attached a series of " Notes and Explanations" intended to exhibit the popular and psychological errors which the Proposition chases away , and so to work the Proposition more thoroughly into the reader ' s mind . In these " Notes and Explanations" there are casual reviews of all the great philosophical controversies of the past—the Nominalist and Realist controversy , the controversy as to the origin of knowledge and the like—and criticisms , some of them severe enough , on past philosophers . Altogether , Mr . Ferrier's is a bold and
ingenious work , which may be recommended to those who want an intellectual gymnastic , or who want to know -what "Metaphysic" is now understood to be . There are ^ powerful and even eloquent passages In . it , and the style is as lucid as the subject admits of ; but we question very much whether Mr . Ferrier ' s brother metaphysicians , if he is left to their tender mercies , will not tear some parts of his work to pieces . Nor can we possibly bring- ourselves to think that Mr . Ferrier's own valuation of the book will be generally accepted in metaphysical circles . He comes forward , it will be observed , as a species of Idealist—his main principle being , that the subject cannot know the object without knowing itself along with the object ; and his whole work consisting of a development of this principle . " ^ I do not trouble myself with thinking about thinking , " was Goethe ' s and it
saying , expresses the general feeling about metaphysics . After all , liowever , people must , now and then , in their thoughts about things , corne to that point where the relation of thought to thin gs becomes itself a matter of thought . Genius itself is , after a sort , a susceptibility to the metaphysical ; and everybody , without knowing it , has a crude metapliysic of his own ; so that if a poor fellow can make this metaphysic a little more clear and articulate , no harm is done . Comte ' s doctrine of Positivism is that people ought to go on acquiring a knowledge of the things in the ship , without ever minding the ship's relations to the sea . But it can ' t be done ! And though the stars may he seen by looking up a chimney ( which is the way most people see the stars , each person thinking his own particular chimney the finest tube in the world through which to view the luminaries ) , commend us to the man who now and then takes a wide wnlk at night round the walls which separate the little city of life from the dark and undefined country beyond , bringing back with him the awing sensation of the outer immensity into the homely and narrow streets .
November 11, 1854.] The Leader. 1071
November 11 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1071
Books Of Travel. Travels Of An Arab Merc...
BOOKS OF TRAVEL . Travels of an Arab Merchant in JUawlan . { The . Black Kingdoms of Central Africa . ') Abridged from tho French , liy Uayle St . John . Chapman and Hall . The Bungalow anil the Tent ; or , a Visit to Ceylon . By Edward Sullivan . Bcntley . The narrative , written in Arabic by the Sheikh Mohammed of Tunis , of his travels and experiences in Central Africa , was translated into French by the learned Dr . Perron , and edited by RI . Jomard , of the Institute . The present work is an able abridgment of Dr . Perron ' s translation , -which , too voluminous for popular reading-, was , nevertheless , a -version rather than a reproduction of tho original Arabic . We concur in Mr . liaylo St . John ' s appreciation of the work he has thought it worth while to reduce to a popular form . The Sheikh deserved translation , and what is even a nobler metempBychosis than u savant ann confer , he deserved to reappear in readable and familiar shape .
Wo have been anted with tlie Asian mystery by countless * ' doers" of tho IDnst , more or less flippant or profound ; but of the African mystery who will sound the depths ? We know tlie count of Africa , it is true , to our cost ; but of the torrid Negro kingdoms , stretching from the contra to t , hc east and to the south of tlmt viist expanse , wo tiro only beginning to recognise ) tho existence , Of tho two countries visited by tho Slioikh , Diirfur and Wailai , only tho former has been once visited by n European , in 179 ;) ; " anil it in extremely probable , " writes Mr . St . John , "that for many yunra to come the information contained in tho present volunio will not buHupiTdedud , " TJiu countries described ( wo < iuolu i ' rom the
preface)—Though imilntcd both by poniliou uuil policy , uro HiiflkioMly romarkiiblo not to doservd utter neglect . They Conn ]> urt of tli « tfrojit . Hystoni of Ht . at . wi—blnck in ]> u ]> ulnl . 'it : ii » i , but . Miilioiix'dfin in ritliffioii—which fltrotehoi * liko n belt iktonh (' ontrul Africa , with unexplored nx ] mnm \ i of I'ngfiuiiflin | , c > tho south , anil to tho north n desert , dotted with ( ihhom , and inurked with onriivan truck a lending to ttm ModiturmiK'iiii . Tlio valley of tho Kilo , which hoimuh doMiinud by nuliiru to l > o tho highroad to thin region , in rendered comparatively uhmIchh for tlmt jiurpono hy tlio rurttrictivo regulation * of Dnrfur . Tiiut . onutioutt Iittlo kingdom Htopn tho wny . H i » no fimrful of ag ^ nwioii fro m Kgypt . —not entirely without ouuso -thnt . it , will not allow th « < inrii <; Mt roiitiw to bo uned , uml com polo all eumvHDN to reach itt » frontiora uxlutuuted by a two jiiunthu' march iicvohh thu iluuort from tiiout .
The expedition sent by her Majesty ' s government , under the late Mr . Richardson which already counts two martyrs—will have vastly enlarged our knowled ge of the largest , roost populous , and most important Central African kingdoms . Drs . Barth and Vogel are still making gallant geographical forays towards the south—creating , as it were , ground under their feet . It is not probable , however , that the German travellers -will be able or willing to penetrate eastward across the kingdoms described in this volume , although Mr . Richardson had contemplated such a journey , andhad communicated , through government , with the English consul-general in Egypt , that the way might , to a certain extent , be prepared . I believe it is still the practice , if not the rule , in Darfur , to prevent all strangers who penetrate into the interior of the kingdom from going away again . However , strong representations from Egypt might have obviated this difficulty . At present we cannot expect the experiment to be tried , as Dr . Barth seems to be directing his attention to a still more difficult expedition .
Mr . St . John attributes the condition of these countries to the practice of slavery which the Sheikh , with perfect naivete , and without attaching any lmportance to the information , represents as the condition of the more savage populations under their half-civilised Mahomedan masters . The development of commerce appears to be the only practicable solution of tbis terrible problem ; but commerce must be preceded by discovery , and the success of the heroic pioneers ( among whom , already may be numbered the names of martyrs ) in these deadly and difficult explorations is inevitably the -work of many years to come . Mr . St . John glances at the Nile , as the proper road to these kingdoms of Eastern Africa : —
If a regular government were established in Egypt , exercising it 3 authority firmly over the southern provinces that now , for all practical purposes , are but nominallysubject , commerce would soon begin to flow in its natural channel , and merchandise , ¦ which is now principally brought across the desert , would be directed to the nearest point upon the Nile , which would be soon laden with fleets of boats dropping down with the current . There are the elements of an empire more important than Hindustan between Alexandria and the fourth parallel of north latitude . We shall now make rooni for the Sheikh himself , whom our readers will find a most agreeable , shrewd , and litely acquaintance for a -winter ' s evening . His conversation is that of a travelled man of the world , easy , genial , and suggestive . Common sense , bonhomie , a keen sense of enjoyment , a brisk
habit of observation , the deep natural piety of the Oriental , tempered with a quiet self-possession which has often the air of an indulgent scepticismthese are the characteristics of our pleasant and worthy Sheikh , wliq more than once reminds us of the Father of History , by the spontaneous fullness of his stories and the sparkling freshness of his comments . Although in the present abridged version the Sheikh comes to us through the filtering process of a double translation , he retains nearly all the charm of his individuality . Thanks to the evident sympathy and fidelity with which Mr . St . John has executed the arduous task of abridging and condensing , -without weakening or effacing the original , we can promise the reader of these Travels an agreeable reminiscence of the Arabian Nights . We have said that the Sheikh is a bit of a philosopher . Observe how he administers aquietus to the
OLD MAN OF THE MODNTAIN . On a certain day of the year the Sheikh , or Old Man of the Mountain , of -whom vie have spoken , is visited in crowds by the people for consultation . On that solemn day , set apart for divination , he predicts - what is to come to pass during the year , — drought or rain , Tvar or peace , serenity or misfortune , disease or health . His prophecies are profoundly believed ; but the Forinns differ in opinion about the source and the cause of the power which he possesses of seeing into the future . Some protend that he works by divine inspiration , and that lie who wears the dignity of Sheikh of " the Mountain , is necessarily , and always , illuminated of God , and a holy personage . This is the explanation of the learned men of Darfur . Others declare that the genii tell him what is to come to pass . For my part , I do not know what value should be assigned to these two opinions ; but this I do know , that many propheoicfl are attributed to him which liave not been fulfilled . Again , with regard to the
GENII GUAKWANS OP CATTLE . The most singular thing I hoard related whilst I was in these mountains is this , that the genii net as guardians of tho cattle . It is for this reason that the herds are loft to wander whore they ¦ will . Many persons augured me seriously that if any one , passing near a flock and seeing it without a guard , should attempt to steal a sheep or a cow and to kill the boast , his hund , . still armed with the Isnifc , would remain fastened to the throat until tho arrival of tho owner . I have a hundred times heard instances of 2 > rotcction afforded by the genii , but was at first inclined to reject the whole aa lies and dreams . But this is what happened to myself , fleing near tho Mnrrnh mountains I Avent to a person of Nuiuleh , to question him about tho genii . On drawing near his hut I saw nobody , but began to call him by bin name . Then a loud and terrible voice , which niado mo shiver , shouted "Akibe ! " that is to say , " Ileia not hero , ' Nevertheless , I was going to ndvn . 1100 and pursue my imjulriOB , when an > individual , who ivus passing hy mo , took mo by the arm and drew mo uwn / y , Baying , — " Bo oJFI bo oil "! lie who speaks to thco is not a human being . " " And -what ia he , then ?"
" lie Is the guardian genius of tho hut . Nearly every one of us ia thus protected . We call the gonii in Forinn , T ) amz ; og . " Upon tliia I fonrod and withdrew . On roturning from the Mnrrah to tlio Fnslior , T went to visit the SI wircef Ahmed Beddwoo , who hud brought ma from Cuiro to Darfur , and related to him thi » advonturo and my terror . " Tlio man w »» perfectly right , " mud Ahmed , who went on to rolnto to mo tlriiifra still moro wondurful . "At tho tiuuj when 1 first began to trade , my friend , I often hoard thut dam / . ogM could \> o bought mid ho 1 < 1 , and tlwit . to procure ouo I must , npply to tho ownur of n diunzofr , und dineuHs tho prke with Iilni . When the bargain in concluded , it in nocowmry t . o give a largo gourd of milk to tho Holler , who takes it to law house , wliftro are Ms dain / . ogs . On unteriiiir ho n « liit « n tliom , and
Knew and lum ^ n up hi « vaan to a hook , Haying , —' Ono of my friend *—Hiioh a onovory rioli , in in fear of roblwrn , nn <\ hhIih mo to Hiipply him with « guardian . Will oncof you £ o and livo in bin hoimo ? There ia plenty of milk them , for It Itt u houms of bloflnbuf , and tho proof thereof in , Hint I bring you this kiim of milk . ' Tl » o dnmzoga at Ih-Hl , rufuHO to comply with tho invitation . ' No , no , ' wiy they , ' not oim of uh will Ko . ' Tho iiiUMtw of tho hut . conjure * Uium to comply with liio d «! Hiro , i , Maying , — ' Oh f lot tho oiks tUnt in willing diiiWud into the luxru . ' Jin Hum mtln-H n litllo , mid pro-Montly one of tlm dninzo / jju i « hoard to flop into tlio iriilk , upon which hu huHtonn and elnpH upon tl » o vhho a cover made < if < liitv-lmvn » . TIium ntoj > p < id up ho unhooks tho knrn , mid hand * it . over to the buyer , who tnla-a it iiwny and huritfH it on tho wull of his hut , nnd confide * it to tlio euro of n nl « vo or of a wlfo , who every morning comoa and tiik-GH it , emptying out tlio milk , washing it , and replenishing it , and hanging it
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 11, 1854, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11111854/page/15/
-