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up again . From , that time forward the house is safe from theft or loss . For my part , I believed all these things to be absurdities . " The Sheikh would have been an awkward customer for the Spirit-Rappers . He demolishes with delightful simp lic i ty the TEMOUKK . KHS . But the most extraordinary facts are those which are related of the Massalits and Temourkehs , -whu > have the power of metamorphosing themselves into different kinds of animals . All the Forians say that the former can change into hyenas , c a ts , and do g s , and the latter into lions . Another extraordinary thing related of the Temourkehs is that , according to their own account , three days after their death , they resuscitate and come out of their tombs , and go into other countries to marry again , and accomplish a second life .
In Darfur , every one acknowledges that the Sultan has under his OTdeis a number of men having the power of metamorphosing themselves . They are used as agents and ambassadors . If they are in danger of being seized , they transform themselves into air or wind . I once became very intimate with one of these people , and at length ventured to speak on the subject of his wonderful p ower , but he turned aside the conversation , and avoided a direct answer . Another time I pressed the question closer , upon which he smiled and said : — " I did not think you were so simple as to believe all that is said on this subject . " Then he talked of other things , and soon left me , and from that time forward , whenever he met me he turned aside , and our acquaintan ce ut t erl y ceased . In Darfur a white man is quite a curiosity . In fact , he is regarded as a sort of UNDEVELOPED NIGGER .
Proceeding on our journey , the soldiers of Zaid marching in fron t , w e soon beheld a multitude of men and women running towards us from all sides . I was looked upon as a n e x traordinary being . TheTe was a perfect scramble to get sight of me . They pushed and shioved one another , and thoug h th e esco rt closed , around the y could s ca r cel y keep off the crowd . These strange people -were say in g one t o the other , " The Sultan has sent to us a man born before his time , that we may eat him . " Others excla im ed , '* No ; this is not a human being , but an animal under the form of a man , whose flesh is good to eat . " These mountaineers cannot believe in the existence of mea with white skins and rosy complexions .
KOTAL PREROGATIVES IN I > ARPC 3 l-The Foriaa princes have customs different from those of other princes . The soverei gn of Darfur exercises boundless despotic power . He may put to death thousands of i n di v iduals , and no one asks him wherefore . He may degrade whom he p leases , and no one asfes him wherefore . His orders , however adverse they ma y be , are alwa y s obeyed , a n d no o n e resis t s , even by a word . The only resource is to cry for mercy ; but , if the S ul t a n choo s es to com m it a n ac t of injus t ice , the hatred it excites remains for ever concealed . The Forian Sultans are surrounded by a kind of A ulic bod y , c o m p osed of old w ome n , called Habbobah , under the orders of one of their numbers , called the queen . " When .
the Sultan leaves his privacy of seven days these old women unite , bearing iron sw itches , about two feet long , which they clash , one against the other , producing a singular sound . One of them bears a kind of broom of date-branches , which she di ps into a prepared liquid , and therewith , fro m time t o time , sprinkles the Sultan , uttering certain mysterious words . Then they conduct the new prince from his private dwelling to the House . of Brass , where the tymbals of the Sultan are kept . Having entered , they take the Victorious tynibal and place it in the midst . The Sultan remains alone w ith t he H abbob a h , - who continue to clash their twig 3 of iron , and to repeat their mysterious exclamations . After this ceremony they lead the prince to the p lace w he r e ia the imperial throne .
The people of Darfur have many singular -ways of expressing veneration for the majesty of the Sultan . Among others , whenever he clears his throat , his sp it t le is immediatel y g athered u p from the ground b y his servants with their hands . When he coughs , as if about to speak , everybody makes the sound of ts , ts , as nurses do to amuse their little ones ; and , when he sneezes , the whole assembly imitates the cry of th e jeko , which resembles that of a man urging on his horse to speed . In grand c ou ncil , the Sultan is fanned with u largo bunch of ostrich-feathers . When he goes out to hunt lie is shaded by a parasol of the same material ; and these insignia are under the special care of a high official . If the Sultan , being on horseback , happons t o fall off , all his followers must fall off likewise ; and should any one omit this formality , however great he may be , he is laid down and beaten .
DAHFUR , CUSTOMS . A s t range ce r emony is so me times celebra t ed b y the Forian princes . It is called the Clothing of the Buaso , and consists in renewing the skins of tho great tymbals , called in Egypt Nakarioh . The ceremony is one of the greatest solemnity and , every year , lasta seven days . In the first place , all tho tymbals must be stripped on one daywhich done , b u lls , w ith dark grey skins , are slaughtered to supply tho new coverings . It is protended that these bulls are of a particular species , and that , when thoy are about to be slaughtered , thoy lie down quietly , and submit without resistance . They are killed without tho ordinary preamble of " B'ism Illuli ; " a n d it is said tha t they are thus held down and kept tranquil by genii . When thoy are slaug hte r ed tho flesh ia separated from the bones and skin , and put into largo jars of salt for six days , at tho end of -which other animals are slaughtered , and the flesh mixed . Tables are then laid o u t , and all t he so n s of t ho Su lta n , and all tho kings , and all the viziers , aro invited , and compelled to oat . There aro inspectors nt each table to see that nobod y fails 5 for if any one docs so , it is believed tlmt ho is a traitor . No conspirator , i n fact , care oat of this food . If any one keeps away under pretence of illness , a p late o f m oat ia brought to him , a n d if h o d e cli n es to oat , he ia seized .
There ia a remarkable cuwtom , called tho Festival of the Sowing , in Dnrfur . Tho Su l t a n possesses , as hia domain , cultivable land , which is sown ovcry year . After tho Tains , ho goes forth in great pomp , escorted b y m or e than a h u ndred young women , chosen amidst tho most beautiful , and adorned with their richest garments and jewels . These women aro tlio bost-beloved of his harem . They wear upon their heads vnscs filled with tho most delicate viands , and thoy walk behind tho Sultan ' s horso with tho young slaves , c alled ko rk oa , armed with hmccn , nnd with a troop of nuto-plnyorn . Thoy movo on with music and Hinging , nnd oven tho young girls join in the concert . " When the prince hua readied tho open country , ho gets out of tho middle , and takin g -different kinds of grain whilst n slavo fcurno up tho ground with a hoo , casts them in . This is tlw flrat scud that fulls in tho country whero tho Sultnn tlion is . Afterwards t ho kin g s , viziers , tho officers of tho qourt , following tho example of tho Sultan , also cast in grain , and the whole plain in soon quickened for tho harvest . This done , the dishe s are b r ought b y t ho yo u ng g irls , and Hpread out before tho Sultan , who bogins to cat with his courtiers . Then tho whole party got into tho uaddlo ngnin , nnd return in a grand cuvnlcndo to tho Faahor . This Fontivul of the- Sowing is ono of the most solemn in Darfur .
A TimniULH SUl . TAN . Tho Sultans of Soudan nffocl , an imposing and torriflo appearance , so that no one nnaceufitorncd to addrosH thorn can opoak without fear . It is rulutcd that Sultan Tyrttb , of Darfur , onco aonfc to some Bodawin Arabs an olenhuuit . to feed nnd bring up , Thi « hugs animal committed grout destruction , but no one dared to interfere ^ yi ^ U it ,
A t last , however , the peop le went to the Sheikh and complain « d , saving- — " What an enemy we have here in this elephant ! Why , when the Sultan sent it to thee , didst thou not observe that we were poor people , unable to bring up such a monstrous beast ? Thou hast received this parasite without saying a word . He devours our provisions and destroys everything . Get rid of the accursed brute , or we will kill it . " " But , " rep lied the Sheikh , " I should not dare to say these things to the Sultan " " Take me with thee , " quoth a Bedawin ; " if thou art afraid , I will speak I onlv ask one thing , that thou shouldst begin by saying , ' The elephant ! ' Then the Sultan will ask , ' What of the elephant ? ' and I will reply that the elephant behaves in such The Sheikh accordingly went one day with the Bedawin , and entered the Fasher on a Friday . On coming to the gate of the palace , they saw a personage ride out on horseback , with tambourines beating and trumpets sounding . " Is that the Sultan ? " said the bold Bedawin to his companion . " No , it is one of his viziers . " Then the orator began to tremble , and to say , — " How , then , is the Sultan ?" Immediately afterwards another personage carne forth , surrounded by soldiers dressed in brilliant garments , preceded by ho r seme n , and accompanied by music . " That , at least is our master ! " quoth the Bedawin , stupified . " No , it is only one of the grand viziers . "
The poor man then began to understand the danger of his position . His heart leaped , and he was afraid . At this moment the Ab galloped into tho Fasher , surrounded by a crowd of horsemen , and with prodigious pomp . The roaring of the tambourines was deafening . " How terrible is the Sultan ! " exclaimed the Bedawin , who , on learning tliathe was still mistaken , wished the earth would open and swallow him up . Then the Sultan himself came forth amidst the crash of cymbals , the roaring of drums , and the tramp ling of horses . It seemed as if heaven and earth were coming together . The Sultan halted , and the soldiers ranged themselves in two lines . Then the Bedawin Sheikh advanced , a n d e x claimed aloud , — " May God protect our master , a nd make him victorious over his enemies !—The elephant ! ' * " What of the elephant ? " said the Sultan . The Sheikh winked at his companion , and whispered , " It is now thy turn to speak . " But the unhappy orator had not a word to say . " Why , " x claimed the S u lt an , in a t e rrible voice , " w ha t of the e l ep hant ?"
The Sheikh , seeing that he was to have no assistance , and fearing punishment , rep lied , — " The elephant—why , t h e elep hant is unhappy because he is alone . We wish the e to g ive us a n other e l e p hant to keep him company . " " Let them have another elep hant , " said the Sultan ; and they accordingly departed , and returned to their tribe with a huge brute , bigger than the former one . " AVhat is this ? " said th e p eople ; " we sent you to get rid of one nuisance , and you bring us another . " " Ah ! my friends , " said the orator , -who now at length found his tongue , " there never was a man who has such presence of mind and neatness of expression as your Sheikh . Thank God , who has g iven you such a blessing I" . The second elephant was accepted , and no more was said .
AN " INFERNAL CITY . F e w st r angers from th e M a g reb , or any other country , w ho a r e a t all acc u st o med to easy living , can make up their minds to settle at Mourzouk ; They say that a learned man , in Ulema , once came to teach at that city . He was immediatel y surro u nded b y disciples ; the crowd came to his lessons ; he was listened to with avidity—which is the supreme happiness of men of science : yet , in spite of th 5 s , one morning the worthy Ulema ran away from , the place in a great hurry . He could not put up with it any longer . " It is impossible to stand it , " said he . " Wherefore ? " inquired some one . — " Wherefore ? Why , because he is the veritable image of hell . Hell is hot , —so is Mourzouk : the damned arc black , —so are the people of Mourzouk : hell has seven g ates , —so has Mourzouk . What the deuce do you expect one to do in a place which completely answers the definition of hell ? " So away he went as fast as he could .
A MODEl PARLIAMENT IN THE DESERT . On the arrival of J 3 ou-Bekr the tribe collected in a general council to deliberate . E very o n e , old and young , came to discuss tho general situation . I shall always remember the impression which this assembly produced upon me , and the freedom with which all the members expressed their opinions . Young peop le , children from twelve to fifteen years of age , equally with the reverend people of the tribe , had a deliberative voice , and wero listened to without excitement or indifference . No one lield back from g iving an op inion , and all opinions we r e dul y weighed and considered . It was reall y a marvellous thing to see old men listening to , and weig hi ng tho w ords of ,
unbearded youths and mere children . The sight of no assembly over moved me more . Such things tiro not seen , I believe , in any other country . An assembly so calm , so at t enti v e , so grave , r e presenting all a g es , gathered together to discuss a question of general interest to all ranks , is a model to be imitated b y tho peo ples of the earth . I know not how behave tho deliberative councils of France and England , but I am persuaded that both French and Eng lish mi ght go and take a lesson of gravity and freedom , im oxample for the forms of public discussion , in the deserts of Africa , among tho children of the tribca of Uiachr . There arc savages who have some good in thorn ; there is wisdom even among louts ; there are simpletons who can teach the wise ; j u s t as i n t ho desert there a r c so m e oases , some spots of greenery .
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Ceylon has been , pronounced by tradition the original Eden of our rncG . Mr . Sullivan does his best to put dowu this belief . What with excessive heat , damp , drought , pestilential dews , filthy water , disgusting Cingalese , cobras , mosquitos , scorpions , leeches , " ticks , " nnd other natives , -we should prefer any sort of paradise to this . We love the elephant too ¦ well to appreciate the sport of flooring " an enormous animal with an incredibly small piece of load ; " and as to the coil ' ee , wo prefer to drink it in Franco—¦ whore it is chicory . Mr . Sullivan writes in tho "fust" stylo , which , were it not for too frequent n turfincss of phrase , we should not bo disposed to cavil at , content to tnko travelling authors as we find tliem , for better or for worse , always on condition tlnvt they -write- unutt ' eetodly and SvSthout literary pretensions .
Mr . Sullivan , wo fear , is scarcely amenable to this indulgent reception . He is too fond of rushing in where wiser men would at . least tread with circumspootion . He is too prone to dogmatise , where graver men would speak with diffidence . With equul assurance and levity ho derides Christian missionaries and Buddhist doctrines . What ho says of tho missionaries mav y bu true ; any acute observer cam test the success nnd the sincerity of their labours , but we may be permitted to doubt whether a few weeks ' gallon is sufficient to give even bo shrewd n traveller a profound insight into the genius of a religion , embracing the moat numerous portion of t \\ a human rnco . With these imperative ) reservations we havo ( bund The Bungalow and the Tent clover and amusing . There is no cant of any sort in tno book , » recommendation -worthy of omphntio ackno ^ ledginenj ; ,
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1072 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 11, 1854, page 1072, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2064/page/16/
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