Part 60
688, the Sultan of Egypt set on foot an army of 40,000 men to recover the Nouba country. They were accompanied by 500 ships of all sorts, with many Harakes (a sort of gondolas, called now Kandje, in Egypt), and both the refugees set out with them. The pretender of Nouba died on the way at Assouan; a nephew of Daoud, the former King of Nouba, who then happened to be at Cairo, was dispatched from thence to be installed in the government of Nouba in his stead. The army divided into two parts, and ascended the Nile on the east and west side. The country between Addo and the islands of Mykeyl, which was the province under the command of Djerys, submitted; but farther on the inhabitants remained firm in allegiance to their king, and fled. The soldiers plundered and destroyed every thing before them, and reached Dóngola, which they found entirely abandoned by its inhabitants; an old man and an old woman being the only people who had remained there. Samamoum had taken refuge in an island of the Nile, 15 days journey beyond Dóngola. The army followed him, but it was found that the ships could not pass the river on account of rocks.
In 689 the army reached however the banks opposite the islands, when they saw many ships of the Nouba. They offered a safe conduct to the king, but he did not accept it, and afraid as he was of the coming up of the ships and the Harakes, he fled towards Aboab, three days journey distant from that island, which is a place beyond the limits of his territory.[217] His chiefs and officers, the bishop and priests abandoned him, and demanded a safe conduct from the commander of the Moslims, who granted it. His army remained three days before that island, and then returned to Dóngola. They made a feast for him and exhibited martial evolutions, and the dinner was spread in the church of Ysous, the first church of Dóngola. The nephew of Daoud was then crowned, and a corps of Moslim was left with him for his defence. The chiefs swore allegiance to him, and the Bakt was confirmed. After an absence of six months the army returned to Assouan, and soon after to Cairo with great booty. No sooner had they left Nouba than Samamoun returned in disguise to Dóngola. He knocked at the doors of all his officers, who when they came out and saw him, kissed the ground (in sign of obedience). On the next morning he assembled his whole army; he proceeded to the mansion of the king, sent back the Moslim guard with their commander to Kous, and laid hold of his rival. He dressed him in an ox skin, and tied him to a post where he was left until he died. Djerys was killed. Samamoun then wrote to the Sultan of Egypt to ask his pardon, promising to send the Bakt. He sent slaves and other presents, which were accepted.
_Note b._ It deserves mentioning here, that Aidab was at the end of the 12th century, for a short time in possession of the Crusaders. I find in Macrizi’s History, Es-Selouk, that in the year
578. El Bernys Ernat[218] (البرنيس ارناط), the Franks chief of Kerek, built ships, and transported them by land to the Red Sea. He stationed two ships at the castle of Kolzum, to prevent the Moslim inhabitants of that place from taking in water,[219] while he proceeded with the rest of his fleet towards Aidab. He killed and took captives on the road. He burnt about 16 ships, and took at Aidab a ship full of pilgrims coming from Djidda. He intercepted the caravan route with Kous, and took at Almor,[220] in the desert between Kous and Aidab, a caravan of pilgrims, whom he killed. They took two ships that had come from Yemen full of merchandise, together with a great quantity of provisions which had been collected on the coast for the supply of the holy city. Such a misfortune had never been heard of in the time of the Islam, and before them no Roumy[221] had ever come into these parts, for there remained only one day’s journey between them and Medina, the town of the Prophet. They marched against Medina to take it. The governor of Egypt, El Melek el Aadel, sent an army to Kolzum; ships were built at Cairo and at Alexandria. The Moslims reached Aila, and took some of the ships of the Franks, which they burnt, making their crews prisoners. The commander then set out for Aidab in pursuit of the Franks. He overtook their ships and took them, and having liberated the captives, restored what had been taken from them by the enemy. He then landed on the firm land,[222] and the Arab horsemen pursued the fugitives of the Franks; two of the latter were carried to Muna,[223] and were slaughtered there in the same manner as a ram is immolated. The Moslims then returned to Cairo with many captives, who were decapitated.
* * * * * London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. Cleveland Row, St. James’s.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Macrizi was a native of Baalbek, who flourished about the year 800 of the Hejra, or in the beginning of the 15th century.]
[Footnote 2: Vide note 1 at the end.]
[Footnote 3: The exact distance between Assouan and the cataract of Wady Halfa.]
[Footnote 4: Probably the Doum.]
[Footnote 5: Meaning, I suppose, the extent of ground irrigated by each water-wheel, which exactly corresponds with what I have observed on that subject in my journal.]
[Footnote 6: Vide note 2 at the end.]
[Footnote 7: Vide note 3.]
[Footnote 8: Vide note 4.]
[Footnote 9: Perhaps the ruined city of Meharraka, mentioned in my journal.]
[Footnote 10: The castle of _Adde_ and the colossal temple of Ebsambal, are probably meant here.]
[Footnote 11: Wady Halfa.]
[Footnote 12: From Wady Halfa to Sukkot, are four _long_ days journey.]
[Footnote 13: An exact description in all its details of the Batn el Hadjar, or the country above Wady Halfa.]
[Footnote 14: Vide note 6.]
[Footnote 15: Vide note 7.]
[Footnote 16: Vide note 8.]
[Footnote 17: Vide note 9.]
[Footnote 18: The baryd is an Arabic land-measure of four farsakh, or 12 miles.]
[Footnote 19: Vide note 10.]
[Footnote 20: Vide note 11.]
[Footnote 21: Meaning the pigeon-houses, which in the shape of high square towers, are at this day extremely common in Upper Egypt.]
[Footnote 22: See note 12.]
[Footnote 23: I have stated the same fact in various parts of my journals.]
[Footnote 24: See note 13.]
[Footnote 25: This is over-rated; but I have reason to believe, that the bend of the Nile will, on examination, be found much greater than is laid down in the maps.]
[Footnote 26: See note 14.]
[Footnote 27: See note 15.]
[Footnote 28: This again is over-rated.]
[Footnote 29: Thus if _a_ be ascending and _b_ descending, they will proceed in the same direction if the turn be as follows:
[Footnote 30: See note 16.]
[Footnote 31: See note 17.]
[Footnote 32: See note 18.]
[Footnote 33: Two different languages are still spoken on the borders of the Nile in Nubia.]
[Footnote 34: On the west bank of the Nile, above Debot, at no great distance from the cataracts, are the ruins of a city, still bearing the name of Merys. Vide Journal.]
[Footnote 35: The name of Mokra still remains in the appellation of Wady Mokrat, on the Nile, three days journeys below Berber.]
[Footnote 36: See note 19.]
[Footnote 37: i. e. the Gates.]
[Footnote 38: This river is, no doubt, the Mogren, the bed of which I found dry, with the exception of a few pools, in April, 1814.]
[Footnote 39: This name is usually applied to the Sherif Edrys, as having been a native of Nubia; Macrizi here applies it to Selym of Assouan, as the historian of Nubia.]
[Footnote 40: This description answers to that of a fish found in some of the rivers of Asia Minor. ED.]
[Footnote 41: See note 20.]
[Footnote 42: See note 21.]
[Footnote 43: So I translate the Arabic word Berak, (_plur._ of Birket). Thus the Dead Sea is called “Birket Lout,” the sea or lake of Lot.]
[Footnote 44: By this river the Nil el Azrek (Blue Nile) is no doubt meant.]
[Footnote 45: See note 22.]
[Footnote 46: See note 23.]
[Footnote 47: See note 24.]
[Footnote 48: In reading the account of this _island_, as it is called, and of the people, it is impossible not to think on Meroë, and the Troglodytes of Herodotus. See note 25.]
[Footnote 49: Meaning, I suppose, that their periodical risings take place at the same time.]
[Footnote 50: By the four rivers are probably meant the branches of the Bahr el Azrek.]
[Footnote 51: If under the first mentioned river the Mogren is really to be understood, this statement is erroneous.]
[Footnote 52: See note 26.]
[Footnote 53: The Arabic geographers give the name of Zendj to the south-eastern coast of Africa, about Melinda and Mombaza; but the Zendj here meant, is a northern tribe in the Somauly or Abyssinian country. From Zendj, or as it is likewise pronounced Zeng, the term Zanguebar is no doubt derived.]
[Footnote 54: See note 27.]
[Footnote 55: Cape Gardafui is probably here meant.]
[Footnote 56: Having passed the Straits of Bab el Mandeb.]
[Footnote 57: See note 28.]
[Footnote 58: See note 29.]
[Footnote 59: See note 30.]
[Footnote 60: رُبط, the plural of رباط, are public buildings, destined originally for the accommodation of students; many of them still exist in the Hedjaz, and at Cairo, where they have declined into mere lodging-houses.]
[Footnote 61: Mozer is a species of Bouza, or fermented liquor, still known by that name in Egypt, and especially in Upper Egypt. I have mentioned this white, large grained Dhourra, in my journal.]
[Footnote 62: Towards Sennaar the cultivable soil on the Nile extends far inland.]
[Footnote 63: It thus appears that Christianity had at this time extended nearly as far as Sennaar.]
[Footnote 64: At this day the people of Berber and Shendy, as I have remarked in my journal, are less intelligent than the Noubas of Dóngola.]
[Footnote 65: It should seem from this, that his country extended far to the south towards the Abyssinian mountains.]
[Footnote 66: See note 31.]
[Footnote 67: A chasm in all the three manuscripts.]
[Footnote 68: See note 32.]
[Footnote 69: يتلثموا, i. e. they cover their faces with a hand-kerchief, as the Arabian Bedouins, to this day often do with their keffie, or head-kerchief.]
[Footnote 70: Much the same thing is related of the present king of Bornou.]
[Footnote 71: As it still does in Bornou and Bahr el Ghazal.]
[Footnote 72: See note 33.]
[Footnote 73: I have stated in my journal, that towards Shendy and Sennaar the cotton Dammour and its fractional parts form the principal currency.]
[Footnote 74: Probably by tying many of them together, and thus making a raft.]
[Footnote 75: See note 34.]
[Footnote 76: Masoudy says, that they are seven days journey from Goft, which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Kous; and it will be seen from the note 82, that he was right.]
[Footnote 77: See note 35.]
[Footnote 78: Mica, See note 82.]
[Footnote 79: See note 36.]
[Footnote 80: A similar custom, founded upon the same principle, prevails in Ashantee. See Bowdich’s Mission, p. 234, 254. ED.]
[Footnote 81: See note 37.]
[Footnote 82: In my journey round the Dead Sea to Cairo, I remarked a similar custom prevalent among the Arabs of Kerek.]
[Footnote 83: From Seba, i. e. seven.]
[Footnote 84: From Aksum in Abyssinia.]
[Footnote 85: From Dahlak, an island in the Red Sea, near Massoua.]
[Footnote 86: The Bedja tribe which I saw at the island of Mekouar had shields made of the skin of a large fish.]
[Footnote 87: See note 38.]
[Footnote 88: See note 39.]
[Footnote 89: See note 40.]
[Footnote 90: See note 41.]
[Footnote 91: See note 42.]
[Footnote 92: See note 43.]
[Footnote 93: See note 44.]
[Footnote 94: See note 45.]
[Footnote 95: See note 46.]
[Footnote 96: Perhaps this is the species of Gazelle with two straight horns, represented in the beautiful historical bas-relief of Kalabshe in Nubia. See p. 117.]
[Footnote 97: See note 47.]
[Footnote 98: See note 48.]
[Footnote 99: See note 49.]
[Footnote 100: The author undoubtedly means a white man.]
[Footnote 101: The aspect of the translator excited quite different emotions in the Bedja women, for whenever they saw him they uttered a shriek, and those who spoke Arabic exclaimed, “God preserve us from the devil!”]
[Footnote 102: In the original it is more coarsely expressed.]
[Footnote 103: i. e. Christians or Jews.]
[Footnote 104: See note 50.]
[Footnote 105: See note 51.]
[Footnote 106: The public treasury.]
[Footnote 107: On the road to Aidab. See below.]
[Footnote 108: A village of the name of Koban, with an ancient ruined city, is situated about three days south of Philæ (Kaszer,) opposite to Dakke, on the east bank of the Nile (see p. 106); the columns here mentioned were probably a part of the ruins at Koban. The columns of Philæ are all upon the island, and could not, therefore, well serve as a line of demarcation.]
[Footnote 109: Here follows a repetition of the solemn assurance of peace, as above.]
[Footnote 110: See note 52.]
[Footnote 111: See note 53.]
[Footnote 112: Or it may be translated, “on the river.”]
[Footnote 113: Apparently in the same manner as the papyri are rolled and wrapped up.]
[Footnote 114: Vide infra.]
[Footnote 115: See note 54.]
[Footnote 116: In his book called the “Golden Meadows.”]
[Footnote 117: Masoudy, whose work I possess, adds that the people of Ollaky are supplied with water by the rains, and have running springs in the Djebel Ollaky. See note 56.]
[Footnote 118: See note 57 .]
[Footnote 119: The Negroe Moslims, to this day, apply the name of Koran indiscriminately to all the pagan Negro nations.]
[Footnote 120: Mr. Browne found a tribe of Zaghawa in the desert north of Darfour.]
[Footnote 121: See note 58.]
[Footnote 122: See note 59.]
[Footnote 123: See note 60.]
[Footnote 124: See note 61.]
[Footnote 125: See note 62.]
[Footnote 126: Here is a chasm in all the MSS.]
[Footnote 127: See note 63.]
[Footnote 128: i. e. the Khalif.]
[Footnote 129: See note 64.]
[Footnote 130: A vestment of cloth still worn in the East.]
[Footnote 131: See note 65.]
[Footnote 132: Some Nouba captives, I suppose.]
[Footnote 133: A quarter of Cairo near the canal, now in ruins.]
[Footnote 134: The author does not say of what.]
[Footnote 135: See note 66.]
[Footnote 136: In the same work called “The Golden Meadows.”]
[Footnote 137: i. e. The Conquests of the Moslims.]
[Footnote 138: This Khalif reigned from 136 to 150 A. H.]
[Footnote 139: See note 67.]
[Footnote 140: See note 68.]
[Footnote 141: See note 69.]
[Footnote 142: See note 70.]
[Footnote 143: i. e. Soldiers charged with the burning of the enemies towns (جال حراريق).]
[Footnote 144: Probably a species of cuirass made of quilted cotton, like those still worn by the Bedjawy, but of a white colour.]
[Footnote 145: See note 71.]
[Footnote 146: I believe this to be the island of Sukkot, above the second cataract, where I met with several ruins of Greek churches.]
[Footnote 147: See note 72.]
[Footnote 148: A similar tribute received by the kings or priests of Egypt, is represented in the beautiful historic bas-relief in the grotto of Dar el Waly, behind the temple of Kalabshe. See note 73.]
[Footnote 149: As to its revenues, I suppose.]
[Footnote 150: The latter remark leads me to suppose that by the expression, “territory of the cataracts,” the district between Wady Halfa and Philæ is meant.]
[Footnote 151: This proves that at the end of the 13th century, the prevailing religion of Nouba was still Christian.]
[Footnote 152: Besides marks in the ancient temples of their having been converted into churches, numerous ancient churches are seen in every part of the country between Wady Halfa and Assouan.]
[Footnote 153: See note _a_ at the end.]
[Footnote 154: This chapter is placed, by Macrizi, before the notices on the Bakt; but I have preferred placing it here.]
[Footnote 155: This often stated distance is exactly the same as that reported to me, between Assouan and the mountain of Olba, the chief seat of the Bisharein, where remains of ruins are said to exist.]
[Footnote 156: See note 74.]
[Footnote 157: This appears to be mentioned because the date is usually propagated by cuttings.]
[Footnote 158: It should thus seem that the whole population of Nouba was originally held in slavery by their king.]
[Footnote 159: In another chapter of his Golden Meadows.]
[Footnote 160: See note 75.]
[Footnote 161: See note 76.]
[Footnote 162: Or, as it may likewise mean, by the river Nile.]
[Footnote 163: So far goes the relation of Masoudy.]
[Footnote 164: It is now about ¹⁄₅₀ of that sum.]
[Footnote 165: Of him we have an excellent work on the Olemas of Upper Egypt. (It is among my MSS. sent to England.)]
[Footnote 166: Known in Europe by the name of Saladin.]
[Footnote 167: This Kenz el Dowla was the Egyptian governor of the town, who had rebelled against Salah eddyn, and had marched against Cairo with an army of blacks and of Arabs. Malek el Aadel, one of the brothers of Salah eddyn, defeated him in 570, in a great battle near the village of Toud; and soon after he was killed. I am ignorant whether this Kenz el Doula has any thing in common with the Beni Kenz; from the pedigree given of it by Macrizi, in his history of Egypt, called el Selouk, from which I have made this extract (السلوك لمعرفة دول الملوك للمقرزي) he is said to be descended from Ibn el Doul, from whom he took the name.]
[Footnote 168: See note 77.]
[Footnote 169: See note 78.]
[Footnote 170: By the ascension of Salah eddyn to the throne of Egypt.]
[Footnote 171: Elephantine.]
[Footnote 172: The history of similar attacks forms the subject of many paintings on the walls of the ancient temples of Upper Egypt. See note 79.]
[Footnote 173: In this year a terrible famine destroyed the population of Upper Egypt. 17.000 souls died at Kous, 11,000 at Siout, 15,000 at Haou, of those only who were regularly buried. (V. Macrizi’s chapter of Upper Egypt.)]
[Footnote 174: See note 80.]
[Footnote 175: The Howara are still settled in the villages from Siout to Farshyout. They state their origin to be from a Moggrebyn tribe.]
[Footnote 176: It is probable that at that epoch the Beni Kenz fled above the cataract.]
[Footnote 177: See note 81.]
[Footnote 178: Even now the travellers to and from Darfour, are in the habit of depositing their loads in the desert, if their camels have perished on the road, or are too weak to carry them on.]
[Footnote 179: The author means here the great famine that happened at that time in Egypt, or the Tartar invasion of Syria and Mesopotamia. At the same time the Sherif Ibn Sayd of Mekka had obstructed the passage of the Hadjis.]
[Footnote 180: The last figure being deficient in the MSS. it is uncertain in what year it was between 660 and 670.]
[Footnote 181: I have mentioned something of this Hadj route in my second journal. Batouta states the distance at fifteen days journey (see note 82.) Between Coptos and Berenice were twelve stations.]
[Footnote 182: As are the houses of Souakin at present.]
[Footnote 183: See note 83.]
[Footnote 184: Probably that in the bay, now called Dóngola. (See my journal.)]
[Footnote 185: I suppose northerly winds are meant here. According to the present system of navigation in the Red Sea, they would run over to the African coast from Djidda, and then coast the shore as far as Aidab northwards.]
[Footnote 186: The small country ships of the Red Sea, never carry more than three or four days provisions of water, and this was probably the case likewise in those times; and those who left the ships to proceed by land, could therefore take no water from the ship for their journey.]
[Footnote 187: Ropes made of the cocoa tree bark, coming from India and the Somauly coast, are still in general use in the Red Sea.]
[Footnote 188: Ricinus, a plant frequently seen in Nubia.]
[Footnote 189: See note 84.]
[Footnote 190: The people of Souakin export to Arabia quantities of mats made of the leaves of the Doum date, but I have seen none of their ships with similar sails. I recollect only to have seen in the port of Djidda, small fisher boats with such Doum mats put up for sails.]
[Footnote 191: These remarks are fully applicable to the ship owners and sailors from Souakin, and their behaviour towards the Negroe pilgrims at the present time.]
[Footnote 192: خلاصة الاختصاص في معرفة القوي و الخواص مختصر الفلاحة النبطية التي ترجمها ابو بكر ابن و حيشة تأَليف ابن ر قام المرسي]
[Footnote 193: Wahyshe says of the Sadj, that the colour of the wood approaches to black. It has a red bark, with large leaves of the size of a shield. Its odour resembles that of the walnut tree. It grows in India. The elephants eat the leaves as a favorite food. Of the trunk boats are made by excavating them, and some trees are large enough to contain 50 persons. An oil is extracted from the fruit.]
[Footnote 194: و في هذا الجبل من ظهره مغارة فكل من دخلها لايخرج منها و اما لحيوانٍ ياكله اولحفرٍ يقع فيه.]
[Footnote 195: I am told that when the French were in Egypt, General Kleber received several Fahed in presents from the chiefs of the Sennar caravan.]
[Footnote 196: The complete work must consist of about 30 volumes.]
[Footnote 197: He shews therein the intimate knowledge which he possessed of Greek and Roman history.]
[Footnote 198: Of this voluminous work, which is much more interesting than Damyry, I have only the 5th and 7th vol. The description of the elephant fills almost the whole of one of them.]
[Footnote 199: Thus are called those Arabs who happened to be at Medina and its neighbourhood, when Mohammed fled thither from Mekka.]
[Footnote 200: Although several villages exist that have taken from them the name of Helalye.]
[Footnote 201: And some of them in the Sherkye of Lower Egypt, and in the desert of Mount Sinai.]
[Footnote 202: About the villages of Goreyn and El Wady.]
[Footnote 203: Of the Beni Djozam, some encampments likewise remain in Darfour, if the authority of an Egyptian trader may be taken, who told me that he had there known some of them. The tribes of the Ababde and Bisharein at present people the great desert of Bedja, according to the limits which are given to that country by Macrizi, but which appear to have been much circumscribed by the present inhabitants (v. my notices on Bedja); these two tribes are no doubt a mixture of Arab and native Bedja blood. The Ababde however pride themselves in a pure pedigree, and assert their descent to be from an Arabian tribe.]
[Footnote 204: There is a small village in Upper Egypt, to the south of the site of Thebes, and about half an hour north of Orment (Hermontis) which still bears the name of Merys. Macrizi, in speaking of el Aksar (called by us Luxor, on the east side of Thebes) says that the inhabitants are reported to be of Merys origin.]
[Footnote 205: Macrizi, in the above cited work, el Selouk (which is one of the best histories of Egypt, from the time of Salah eddyn) speaks likewise shortly of this invasion of Melek el Aadel, and says that Kenz el Doula joined the army sent against the Nubians in 568, which reached and plundered Dóngola, where the house of the king was the only one built of stone, the rest being mere huts.]