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FOOTNOTES:
[1]Macrizi was a native of Baalbek, who flourished about the year 800 of the Hejra, or in the beginning of the 15th century.
[3]The exact distance between Assouan and the cataract of Wady Halfa.
[4]Probably the Doum.
[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.
[9]Perhaps the ruined city of Meharraka, mentioned in my journal.
[10]The castle of Adde and the colossal temple of Ebsambal, are probably meant here.
[11]Wady Halfa.
[12]From Wady Halfa to Sukkot, are four long days journey.
[13]An exact description in all its details of the Batn el Hadjar, or the country above Wady Halfa.
[18]The baryd is an Arabic land-measure of four farsakh, or 12 miles.
[21]Meaning the pigeon-houses, which in the shape of high square towers, are at this day extremely common in Upper Egypt.
[23]I have stated the same fact in various parts of my journals.
[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.
[28]This again is over-rated.
[29]Thus if a be ascending and b descending, they will proceed in the same direction if the turn be as follows:
[33]Two different languages are still spoken on the borders of the Nile in Nubia.
[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.
[35]The name of Mokra still remains in the appellation of Wady Mokrat, on the Nile, three days journeys below Berber.
[37]i. e. the Gates.
[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.
[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.
[40]This description answers to that of a fish found in some of the rivers of Asia Minor. Ed.
[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.
[44]By this river the Nil el Azrek (Blue Nile) is no doubt meant.
[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.
[49]Meaning, I suppose, that their periodical risings take place at the same time.
[50]By the four rivers are probably meant the branches of the Bahr el Azrek.
[51]If under the first mentioned river the Mogren is really to be understood, this statement is erroneous.
[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.
[55]Cape Gardafui is probably here meant.
[56]Having passed the Straits of Bab el Mandeb.
[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.
[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.
[62]Towards Sennaar the cultivable soil on the Nile extends far inland.
[63]It thus appears that Christianity had at this time extended nearly as far as Sennaar.
[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.
[65]It should seem from this, that his country extended far to the south towards the Abyssinian mountains.
[67]A chasm in all the three manuscripts.
[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.
[70]Much the same thing is related of the present king of Bornou.
[71]As it still does in Bornou and Bahr el Ghazal.
[73]I have stated in my journal, that towards Shendy and Sennaar the cotton Dammour and its fractional parts form the principal currency.
[74]Probably by tying many of them together, and thus making a raft.
[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.
[80]A similar custom, founded upon the same principle, prevails in Ashantee. See Bowdich’s Mission, p. 234, 254. Ed.
[82]In my journey round the Dead Sea to Cairo, I remarked a similar custom prevalent among the Arabs of Kerek.
[83]From Seba, i. e. seven.
[84]From Aksum in Abyssinia.
[85]From Dahlak, an island in the Red Sea, near Massoua.
[86]The Bedja tribe which I saw at the island of Mekouar had shields made of the skin of a large fish.
[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.
[100]The author undoubtedly means a white man.
[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!”
[102]In the original it is more coarsely expressed.
[103]i. e. Christians or Jews.
[106]The public treasury.
[107]On the road to Aidab. See below.
[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.
[109]Here follows a repetition of the solemn assurance of peace, as above.
[112]Or it may be translated, “on the river.”
[113]Apparently in the same manner as the papyri are rolled and wrapped up.
[114]Vide infra.
[116]In his book called the “Golden Meadows.”
[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.
[119]The Negroe Moslims, to this day, apply the name of Koran indiscriminately to all the pagan Negro nations.
[120]Mr. Browne found a tribe of Zaghawa in the desert north of Darfour.
[126]Here is a chasm in all the MSS.
[128]i. e. the Khalif.
[130]A vestment of cloth still worn in the East.
[132]Some Nouba captives, I suppose.
[133]A quarter of Cairo near the canal, now in ruins.
[134]The author does not say of what.
[136]In the same work called “The Golden Meadows.”
[137]i. e. The Conquests of the Moslims.
[138]This Khalif reigned from 136 to 150 A. H.
[143]i. e. Soldiers charged with the burning of the enemies towns (جال حراريق).
[144]Probably a species of cuirass made of quilted cotton, like those still worn by the Bedjawy, but of a white colour.
[146]I believe this to be the island of Sukkot, above the second cataract, where I met with several ruins of Greek churches.
[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.
[149]As to its revenues, I suppose.
[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.
[151]This proves that at the end of the 13th century, the prevailing religion of Nouba was still Christian.
[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.
[154]This chapter is placed, by Macrizi, before the notices on the Bakt; but I have preferred placing it here.
[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.
[157]This appears to be mentioned because the date is usually propagated by cuttings.
[158]It should thus seem that the whole population of Nouba was originally held in slavery by their king.
[159]In another chapter of his Golden Meadows.
[162]Or, as it may likewise mean, by the river Nile.
[163]So far goes the relation of Masoudy.
[164]It is now about ¹⁄₅₀ of that sum.
[165]Of him we have an excellent work on the Olemas of Upper Egypt. (It is among my MSS. sent to England.)
[166]Known in Europe by the name of Saladin.
[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.
[170]By the ascension of Salah eddyn to the throne of Egypt.
[171]Elephantine.
[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.
[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.)
[175]The Howara are still settled in the villages from Siout to Farshyout. They state their origin to be from a Moggrebyn tribe.
[176]It is probable that at that epoch the Beni Kenz fled above the cataract.
[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.
[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.
[180]The last figure being deficient in the MSS. it is uncertain in what year it was between 660 and 670.
[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.
[182]As are the houses of Souakin at present.
[184]Probably that in the bay, now called Dóngola. (See my journal.)
[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.
[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.
[187]Ropes made of the cocoa tree bark, coming from India and the Somauly coast, are still in general use in the Red Sea.
[188]Ricinus, a plant frequently seen in Nubia.
[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.
[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.
[192]خلاصة الاختصاص في معرفة القوي و الخواص مختصر الفلاحة النبطية التي ترجمها ابو بكر ابن و حيشة تأَليف ابن ر قام المرسي
[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.
[194]و في هذا الجبل من ظهره مغارة فكل من دخلها لايخرج منها و اما لحيوانٍ ياكله اولحفرٍ يقع فيه.
[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.
[196]The complete work must consist of about 30 volumes.
[197]He shews therein the intimate knowledge which he possessed of Greek and Roman history.
[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.
[199]Thus are called those Arabs who happened to be at Medina and its neighbourhood, when Mohammed fled thither from Mekka.
[200]Although several villages exist that have taken from them the name of Helalye.
[201]And some of them in the Sherkye of Lower Egypt, and in the desert of Mount Sinai.
[202]About the villages of Goreyn and El Wady.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[206]Their province is at the same time one of the most populous and well cultivated; from the hill of the small town of Tahta I counted 35 villages within reach of the eye.
[207]In every part of the province of the Howara the land was assessed not by the Fedhan or acre, as it is now; but every district had to pay an annual round sum, and the Shikhs of villages were at liberty to partition it out according to their own pleasure, by which they accumulated great wealth. The Howara Shikhs were renowned for their hospitality. I alighted one night in the house of one of them in a village near the site of Abydus, where I found upwards of sixty people sitting down to supper in the court-yard of the house.
[208]I slept in a village called Adoane (عدوانه), on the east side of the river, about one hour north of Edfou. It is inhabited at present by the Aboudye, a branch of the great Ababde tribe; from thence a road of seven days leads to Kosseir.
[210]Who, it seems, then took that road, as the Negroe pilgrims pass now by Souakin.
[211]There are two abridgments of these travels, one by Ibn Djezy el Kelby (ابن جزي الكلبي), the other by Ibn Fathallah el Beylouny(البيلوني ابن فتح الله); the latter I possess.
[212]Mr. Seetzen, in a treatise on the Berber nation, inserted in the Mines de l’Orient, says that Batouta states the inhabitants of Makdosho to be Berbers. He calls them, it is true, of the nation of Barbara, but it remains to be proved whether the northern Berbers have any thing in common with these Barbaras, or with the Berábera above the cataract of Syene, whom Mr. Seetzen likewise affiliates with the Berbers of Libya. I am ignorant whether Mr. Seetzen was in possession of the great work of Batouta, or merely of the abridgment.
[213]It is not said at what distance.
[214]I have mentioned this temple and road from hearsay, in my second journal.
[215]Mr. C. is soon to set out upon a second expedition, to discover the gold mines, and although he cares much less for geography and antiquities than for mineralogy, which he knows well, being a disciple of Haüy, yet he intends to examine as exactly as possible the whole desert between the Nile and the Red Sea, as far as about eight or ten days to the south of Kosseir. The Pasha, who is greatly interested in the search after gold and jewels, has done every thing to facilitate and ensure his journey, from which much interesting matter may be expected.
[216]This fish is called in Italian, “Pesce Cane.” A. S.
[217]We have seen above, that Aboab is the first city of the country of Aloa. From the distances here given, it must be in the country inhabited at present by the Arabs Sheygya. It seems therefore that ships can sail all the way from Assouan to Dóngola, across all the cataracts. This, can only be possible in time of high water.
[218]This is the Arabic mode of writing Prince Renaut.
[219]That is to say, that they prevented them from fetching it from the other side of the gulph.
[220]I am ignorant of the situation of this place.
[221]Roumy, i. e. a Roman,—a word first applied by the Arabs to the Greeks of the Lower Empire, and afterwards to all Christians.
[222]i. e. On the Arabian side.
[223]The valley of sacrifices near Mekka.