The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-03 00:00:00

INTERIOR OF AFRICA.

[PIS QUARTERLY RLYI LW i 8 so justly esteem-
ed for its GeograjAiical aud Geological infortna-
tion, that we readily insert the following extract
on a country hut little known.]—

" On the 21st October last, the Commander-
in-Chief of the African station gave an order to
the commander of H.M.S. Swinger to convey to
the British factory, at the mouth of Benin
river, and there land Mr. Belzoni, who made
his appearance at. Cape Coast Castle, with a
view to • penetrate into the interior, towards
Timbuctoo. It "so happened that, at this time,
there was on board the Owen Glendower, a sea-
man known by the natce of William Pasco, w hose
real name, however, wits ekbon Bouker, a native
of Houssa, an intelligent and well-behaved man,
about 23 years of age. This man left Kashna, or,
as he calls it, Birnie-Kashno, (the city of Kash-
na,) about the year 1805, in .company with a
caravan of merchants ; some intended to collect I
the Coda nuts in Gunja, and others with slaves
for the coast. In four days' travelling (on asses
and mules, at the rate of 25 miles a day) from
Birnie-Kashna, they reached a river as wide as
the Gambia at St. Mary's, running to the right ,
of the rising sun, and coming from the country of
Gober. It is called the Qurrra-luan-dadi, or I
River of fresh water. Five days beyond this,
still travelling to the southward, they arrived on
the banks of another river, deeper and broader
than the former, called Gulbi, which runs through
the countries Gnarl and Noofti ; and he has been
(old, and believes, that these two streams unite
into one at Zugum near Kaba, and that it then
proceeds towards the rising sun at Birnie Bor-
nou. The Gulbi has a strong saline taste, and
abounds with hippopotami and alligators. Pro-
ceeding southerly for several days (he does not
recollect how many) he came in sight of a range
of high mountains, one part of which, named
tVaoonJ, much higher than the rest, had a white
top like marble (snow), and in its appearance
resembled Fogo, one of the Cape de Vend
Islands. In about a week after leaving these
mountains, they discovered the sea from the sum-
mit of some high hills, which having de-
scended, they had to cross a small river called
Echoo (supposed to be Lagos.) From hence
they continued their route in the direction
of the setting sun, having the sea in sight at in-
tervals on the left band, and in ten days arrived
at Annarna6oe on the coast. Here Abou Bouker
took the name of William Pasco, and entered on
board the Lille-Belt, with the determination of
following the sea, a trait of no small degree of
boldness in a young man from the centre of
Africa, who had beheld that element for the first
time; and he has ever since remained in his Ma-
jestv's naval service. A circumstance, however,
occurred which made him desirous of being dis-
charged from the Owen Glendower. In a Por-
eugueze slave-vessel, of about 1091 tons, were
found, when captured, IS7 human beings crammed
down into the hold. Many of them were brought
on board tire Commodore's ship ; several of them
proved to be from Houssa, and some from Birnie-
Kashna, who were acquainted with the family of
A bou Bouker ; and from them he learned that a
young woman, to whom he was attached in his
youth, and who had been betrothed to hiel, still
remained single, having refused several advan-
tegeous offers, under a firm belief that the object
of her early affections was still alive, arid would
ono day return. From this moment he became
desirous of procuring his discharge from the ser-
vice, is order that he might proceed from Cape
Coast through the Gunja country to Rousse. Just
at this time Belzoni fortunately made his appear-
ance ; and the commanding officer did not hesitate
to allow Abou Bouker to accompany him iii his
attempt to reach Timbuctoo, which seems to be
the object of this enterprising traveller. Abou
Bonker represents Birnie-Kashna to be about
20 times as large as Sierra Leone, situate in the
midst of a large plain, and about 100 miles to the
northward of the Gulbi, or Niger, which, in
the fast month of the periodical rains, overflow a
vast extent of country, thereby affording great
benefit to the rice crops, but sometimes injurious
to the plantations of Indian corn and yams. They
have figs, lemons, and oranges; but he saw no
cocoa-nuts till he came to the sea-coast. Their
domestic animals are sheep, oxen, camels, and
horses. The houses are mostly of stone, but of
one story only. The King's palace covers as
much ground as Sieira Leone. There is a
market three times a week, to which slaves,
Coola-nuts, and salt, are the chief srticles brought
by the Moors in exchange for gold and cowries.
The King, Ire says, has a large army, both horse
end foot : their arms are spears, bows and arrows;
and,- on their warlike expeditions, elephants are
employed to carry their baggage. The King has
a multitude of wives, and every man takes as
many as he pleases or can afford to keep, or, as
Abou Bouker expresses it, ' more wife one man

Gaye, more gentleman he be.' The people are
ail Mahomedans, and in Birnie.Kashna there are
not less than fifty mosques. One day's journey
to the westward of Kashna is a town called
Zulimi, chiefly inhabited by Moors. Three dnys
beyond this in the same direction is Zangfara;
and two days still farther west is Alkali, the
capital of a country called Gober, standing on
each side of the river (GaMO. To the eastward
he know 3 nothing ; but has often heard his grand.
father say, that Birnie-Bornou is fifteen days'
ourney from iiirnie-Kushria towards the rising
We call have no doubt of the accuracy of
.ois information as far' as it goes ; and, connected
with Major Denhara's expedition to the same
chain of mountains crossed by Abort Booker, it
it shows by how much shorter a way may the
Niger and the countries it warters, he approached
from the Bight of Benin, than from any other
quarter."

surf.

The families of upwards of 2:30 freemen of the
Borough of Maidstone, who vote in the interest
of A. W. Roanurs, Esq. were on Wednesday
evening presented with that gentleman's annual
Christmas donation of 6lbs. of beef, a quartern
loaf, and a pot of beer to each family.

THE VISION OF DEATH.

( From the Calcutta Journal of May 1823.)

Near the sea-shore of —, on the Western
Coast of Scotland, in a country-village, lived Donald lilac
Lanes, a respectables cottager. I remember him well, lie
was far advanced in years when .1 knew him. He was a man
of a tall athletic figure, gently bowed down by age ; and his
locks were white as snow. He had seven sons and a daughter,
and with the exception of one of them, they were all comely-
looking men, and conducted themselves with the utmost pro-
priety, and were beloved by the whole of the village. It was
a fine tight, to see the old man sitting in the midst of his fa-
mily on a long autumn evening, while the fire burned brightly
on .the cheerful hearth of his comfortable cottage.
I happened to drop in one evening while his fe,mily was thus
assembled. I shall never forget that night. Donald Mac
Inncs was sitting on one side of the fire, in a large arm chair.
His sons and his mother were sitting promiscuously on the
other aide. Opposite to the old man there was a window, and as
it was a warm September evening it was left open ; beyond was
the sea, and in the pauses of the conversation, the moaning of
the waves was heard as they Murmured upon the neighbouring
strand. The old man was speaking to his wife, when all at
once his eyes fixed, he ceased speaking, he sat rigid, his eyes
glaring on the window, " God for thy mercy !" muttered he.
His face waxed pale, his lipS turned livid, they moved, no ar-
ticulate sound escaped, drops of cold sweat burst out on his fore-
head. At length he seemed to find his utterance. lie started
up with a fearful shriek, exclaiming " It is Death !" and fell
forward insensible. lie was instantly carried to bed, to which
he was confined for a day or two: On being questioned re-
garding the mysterious circumstance of the former night, he
gave an evasive reply e said he was taken suddenly ill ; but
Donald Mac Lulea never smiled afterwards. He would often
gaze. on his sons with an air of the profoundest melancholy;—
and at last the big tear would come into his eye and he would
turn away.
Donald's two eldest sons were reckoned the best deer-
shooters in the country. One mid summer morning they went
out together, but soon separated, one taking the East side of
the mountain the othei the West. Evander the eldest had
wandered till 12 o'clock without seeing a single deer. The day
was excessively hot. He sat down near a rivulet in the gully
of mountains. A Raven croaked near bins. Ravens in that
part of the country are reckoned birds of bad omen. The
Raven hopped nearer Evander, and croaked again—Evander
shouted. The Raven hopped nearer and croaked, came still
nearer, until it was close to Evander, who though he ridicule
ed his own sensations, felt a shudder of undefined dread as the
large glossy black bird croaked hoarsely close to him with even
fixed upon Evander. He at length raised his gun, and di:ew
the trigger with the intention of killing the bird. The powder
merely flashed in the pan, and the Raven croaked louder. Be
drew the trigger again, the lock snapped as before. He aimed
a third time, fired, and the bird fell screaming near him.
Evander ran, and took up the dying bird, which in the agonies
of death laid hold of his finger in its beak ; at length he took
up the bird in his hand, and proceeded onwards in the hope of
meeting his brother. he soon fell in with him, and to his
utter surprise if not dread, saw a dead Raven in his hand also.
An explanation took place and is seems the younger brollier
had met the Raven he killed precisely under similar circum-
stances.
The brothersretnrnedhorne and mentioned the adventure care_
fully to their father, who seemed much disturbed,and muttered
as before "It is Death." That very night his eldest gen was
' attacked with a malignant contagious fever, and in ten days he
' was a corpse. It is needless to attempt to describe the grief of
the family. The same night that Evander the eldest son was
buried, the „egad also fevered, and in a few days Mislaid aside
tin
his brother in a premature grave. Suffice it that the old man
lost all his sons in succession by this malignant fever, except-
a poor delicate somewhat deformed youth.
" Igthe youngest,
neglected thee too much, my son, muttered Donald Mac-
Innes,---o. while thy brethren were living and flourished like
saplings of the mountain birth, but Death found his ways to my
cottage, and I am humbled."
Time at length mellowed his grief; but every evening the
moment the shades of darkness fell upon the earth, DO'nald
Machines would quit his cottage and steal to the church-yard,
which was near at hand, to weep over the graves of his sons.
One night he returned. abruptly home from this melancholy ex-
ercise.; his lips quivered ; titers was a gentle tremor in his voice,
and the blood had forsotk his cheeks, leaving faint traces of
terror. Dearest father wheat is the matter ? inquired his daugh-
tew 4, Nothing Mary, nothing," said he, " a sutidee faintness
only ; give Me a cup of water."
Donald illaclnneshi daughter was married to a decent lad in
the neighbourhood, who was employed by the Reg. ,11. r. 31--s
a kind of overseer. She had
acted
tedillainsisitveert onf
utrlsiee Ptoarrhi e
c,
hailsa
of
Mrs. A---, the pastor's
daughter; this was looked upon :in that remote part as
establishing a kind of relationship ; accordingly when
Donald happened to go to the house he was treated with
much kindness by the whole farage.
y The next week after
that change in this appearance which had so alarmed this
daughter, he went up to the, Manse. It was a serene harvest
:11:ch"htoe cboisdisidered
in readiness to come to
evening, and lie found the Minister aitting on a hillock. looking
Deli below. "Donald,"
at a band of corn reapers in the
the
said
harvestthe Homeinisteart,
t 141,0 oraMamustnse
n ebxet
fortnight" ,4 N„.ea," re-
plied Donold, shall I eat of that bread,
you fire
nor behold that Harvest
was. caused by a
" What mean you," enquired the Rev. Gwitiernan.
n"isltearmridcoiemulee,d"
tshaeidiDdeoantwd,
for after
this night I know I shall never behold you more The
momentary depression of spirits. Donald Machines shook his
head. At last after repeated solicitations he -.
e addressed the
Clergyman in these words.
" It is now, Sir, three years since I was esuas,;,_
returning home one
evening from my days labour alone. I felt myself the happiest
of men. I have, said I, seven sons the pride of my life. lam
happy—what need I more. Just then the Sun had set, and I
found myself at the corner of the church-yard. To my surprise
I saw a face looking over the wall at me. It was the face of
an extremely aged mars with hollow hideous glassy eyes, which
were fixed immoveably on me ; his beard was clotted and grisly,
his locks were dark grey, his features gaunt, -ghastly, hollow,
unearthly, 1 found an undefined shrill of horror come over me,
for something informed me that he whom I beheld, was Death.
" Speak, I said desperately, speak in the name of the living
God." The phantom I thought smiled; there was an exprea-
Sian of malignant exultation its his smile, as with his long
shrivelled arm he pointed to my cottage, I looked again,
and he was gone, and the fox glove shoots, with their purple
flowers, waved mournfully on the wall, I rushed forward where
I had seen the spectre, I could behold nothing. The breeze
moaned through the patches of luxuriant nettles that grew be.
tween the graves. !Sly spirits Were agitated 'by what I had
seen, and it was with difficulty,. I dragged my steps home :
some months after that, while sitting one evening in the midst
of my family opposite the window that looks 'in the sea, I
raised my eyes, and at the open window, regarding me and
mine with the same unearthly wild look of terrific doom and
exultation as before-1, beheld Death? How my sons died
one by one you wellknow—my-only consolation was watering
their graves with my tears; but ore night happening to go
later than usual, I beheld- sonic one sitting upon the grave of
my eldest son, and looking down upon the row of mounds that
heaved up the green turf .on each side. Father of heaven it
was Death ! 1 ran up to the place, but he was gone, and I
swooned away. When I came to myself the moon was shining
calmly above—l could see nothing but the green graves, and
the grey moss covered church, and the silver shining sea. I
went home, but told my family nothing of what happened__
Alas ! they must now know all, for too surely I know- that I
ant inevitably summoned by Thoth.
Last night a little before the first cock crew, I had a beau-
tifel dream of my six sons, I thought they came back to me,
and that we were wandering together through a beautiful wood
and happy as of yore; when lo ! my sleep was disturbed, I
felt souse one tugging at the bed clothes : but I remained quiet
with my eyes shut. The bed clothes were again pulled, 1
started up and sat broad awake in my bed, the moon was shin-
ing in at the window, and great God !--standing close to rue,
I beheld Death. There stood the spectre, grin, ghastly, silent,
and motionless! My heart died within me, and my joints
were loosened with fear. I was blasted as it were by the pre-
sence of that dreadful being whose eyes were fixed upon me,
but with a less stern expression than formerly. It melded--
oh that unutterably dread smile, how it froze my soul ! The
spectre smiled, touched me, pointed to the door, and vanished.
i know that I ain doomed, for who has ever lived that has seen
!"

Jr. vain the Minister attempted to reason with the old man,
and to impress upon him that what he had seen was only a
dream ; a delusion. " No, No," said Donald Machines,
don't speak to me of a dream and a delusion. I have seen
Death ! —The old man then rose, and in a most solemn manner
bade an eternal farewell to the Pastor and his family. He was
attacked the same night with a Pleurisy, which in SO hours
carried him off. He now moulders by the side of the sons of
his heart, and the peasant as he passes the Church yard of
says with fervour. " God rest the sons of Donald
Machines ! ' and the village maids in the dark winter nights
crouch nearer the fire, while some old Sibyl relates the too true
tale of the Vicion of Death.