New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-31


Ca.sTac,, ard the Iais OF ny new ooa,was walt
lpg for the American flag II was run down anh
the SAKE. CobuIg coiors-green and white
hoisted in is stead. We had parting VISIT
from the Governor, who gave me another letter
TO Korosko, and we then sat down to break
last for which we had no appetite The cameis
were loaded and sent of 10 advance, under Airs
charge. but | waited until every man was on
board the good old vessel aud ready push of
for Cairo The large main-sall was unshlPPed
and laid over the cabin, and the stern-sail, only
to be used when the soulh.wind blows, hosted
in its place The tow-rope was wound up and
slowed away and the large oars hung IN the
rowlocks. Finally, every sailor was at his post;
the moment came, and we parted, as two men
seldom part, who were strangers SIX weeks be-
fore. goaded my donkey desperately over the
sands, hurried the loading of my effects, and was
speedily aAoat on the Nubian Nile
Those who do not 60 beyond Thebes are only
half acquainted with the Nile. Above Esneh, it
is no longer broad, lazy current, watering end
less fields of wheat and groves of palm, bounded
in the distance by level lines Of yellow mountain
walls. 1t is narrower, clearer and more rapid,
and its valley, after the first scanty field OF
wheat or dourra, strikes the foot of broken and
rocky ranges, through the gaps in which the
winds of the Desert have spilled its sands
There is not the same pale, beautiful monosony
of color, but the landscapes are full of striking
contrasts, and strongly accented lights and
shadows Here in Nubia, these characteristics
are increased, and the Nile becomes river Of
the North under Southern sun. The moua-
tains rise on either hand from the waters edge !;
piles of dark sandstone rock, sometimes
thousand feet in hight where blade OF grass
never grew, and every notch and Jag on their
crests, every fssure on their sides is revealed
in an atmosphere so pure and crystalline, that
nothing but one of our cloudless mid-winter
days can equal it. Their hue near at hand Is
glowing brown in the distance an intense violet
On the western bank they are lower, and the
sand of that vast Desert which stretches un-
broken to the Atlantic has heaped itself overtheir
shoulders and poured long drifts and rils even to
the water In color it is tawny gold, almost
approaching salmon tint, and its glow at sun
rise equals that of the snow-felds OF the Alps.
The arabic land is mere hem, few yards
in breadth on either side of the river. 1t sup
ports few scattering date-palms, which are
the principal dependence of the Nubians. The
banks are planted with wheat, beans and spe
cies of lupin, from which bread is made, and
wherever a little shelf of soil is found along the
base of the mountains, the creaking water
wheels turn day and night to give life to patches
of dourra and cotton. In rough shed, pro-
tected from the sun by pam-mats, COW or
buffalo walks weary round, raising the water
which is conveyed in small channels, built OF
clay, to all the numerous beds into which the
field 10 divided These are filled, in regular
succession, to the depth of two inches, and then
left to stand till dried by the sun. The process
is continued until the grain is nearly ripe
With all their labor, the inhabitants scarcely
produce enough to support themselves, and the
children are sent to Cairo at an early age,
where they become house.servants, and like the
Swiss and Savoyards, send home portion OF
their earniags. This part Of Nuba 10 inhabited
~ tho K.noos sIiIo, Who speak language OF
their own. They and .heir language are de-
signated by the general name of Barabra (near.
ly equivalent to "barbarians by the Arabs.
They are more stupid than the Egyptian Eel
labs, but their character for truth and honesty
is superior In my walks on shore, ! find them
very friendly, and much less impudent than the
Nubians about Assouan.
My little boat, the Thwingia, has been ia
vored with good winds through the day, but we
have made very little during the night. The Cleo
patra, which outsailed every boat we met on the
Nile and was decidedly the neatest and uimmest
craft we saw, would have reached Korosko long
before this time. Nevertheless, l shall get
there tonight, in little more than three days
from Assouan. This part of Nubia is rich in
Egyptian ruins, and the temples Of Dabod, Ka
labshee, Dendoor, Dakkeh and Sebooa have
looked at me invitingly from the western bank.
But l am now in no mood for seeing temples
alone. and as shall come down the Nile on my
return journey, have purposely left them un
visited
KoRosKo, Saturday, Dec. 20, 1881.
l reached here last night at dusk, and
soon afterward received visit from the Gov
emor, whs brought me good news. caravan
has just arrived from SEMINAR, and my camels
will be in readiness to leave tomorrow morning
Six Cairene merchants start to-day for Khar-
toum, but as shall travel with light loads,
shall probably pass them. My caravan will
consist of six camels, including that of the
guide. have taken them to Oar Berber, be-
yond Abou Hammed, and about six days. Jour.
ney from Khartoum. The entire distance is
reckoned at l96 Arab hours, or about 800 miles,
and with good luck shall reach my destination
in twenty days. shall have to purchase sew.
eral additional water skins, since as far as Abou
Hammed-eight or nine days-there is no water
to be had. The only travellers who have lett
korosko this year are Capt Peel, son of Sir