New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-18
FROM NETWORK TO NlNEvEH.
XXXy.

wApr BALFA, HUBIA. Tuesday. March .. l55s
Preached here this afternoon at o'clock.
closing the journey Of thirty -four days from Khar-
toum. In that time my little caravan has travelled
between eight and nine hundred miles, and at
least half Of it as rough travelling a. be found
in Africa. Now we are beyond danger and done
with fatigue, and can look forward to seeing Cairo
in another month"; Not til all seated in the
ferTy-boat, crossing from the opposite bank, did
fairly realize that our severe journey was over.
The camels were left behind, the baggage piled
mp on board and "a we were rowed slowly across
the rver, it suddenly flashed through my mind
that the same gentle motion Of oars and waves
was thenceforth to rock me all the way to Cairo.
| drew a long breath and fervently CALCULATED {:
al honda llldk' :" to which the others, as in
duty bound, responded. Achmet, who usually
posfpOnes his prayers till he reaches home, re-
cited a chapter from the Koran, and Ali, who
never prays, broke into sailorsongs by starts and
laughed continually, from inward delight.
We left Ell Ordee New DOngolal before sunrise
on the 9th Of February. We were all in fine
health and spirits, from the two days rest, and
sands, with the palmy coasts green and fair on
our right. For some miles from the town the
land il tolerably well cultivated but the grain was
all much younger than in the neighbOrhoOd Of Old
Dongola. Beyond this, the country was again de-
serted and melancholy everywhere villages in
ruin, fields given up to sand and thorns, and groves
of date trees wasting their vigOr in rank, I'M
pruned shoots. The edge Of the desert is covered
with grave-yards to a considerable extent, each
one Boosting its cluster of pyramids and cones,
raised over the remains Of holy shekhs. Toward
noon dismounted for breakfast in grove Of sont
trees, but had no sooner seated myself on my car
pet than the small black flies came in such crowds
that was scarcely able to eat. They assailed
nv temples ears, eyes and nostris, and it was ut
terly impossible to drive them away. | was half
ciazy with the infection, and at night my neck
andtemples were swollen and covered with blotches
worse than those made by musketo stings. In
fact. musketoes are mild and merciful in compare
son. Had not my road been mostly in the desert,
away from the trees, could scarcely have en-
dured the journey. The few inhabitants along
the river kinded fires of green wood and sat in the
smoke.
In the afternoon the monotOny Of the desert on
the western bank was broken by solitary noun
tain of a remarkable form. 1t precisely resembled
an immense coffin, the ends being apparently cut
square off, and as the effect of powerful mirage
lifted it above the horizon it seemed like the sar-
cophagus of the Prophet, in the Kaaba, to be sus-
pended between heaven and earth. The long ISL
r II A
arm of the Nile, appeared rich and well cultivated.
IL belongs mostly to Melek Hammed, King of Dom
COLA. who was expected at home the day passed,
on his return from Caro- where he had been three
months or more, for the purpose representing to
Abbas Pasha the distressed condition of the cOun-
try, and obtaining some Moderation Of the system
of misule inflicted upon it. Near the town of Ar
go, on the opposite side of the island, my map in
dicated ruined temple, and made strong effort
to see it but at Bilni, which was the nearest
point there was no ferry, and the people knew
nothing of the temple nor anything else. | left
the main road and followed the bank, but the ter
ribe flies drove me away, and so, maddened and
disguised, came at last to sake, where the peo-
pie informed me that the ferry still ahead and
the ruins already some distance behind me. They
said this deliberately and carelessly, sitting like
black spectcrs in the midst of thick smoke, while
was crafty beating my ears. "Te the caravan
to go ahead !" said to Achmet, at length, 81 and
don't talk to me Of temples till we have got away
from these flies"
The next day We passed through more thick
ly-settled country and owing to the partial cult
r IL ii l. laJ h. b.kN M
bian plague, which is always worst about the ru-
ined villages and the fields given up to halieh
grass 1t was market.day at the village Of Halter,
and we met and passed many natives, some with
baskets Of raw cotton and some with grain.
The scenery had a wild and picturesque air, from
the isolated mountain-peaks, which now appeared
on both sides of the river. Djebel Arsmbo, with
its high, precipitous sides and nOtchsd summit,
stood stepped in soft purple yapor-a beautiful OBJ
ject above the long lines of palms aud the green
level of the islands in the river. The fields on the
western bank were mostly taken up with young
wheat, though | saw single one Of ripe barley,
which black Barabra was reaping, cutting off the
stalks about one.third of the way below the heads
and depositing them in heaps. BY nOon | knew
nom the ihIluludIho luuL VIC hb OlpO5iOC luC
island of TOmbos, where there are some ruins.
made inquiries for it, but the bank was almost
deserted, and the few inhabitants found gathered
in straw huts here and there among the rank palm
groves, could tell me nothing about it. All agreed,
however, that there was no ferry at this part Of
the Nile and to swim across was out the question.
The crocodiles swarm here, and are quite delicate
in their tastes, much prsferring white flesh to
black. So my hope of TOmbOs vanished like that
of Argo.
Beyond the island is little village, called Hay-
mex, and here | took leave Of Oar DOngola, in
which had been travelling ten days, and entered
Oar ELMshass, the kingdom Of my friend, Melek
Dyaab. The character Of the country changed on
the very border. Long ridges of loose blocks Of
sandstone and granite, as at Assouan and Akaba