New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-16
FROM NEw-YoRK TO NINEvEH'
XXXIY
OLD DoNGoLA AND sEw-Do


less town, nearly fifty miles distant. During
the whole Of the first day we travelled along the
edg. Of the cultivated land, and sometimes in the
midst Of it, obiging my camels to stumble clnm-
silly over the raised trenches which carried water
from the river to the distant parts OF the fields.
Large, ruined forts Of unburnt brick, exceedingly
picturesque at distance, stood at intervals be-
tween the desert and the harvest-land. The next
morning was still and sultry, but walked ahead
for two hours, through thickets of euphorba
higher thanmy head, and over patches of strong,
dark-green grass. The sakias were groaning all
along the shore, and the people everywhere at
work in the fields. The wheat was in various
stages ofgrowth, from the first thick green of the
ysung blades to the full head. Barley was turn
ing pale yellow, and the doOkhu, the heads of
which had already been gathered, stood brown and
dry. Djebel Deeka, on my right, rose bold and
fair above the lines of palms, and showed a pic
turesdue glen winding in between its black-purple
peaks. Its fine feature of the landscape, which
would be almost too soft and lonely without It.
Before nine O'Clock we passed the large town OF
Korti which, however il rather cluster OF small
towns scattered along between the wheat-helds and
the river Some ofthe houses are large and massive,
and with their blank walls and block-ike groups,
ever which the dome-tree spreads its arch and the
dste-palm hangs its feathery crown, make hne
African MISUNDERSTANDING types of the scenery
along the Nubian Nile. Beyond the town we
came upon hot, dusty plain, sprinkled with
stunted euphorba, over which | could see the
point where the Nile turns westward. Towards
III. r. ALL, Dol -
large agglomeration of mud and human beings, on
the sand-his, a quarter Of mile from the river.
An extensive pile of mud in the center denoted a
fortress or government station of some sort.
There were few lazy Arabs sitting on the ground,
on the shady side Of the walls, and some women
going back and forth with water jars, but other
WISE for all the life it presented, the place might
have been deserted. The people we met saluted
me with much respect, and those who were seat
ed rose and remained standing till | had passed
| did not enter the town, but made direct for
great acacia tree near its western end. Here, the
nine camels and nine men ofmy caravan ali rested
under its shade, and there was room for as many
more. number Of Arabs looked on from dis
lance or hailed my camel men, to satisfy their
curiosity regarding me, but no one came near or
ANNOYED us in any way. | took breakfast leisurey
on my carpet, drank half gourd of mareesa, and
had still an hour to wait before the new camels
wereladen. The men had from khartoum wanted
a certificate. so certified that Said was good
Councilman and Mohammed worthless as guide.
they then drank-n parting jar OF mareesa, and we
went from under the cool acacia into the glare of
the fierce sum- Our road all the afternoon was in
the Desert, and we were obliged to endure most
intense and sultry heat.
The next day travelled westward over long
akdbas, or reaches of the Desert, covered with
clumps of thorns, nebbuk and the jasmine tree.
The long mountain the opposite bank was
painted in rosy light against the sky, as II touched
with the beams of perpetual sunrise. My eyes
always turned to it with sense Of refreshment,
after the weary glare of the sand. In the morn
ing there was brisk wind from the northeast, but
toward noon it veered to the southeast and then
to the south, continuing 10 blow all day with
great force. As | rode westward through the hot
hours of the afternoon, it played against my face
like a sheet Of fame. The sky became obscured
with a dull, blush haze, and she sands OF the
Beyooda, on my left, gllmmered white and dim,
AS if swept by the blast of furnace. There were
occasional gusts that made the flesh shrink as Il
touched with hot iron and found it impossible
IN hear the wind full on my face. One who has
never felt il. cannot conceive the whitening effect
or sncb a heat. The earth seems swept with the
first fires Of that conhagration beneath which the
heavens will shryel up as a SCROLL and you instinc-
lively wonder to see the palms standing green and
unsinged. My camel-men crept behind the camels
| fo get away from ii, and Achmet and Ali muliled
mn their faces completely. could MT endure the
snltry heat occasioned by such preparation, and
so rode all day with my head in the fire.
Retire. reaching Edabbe, the terminus of the
caravan route from kordofan, the same evening,
| rode completely around the bend of the Nile,
so that my dromedaIy's head was at last turned
| toward Wadi Halfa. | was hot, tired and out OF
temper. but a gourd of cool water, at the first
bouse wa reached. made all right again. There
were seven vessels in the river waiting for the car
ayans One had Just arrived from kordoian, and
the packages gum were piled mp alorg the Shore
I rode mast the town, which does not contain more
than thirtv houses in all, and had my tent pitched
on the river bank. The Nile Is here nan mile
broad and a lsng reach Of its current Is visible TO
IN. north and south. The opposite bank was high
and steep, lined at the waters edge with belt of
beons and mpins. behind which rose a line OF
Mains. and still higher the hills Of pale, golden
| bu,d sand. spotted like a leopard's hide, with
| clumps of a small mirnosa. The ground was the
same clear, tawny yellow, but the spots were deep
emerald. Below the gorgeous drapery Of these
hills. the river glittered in a dark purple-bue
sheet. The coloring of these African landscapes
is truly unparalleled. At Edabbe first made ac-
ouaintance with a terrible pest, which has since
tornented me constantly--a small black fly, as ven
omous as the musketo, and much more difficult TO
drive away. sat during the evening with my head,
neck and ears closely bound up, notwithstanding
the heat. After the flies left, a multitude oil
! h.o.1es moths winged ants and other nameless