The New York herald., 1872-11-06

PACK OF MECCA mendicants, which proved nuis-
we saw all along the route. They from Senegal
the western coast OF Africa from Darfur, Wodoy
two years in crossing the Continent, and many
perish on the way. The HERALD has already been
informed upon this subject-how these beings breed
pestence In Mecca at their grand fetes by leaving
the flesh OF sheep TO dec0mpOse upon the heights
OF the sacred mountain; how, subsequently, cholera
Sy these
standing medical reports to the contrary, and
Christians thus pay the Mohammedan piper.
doubt II ages will overcome the superstitlous fever
which annually carries to Mecca 2OO, 900 pilgrims.
EGYPrIAN EMANCIPATION DEMANDED.
unhapplly the viceroy does not believe in deliy-
despotism OF their religion. The moment you whs-
@ BLACK tSst s yoa ss the p peo have s rsh H w
only need some fresh oppression to make them
revolt. "Oh," they tell me, "the Egyptians are
poltr00ns-don't you believe they VIII ever
rise." There is truth in the statement; but
the mere force OF numbers must overwhelm the
vlceroy ana s MS whole government % II ne does not
lutte. He is responsible to no one, because he pur
chases the endorsement OF Constantlnople by
huge tribute. He personally Is the commerce and
wealth OF the country, and as for the Assembly it is
Q mere imposition. There is no voice OF the Deope.
The viceroy means well, but his political economy
III. and an ardent admirer OF the policy
which brought France TO the deepest pit OF hu-
initiation or course Egypt win go on and prosper all
skilfnl man, and wllL believe, avert the coming
danger by timely measures There is much that IS
admirable in his administration, in-f0unded and
wretchedly conceived as most Of II Is IN Its funda
mental principles.
While we were sprawled out under the tent, try
ing to cramp ourselves into the narrow shade, .
huge negro from Darfur, on his return from Mecca,
presented himself for aims We all feigned sleep.
The rascal, undasnted, knelt down by my stde and,
lingering his string beads began to recite aprayer
fr0m the Koran in high key beseechlng Providence
to provide the best abode in Paradise for US all in
bread. He went away without rendering q re-
ceipted Dill Many humbugs adopt the profession
Of the iakr; and the charlatans, for money, win
preach to the mob over the tomb OF MOhammed,
change into nidceredu for few piasters, or be-
come barber or drink mixer with equal facility.
OF verdure now began to embellish the route, and
occasionally q mimOsa, small shrub. 1 was
not surprised to find vast deposits Of remarkable
OF slate and great bouders OF granite. mile nom
the route
rose pcrpcndlculariy from the sand to height Of
about flty feet. It resembled an obelisk. This
caprice oil nature was surrounded by other clean
shaven rocks, which gave the tout ensemble the ap
smile to talk OF the treasures OF the desert the por
phyry the marble, the slate all OF which the Orient
need so badly but one forges often that these val
liable elements OF the desert formation are easily
accessible to the commerce OF the world.
Occasionally Bicherine Arabs. mounted upon
dromedares, bearing merchandise to their tribe,
crossed our path, on an average one caravan
day, like sail at sea- reminding us that an outer
world still breathed and moved; but beyond that
there was no life on the grand desert Water
alone was our constant sOicitude, and there being
some forty people in the party did not augment our
way between Berber and Suakin,
SIXTY SOLDIERS PERIsHED FROM THIRST.
battalion had been sent by the viceroy for the
garrison Of Khartoum. Arrived at Suakin, de-
tachments were sent across the desert. 1t was to
one of these that the fatal accident occurred. 1t
seems that the Colonel was In command. dis
hafWaan
course, the Colonel acted with the usual military
impertinence. He assumed the responsibility, act
advice Each soldier had but one water
skin and, not knowing that water In the
desert Is 81, blood, they wasted it extraya, Isn
OF Ell Box and refusing to be checked by the guides
they drank all their water, confident OF their ability
camels broke down one by one There was ter
rible, general thirst The men became Frustrated.
In few hours the majority had died In horrible
frightul OF all ends-to perish with your tongue in
famed. your body on fire, your brain gone !-one
exhausting delirium9
Near noon on the 29th, much to our surprise, we
arrived at . great rain-water basin formed In the
rock four days from Berber. This point Is god
send to the traveller. During the day more than
two thousand camels were watered there, and
great herds Of beeyes and iocks Of sheep; That
ing FL box We were obliged to ascend and de-
scend four distinct ridges. At the summit OF the
i L
equalled in Africa. Many hundred feet below
and to westward was the plain we had
just crossed, stretching away to one OF those
gorgeous skies that can only be seen in this clear
arr; then the caravan, with its motley people,
slowly winding up the incline, lost now in a deep
Of colored % marble taking softer tint tint from the
mellow twilight, and the whole face Of nature sub
dued by prodigious space peopied only by an
joy, the day toll and rage. That night we arrived
at the well.
THE DESERT HOME. OF Ell BOX.
III Box Is a specimen Of an Arab camp or twenty
scattered families The habitatiOn for shelter Is
simply mat made Of palm leaves staked to the
height about three 4 feet. The family crawl Under
this shelter during rains. All the family property
is generally kept Hereunder, consisting OF bottle
OF grease, a pack OF amulets, several gOraes
(bOwls) for milk and skins OF animals. We had
many visitors at FL Box. Our principal
so the o 81 the
OF the scion to the Little Corporal.
He always brought with him his two sisters, Fatima
and another, whose name forget. Fatima was
exceedingly beautiful, with the face OF the Ma
donna, and was very neatly attired in the long cot
ton garment OF the Bicherlncs. But with all her
clothes her person was not more concealed than a
slightly yelled Venus. She was bare-footed and
are-headed and certainly withal the most beauti-
pear % m sT Of AsS and wo%s 1s
ine teeth. They occupy about two hours every
day in cleansing them with racki wood,
aoshins injurious 1rs a to shem Faima aa
mired bottle which had in the tent, and which
had formerly been in the service OF 'mixed
pickles." OF course gave 1t to her, and nothing
could exceed her JOY. bottle Is money here. You
can buy anything with one and so highly Is the
article esteemed further south that the pride OF
the family is always named after the word "glass,"
whatever the translation may be in the numerous
dialects.
THE DESERT POPULATION.
The condition OF the nomadic Arab tribes taken
az unit is not good. They have been robbed by
their sheiks and by the government officers, and
now they complain bitterly Each tribe, besides
its chief sheik has hundreds of sub-sheiks who
govern the villages ana rowing squads. The rule
is cruel and oppressive-the authority almost absO
lutte. The Arabs still kick secretly against the
government, cut down its teegraphs attack
travellers and then escape to the mountains
From the best authorities here ] have tried to
tabuate the population OF the Arabs, and the re-
suits give only approximate No census or
even estimate has ever been made.
Among all the Arabs OF Upper Egypt the Schur-
kerehs are the most famous for their drOmedaries:
the Hadendowas for their camels and cattle; the
Bichernes for swift hygeens alsO while the
Ababdahs are accomplished in almost all the Arab
arts. The Hadendowas are the richest, for 1t is