Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-15
the route and the country in it's vi

cinity.
The commander of the expedition is
Col. E. Sparrow Purdy, of the General
Staff, Chief of the Typographical Blu
reau. He is son of Gov. Purdy, of
California, and is an accomplished off
Ger and engineer. He has been four
years in the Egyptian service and has
conducted successfully several similar
explorations, for which he received a
decoration from the Khedive. He
takes special charge of the engineer
ing and Typographical work. He
started with his party from Suez and
went by sea to Berenice, while [ went
up the Nile with mine, and then across
from Keneh to Berenice to join him, as
L mentioned in a previous letter.
The officer next in rank is your cor
respondent, now Colonel in the gen
eral staff of the army and charged with
the geological explorations.
Tho third officer is Lieut.. Col 4. NJ.
Mason. formerly of the U. S. Navy
afterwards of G. S. Navy, who acted a
gallant part in the actions at Hampton
Roads and Drury's Bluff. He is a
Vrglnlan, and was First Lieutenant
on board the Cuba at the time of her
visit to Wilmington. Col. Mason has
charge of the harbor surveying at
Berenice and astronomical observa-
tions throughout.
| The next officer whom 1 will men
ton is Capt. Mahmund Sabri, of the
stat, an Egyptian and an eteUe of the
| Polytechnic School of Cairo. He
He speaks French extremely well, is a
good surveyor and draughtsman, and
Tor his age and experience, good en-
glneer. He came with me from kenet
and found him intelligent, laborious
and extremely useful, especially az an
1hterI + eter. He is an excellent speci-
ment of the young officers graduated
at the Egyptian Military school. He
IS assisted by a Lieutenant of the
stall. We have also two Lieutenants
OF infantry and fOrty-five soldiers from
the 1st Regiment of the Guards. A ma
tive Haklm, or doctor, and his apothe-
cary accompany the expedition, and
the former possesses about as much
skill and has about rs much social posi-
tlon as second rate barber, for such
Is the estimate in which the majority
OF Arab doctors are held by their
countrymen. With the exception of
few who have studied their professions
In Europe, and some of whom are
really skilfui and eminent men. the
Arab hakims are behind the barber
surgeons of three centuries ago. The
| BedWlns make up our entire aggregate
over one hundred souls.
This enumeration of the persouel
OF our expedition would be INCOMPLETE
without mention of the native Mag
mates who accompany it. But first let
me describe the mode OF organizing
travelling party over the deserts. The
nomads who occupy them are called
BedwIn Arabs, but they are subdivid-
ed into many tribes. They are all
subject to the Government. and paw
taxes, &c, but they have their own in
ternal government and their priyi-
leges. The chief authority is that of
the Shelk, which is patriarchal and
almost absolute. The principal Sheik
of a tribe is the head OF its oldest and
most lllustrious family-and some can
trace back their descent to the DAYS of
the Prophet. He is like the head of
Scottish clan in olden times. All
the tribe owe him allegiance and ODE
dience. and they render it faithfully.
Under him are inferior Sheiks. Be
sides this primary meaning OF the
word Shiek, it also means the head of
anything. For example, every village
has its Sheik, and in the towns each
trade also has its Sheik, through
whom all regulations are enforced:
and by courtesy, any old and respecta-
BILE man, however humble his position.
is addressed as Sheik. The country
which we are exploring is that of the
Ababdehs and Bishareens-north of
them are Mahazis-south, the Ber-
bers, the Shangallas, &c. On the Ly-
bian desert are the Bengazis, more
properly, the Mogebins; in Arabia,
Petrea, the Alawin and others.
Now, among the privileges claimed
by all these tribes, is that of furnish
ing the camels and guides used in
traversing their territory. The Gov
eminent comedies it; and if a private
party of travellers were to buy their
own camels and procure guides else
where (the latter, they could not do
they would uot be permitted to pass
through. So that parties wishing to
make excursions through any portion
of the desert, must apply first to the
Shelk of the tribe which occupies it. |
The Shelk engages to furnish so many |
camels. drivers and guides at SO much |
per day, or for the trip, with one or
two sub-Sheiks to command them. |
These Sheiks become responsible for
everything, and if anything is lost or
stolen by their men, they must pay
for 1t. But this mode of travelling is |
extremely expensive, for the traveller
has to carry everything with him,
tents included. and it takes a great
number of camels. Besides this the
Arab is never satisfied with a bargain
made; and. Judging from what the
and travellers say, the
European tourist is subject to inces-
SAINT annoyances: His Sheiks suggest
continual difficulties which can be
overcome only by additional back
sheesh, for which fresh demands are
recurring In fact, this
word backsheesh bounty or Eratuity
N money! is the bane of the travellers
life in Egypt; but being in the Gov
service, [ have never heard it
)nce. If his camels are hired by
he day the Sheiks use every pretext
or short marches and long halts.
If for the round trip, they urge
every reason for hurrying through,
he chief being the want of water,
hough there may be an abundance in
he side ravines all along the route.
These annoyances and the great cost
ire the cause why nc tourist has ever
these deserts. Linant Bey.
Who came 40 wears 400 xpaC comb H.. |