The Morning herald., 1877-09-17
THE TAXA COUNTRY ON THE
BORDERS OF SOUDAN AND
ABYSSINIAs "a. ...,,'

Lieutenant Prideaux, one of the adventu
rous Englishmen who travel into almost in
accessible points, just as they climb noun
tains for the fun of it. started from Massawa
and, passing through Baraka, reached Taxa
They found it of more hilly character thar
Baraka, but the general nature of the sol
and vegetation undergoes little change.
Nine hours marching led us into wadi, al
the entrance Of which the leading camels Of
the caravan we're attacked by lions; but the
matchlocks Of the gallant escort were sufa-
cient to drive off the invaders, who are any.
thing but the noble, courageous beasts ro-
nance has pictured them. We ourselves had
ridden some way ahead, up gorge, situated
between two precipitous cliffs, which,
narrowing as we advanced, conducted US to
several Wells, dug deeply in the sand, On
arrival here, we were saluted by tie barking
of hundreds of dogs, which seemed to issue
forth from every part of the rugged heights
by which we were surrounded; but it was
two o'clock in the morning, and so dark that
it was impossible to discover anything but
soft spot tolay our bedding on. On waking,
We found We we're between couple of vii
lagos, which clustered UP the sides of the
hills like cells in beehive; ii, fact, there
was not projecting slab Of rock which did
not serve as the ground, or, rather, only
floor of tiny cabin. Although small, the
houses were of much superior character to
those we had hitherto fallen in with They
were all circular in shape, and built of rub.
bic, with weu-thatched roofs. As for our
selves, we found pleasant grove of date.
trees to rest under during the day, and in
the cool Of The evening climbed up to the
eyries of the inhabitants, who Received us
Hospitality.
Passing by the well, where, by our doubt
less uncanny aspect, we were the objects OF
mingled interest and alarm to several damselh
who were employed in drawing water, We
clambered over slight eminence, and found
ourselves close to the metropolis. We found
it very extensive, and occupied by about
fifty thousand camels, but unfortunately,
nearly all of them females and young ones,
Words cannot give an idea Of the number Of
horned cattle in possession Of this tribe, it |
being entirely pastor ii one, and, believe
not cultivating an inch of the extensive
territory which belongs to it. Nearly every
house of the village was built Of mats, and
in the same beehive style of architecture as
those of the Hibab, to. whom these people
bear considerable resemblance. All the
,ribes in these parts assert that they are de- |
,cended from Arabs of the Hedjaz, disclaim-
ng any connection in blood with the child
EN- of Ham; and their physiognomy does
lot belle their pretensions.
The chiefs and upper classes shave their
leads and wear skull-cap er t,trtan, and
urban, and generally rejoice in q gaudi]y
silk sadorseyah, or vest. of
Egyptian manufacture, but the common
,eople wear only dirty rag, and delight in
flowing their locks to fall in thick ringlets
# considerable length, well smeared with
authorization, and kept in order with a
hort, pointed, and often beautifully carved
tick which is fastened at all times to the
air, and answers the purposes of comb.
he females. young and old, have usually
tile beyond leathern petticoat, and
ecklace of beads to set off their dusky
harms.
The name of these people and their VII
lges is Sabderat. One hamlet is only q
tone's throw from the other, and yet there
blood-feud between them. It appears
nat some years ago the whole valley was
lied by an ancient sheikh, who died leav-
lg several sons, the eldest of whom sue
,eded in due course to the chiefdom.
hese secluded spots, it seems, form no
tception to the rest Of the world, and the
orst of human passions rage as strongly
them as in the most crowded haunts of
en- Jealousy entered the heart of one Of
10 younger brothers, who inveigled the
leikh to lonely place, and then stabbed
m to the heart. He did not, however,
1e to profit by his treachery long. Ru-
or, with its thousand tongues, soon
ought the news of the assassination to the
rs of the daughter of the murdered man,
ho denounced her uncle to the Egyptian
thorities. He was seized and carried to
Bassala, and, after a trial sentenced to