Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-03
African Travel.

At lecture given in Rome by Count
Antonelli. the African traveller. there
were exhibited six magnificent ele-
plants tusks, one of which was more
than five feet long. The count was ac-
companied by two native Gallas youths
of graceful form and gentle bearing.
Among the incidents of his journey re-
lated by Count Antonelli, the follow
ing ceremony is interesting: An sex
change of blood" in token of eternal
friendship with the sultan of Rhaita.
I'VE met" said the count. ''in a hut
where long prayer was first recited.
and afterward various speeches were
made. l expressed myself as follows:
my dear friends, am ignorant of your
language and cannot express all my
sentiments; but it is enough to say
that / have requested the sultan Of
Aussa to adopt me as his son, and that
now we will exchange blood, so that
the blood of your people may be as
dear to me as nv own, and mine as
dear to you. trIink you will under
stand me- Another long prayer fol-
lowed, after which the sultan and ]
were conducted under tree to which
an OK was tied. The sultan cut the
ox's throat, and with its blood anointed
my forehead and then his own; after
which he made necklace and brace
lets out of the skin OF the OK and placed
them on nv neck and arms, saying:
Men. women! this white man is our
brothern In the country OF the Dana
kills prophet came to our camp; SO
one evening we made a large circle in
the tent, and everyone, tlattering the
prophet, overwhelmed him with ques-
tions. At last he began to chant re-
plies, which were repeated in a loud
voice by all present, accompanied with
gesticulations of the hands and feet.
The prophet gradually became excited,
till at last he howled and struggled
like demoniac. When questioned
about me he said that the king OF ST.
Goa would receive me well; the SUPER
stitious Danakils were discontented with
this laconic prophecy, and began to
nave suspicious of our expedition. Next
day, therefore. 1 invited the prophet to
my tent, gave him to eat and drink in
profusion, and made him a quantity of
small presents. This so delighted him
that at the evening meeting he praised
me to the skies, prophesying all sorts
of good. was obliged to show myself
to the Danakils in asemi-nude costume.
for the report had spread that was
brother, and rs such they received me
in their tents" The following is Count
Antonelli's description of his reception
by the terrible sultan of Aussa: "When
7 arrived at the sultan's residence l
found myself in the midst of about two
thousand warriors, who were executing
. diabolic dance, uttering savage hOwls
and striking their weapons together.
The sultan was watching whether this
spectacle would alarm me, but on see
ing that l walked quietly on without
taking any notice, he caused me to be
ushered into his presence. l found q
tall man about SO years of age, with
robust frame and dark complexion,
wearing rather curly beard. His
eyes were stern and his expression self
satisfed-that of a man who believes
himself the greatest and most power
full man on earth. He looked askance
at me, and pointed to native, who he
said was the chief of the men who could
change themselves into hyenas. de-
sired to see the transformation, but he
informed me it could not be done at
once, but that should hear his voice.
Then the man initiated the cry of the
hyena. The sultan, seeing it made no
impression on me, was very content,
and gave me an ugly old harmonica,
saying: 'Amuse yourself with that, and
drink some coffee; afterward we will
see.' In fact, we soon signed solemn
pact OF friendship. after which the sui
tan said, in o sentimental voice: Many
people have told you that am an as
sassin. and many have spoken i'll of
you to me. Well. then, let us make
bargain--I will never believe anything
that is said against you, and you must
never believe anything bad OF me- The
sultan's daughters are beautiful black
Venuses, and are clothed almost as
lightly as that goddess. They are not
llowed to marry except when the
moon lies low on the horizon between
two stars. This combination happens
rarely, SO one of the princesses grew
impatient, rebelled, and took a hus-
band to herself at time when there
was no moon between two stars. When
the sultan heard of the impious act he
ordered that his daughter should be
driven out of the tribe and given to
certain merchants, who would take her
to the DEVILS house. But the priests
interfered, and the young girl, instead
of being exiled, was drowned in the
lake of Aussa."