Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
APRINCE FROM TIMBUCroo.
An IUustrious Negro in Paris-A NaDob
OF Central Africa.

OF Central Africa.
The arrival Of a sable envoy rejoicing
in the euphonious name of Si-el-Hadj-Ab-
del Kader-O uld-Baker, says a Paris letter,
is mildly exercising the minds Of French
people His Excellency Ould-Baker
should be an Irishman, from his name,
but if he IS, he has disguised himself
most successfully. He comes as an Am
bassador for Timbuct0o, to solicit the
friendship of the great French President,
and if official promises count for anything.
ne need not be uneasy as to the result of
his mission. Those who have been ad-
mitted to the TimbuctOoan presence, de-
scribe His EXcellency as fine, tall, hand
some black man OF about 80, with a long
black beard, a rowing eye and head OF
hair which has certainly nothing Mi
lesian about it. As the Frankisb tongues
are Hebrew to him, he travels accom-
panied by an Arab interpreter. He Affects
a long blue tunic and brosd, scarlet pants.
| His shoes are sandals, laced with golden
! strings. Aud his headdress varies-being
/ sometimes a feZ and at other times tur-
/ ban. Si.el-Hadi- Etcetera has pitched his
/ tent for the moment in the Hotel du
I Louvre. He occupies three handsome
4 rooms on the first floor and generally takes
| his meals at home. 1t is rumored that in
/ private he is partial TO live chickens. To
I avoid giving scandal, however, he ordered
I six pOached eggs for his last nights din
ner. eating them-with0ut knives or forks
in the African fashion, and washing
/ them down with Seine water-corrected
! later on, after his visitors had retired, by
a dash of LII. Khinanan. Being a goo
Mussulman he drinks no wine.
Abdel-KaGer, and so on, had gracious
reception at the Ministry of Foreign At
fairs Yesterday, at which he explained
the chief objects of his journey. To-day
h is TO have an interview with the | nder
Secretary of State for the Marine and
Colonies, who will discuss the details OF
a treaty Of commerce. There will also
doubtless be much talk of the railway
which the French hope may some day
bring TimbuctOO in direct communication
with the Gulf of Guinea, Senegambia and
Algiers. A wild dream, most people
think, and probably they are right, but
not much wilder than all else that has
be IN projected about West Africa OF late.
/ "Tl es millions in it" for the projectors,
/ whatever the public may gain or lose by
! it, for NJ. Jules Ferry, they say, looks
! fayorably upon the Timblctoo Railway.
Before its construction is decided,
/ though, it might be advisable TO throw
a little light upon the population, wealth
! resources and climate of the region
/ through which the railway will be laid.
I 1eFS OaliilS, one VI LLt IGM LGi ObtduS
/ who have visited Timbuct0O, speaks APP
provingly Of the tribes which inhabit the
/ city. They have handsome black
SKINS" Gays he, "and aquiline noses.
/ Their lips are thin, their eyes are beau
/ tiful, and the woman folk are pretty"
He adds that they are intelligent, hard
working, gentle and hospitable; that the
negro king is simple in his ways and re-
spected by his subjects, and that but for
the constant incursions of the savage
Touaregs the Timbuctooans would be
the hanniest neOnle ON earth.