Year: 1874

&c


nonnced himself as royal messenger.


Although his speech was peaceful. 1t only gave me an
external composure especially as he immedaley 'ooA
possession OF my three horses and Snyder rhe sns
that such was the custom OF Waday. In vain expaiheu
to him that the best Of my steeds, truiy hat
white horse without the least speck OF DacK or gray
WAS destined for Sultan Ali that the oher Two were
not for sale and that not disposed 10 give UP ny
arms All were TAKEN with the assurance that should
have nv property the next day and nag OF the conn
try was given 20 me for my present service


Toward midnight, the same day, we reached Aoeschr
and lodged temporarily In the house OF my ua'ei"S
companion. the Djellabi Gilman. The next day was
summoned before the Sultan aud cannot suihflehty
describe the feeling of compensation and satisfaction
with which | returned from the audience. tonnd IN
sultan Ali the most sensihe ruler in all Central Africa
and WAS wholly delighted with the friendly reception ne
gave me. This TO be reckoned so mueh .ic ihoio
highly since learned that he had at rst hesiated 10
receive me- aud by no means well pleased
at nv arrival 1t is true that he took
unceremonious possession OF NV horse ana
coolly sent 70 my residence for pair OF
pstos and telescope which | had meant u
1--WE him: but this was done because he con-
siders presents as so many specuaons upon his own
generosity. and has gradually made business oi the
matter. He anneXes the presents that please hiin'
estimates their value. and returns 1t IN the FORM OF
slaves ostrich feathers, ivory, cameis. What does





sultan Ali made upon corresponded completely with


the reputation wise prince has already
acquired throughout sOudan and North Africa.


In spite of his Aman Literally peace but equiya-
lent TO a safe conduct shall probably not be able to


make into the interior OF the country ana
institute very thorough researches: for the people OF
Waday look upon my soioun here with misru't and Ill
will However / ain Just utterly tired OF travel
and sated with investigation. I am consumed with
longing for home and hope for speedy opportunity OF
continuing my Journey eastward feel sure that Sui
tan Ais mediation Will make the way safe for me-


A second letter. written on the lst Of June, and
addressed to DR.. Basian also reached its destina-
ton By this tine DR.. Nachigal had acquired some
knowledge of the country and its inhabitants. and
was confirmed in the evidence of Sultan Ais good
will. make the following extracts:


Sultan Ali is prince whose ambition 1t Is to give his
land a respectable position among the neighboring
States and achieve among those further of and more
civilized, the of a just wise, and powerful ruler
in Soudan Thereby although a Jealous follower OF the
SenoOSee fanatca Mosem he is not so unreasohaole
as to fear the visit OF few harmless Europeans lie
knows fame and power, mas some comprehension oi
our efforts and even finds advantage in our visits
both for the OF his knowledge OF the world
and the carrying of his name to Egypt and Europe.


He rules his people Justly, but with bloody severity
Theft is instantly punished with DEATH however slight
the value of the object stolen disturbance OF the puoc
peace-and this often happens from the prevalent
drunkenness which he is unable TO eralicae-meets the
same fate; aduerers either killed, lose the nose
and ears or are transformed into eunuchs Those who
show cowardce before the enemy barOarousy pun
ished in short the whole land trembles before him,
and most of all those attached to his court Yet the
poor ignorant formerly oppressed people are efec
tuay protected by him.


In regard to natural wealth. Waday is much inferior
to BorDou and the inhabitants surpassed IN civza
ton by their Western neighbOrs. Thanks TO the justice
and inexorable spirit the ruler is safe for
strangers very limited in its character II II were
possible to suppress the sale of slaves IN Egypt the
small quantities ivory and ostrich feathers collected
here would scarcely attract caravans and trade would
then only be carried as formerly, by way OF the
Dallaba and DarFur The only great merchant OF the
country is Sultan All himself Every third year he dis
patches considerable caravan to Egypt.


The duty still remains to me to speak with Sultan
Ali about the deaths of DR.. Voge and Won Beurmann,
although do not believe that shall succeed in saving
any of the papers journals Of unfortunate cOun
trymen. The murder OF DIR. VOgel is distant
event. and the present ruler who about 35 old
and left his fathers house aud capital when quite young
probably knows nothing about IT, He at once dsayowed
the murder of Herr Beurmann by the Governor of
Kanem, and took nothing OF the formers property which
was sent hher. Besides the violent death of man is
something usual insignificant here, that no one
thinks OF discussing IT, Even If the murdered man be
strange visitor Christian, very few of the people know
enough distinguish between such and Barbary Arab.


Dr. Nachtgal's hope of being able to start for Oar
Furimmedately after dispatching the above letter,
proved to be vain. He had declined to use Sultan
Ais permission to travel through the interior of the
country. partly on account of his diminished means
and partly from his desire to reach DarFur before
the beginning of the rainy season but the plan was
suddenly interrupted by of the death of Sultan
Hassin Of Dar-Fur, which would put a stop to all
communication between the two countries until the
arrival in Waday of a messenger from Brahim, Has
sins son. renewing the former friendly relations. 1t
was nevertheless special good fortune that DIR.
Nachtigal did not succeed in entering Dar-Fur.
either then little sooner; for the Sultan was
engaged IN secretly preparing his attack upon the
Egyptian power in SOudan and the traveller would
certainly have been arrested there, if not put to
DEATH


While waiting at Abeschr, he wrote a third letter
addressed TO Baron Won Malzan known through his
daring visit to Mecca, 10 or u years ago. This let


ter dated July g. 1913, is the last direct intelligence
which has been received. At that time he had the
chance Of returning by caravan which was TO start,
month later for Djalo and Trpoli. 1t is probable,
however that be obliged to wait for the close of
the rainy season. which there begins in July, and he
may afterwards, have improved the additional delay
! in visiting other parts of Waday. Not more than


three. or at most four months would be required for
caravan to reach Egypt, and evenif Dr. Nachtigal
left Waday as late as March, 1874 he must soon be
heard from. His letter to Baron Won Malzan con-
| tans few more interesting details.


What most strikes the stranger here he writes Is the
brutality Of the people the poverty OF the country and
the excellence of the sultans government. The in
habuts are far behind those BornOu in morals and
manners as well as art and industry. The common
domestic implements OF gosrdrnd. for instance ex-
hlbt the very lowest stage OF taste or SKILL Their
nrn deficient nractical character