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Read Ebook: The source of the Blue Nile by Hayes Arthur J Poulton Edward Bagnall Sir Contributor
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Ebook has 654 lines and 95894 words, and 14 pages
Contributor: Edward B. Poulton
Release date: August 24, 2023
Original publication: London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1905
Credits: Galo Flordelis
THE SOURCE OF THE BLUE NILE
A RECORD OF A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SOUDAN TO LAKE TSANA IN WESTERN ABYSSINIA, AND OF THE RETURN TO EGYPT BY THE VALLEY OF THE ATBARA
WITH A NOTE ON THE RELIGION, CUSTOMS, ETC. OF ABYSSINIA
LONDON SMITH, ELDER & CO., 15, WATERLOO PLACE 1905
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.
PREFACE
In Africa the centre of interest shifts quickly, from Khartoum to the Cape, from the Congo to Morocco. Before now it has lain in Abyssinia, for Englishmen especially. It may be found there again. If so, the theatre of action will probably be the little known region of Western Abyssinia, and that district of the Anglo-Egyptian Nile Province which adjoins it.
Geographically, Western Abyssinia dominates the south-east of the Soudan. The Soudan, as every one in England knows now, is not a continuation of the Desert of Sahara, but a land that once flowed with milk and honey, and may again. It contains vast tracts of soil perfectly adapted for the cultivation of cotton. A hostile force descending from Abyssinia has the enormous advantage of moving from difficult into easy country with an open line of retreat into almost inaccessible mountains. An expedition from the Soudan, on the other hand, would be confronted, after traversing miles of uninhabited hilly wastes, by the necessity of forcing its way up mule-paths winding among precipices.
There is no reason why peace should not be permanently established between Egypt and Ethiopia, if the Abyssinian slave-raids are stopped. But the changes and chances of international politics bring about strange consequences. Rumours, not without foundation, have been circulated recently of new engagements entered into by the Negus giving far-reaching concessions to Americans. Other Powers are busy, and a diplomatic--and spectacular--mission started lately from Berlin for Addis Abbiba. There is room in the country for all nations to find commercial opportunities. But if influences hostile to Great Britain became dominant in Western Abyssinia, a danger to the Soudan--and not to the Soudan only--would have arisen, the seriousness of which few people at home, perhaps, rightly realize. I make no further apology for bringing some account of a journey from Khartoum to Lake Tsana before the public.
My heartiest thanks are due to my friend, Mr. Godfrey Burchett, without whose aid in preparing for publication the rough notes of a traveller's diary, this book would not have come into existence. I cannot too cordially acknowledge my indebtedness to him.
I wish to acknowledge also my great obligation to Sir W. Garstin, who, on behalf of the Egyptian Government, has allowed me to reproduce the map of Lake Tsana, published in his Report on the Basin of the Upper Nile ; to Professor Poulton for his kindness in preparing the entomological appendix to this volume; and to Mr. C. E. Dupuis for permission to publish interesting photographs taken by him. And I have the pleasure of cordially thanking Mr. John Murray for leave given me to make extracts from "Life in Abyssinia," by Mansfield Parkyns, and the "Narrative of the British Mission to Theodore, King of Abyssinia," by Hormuzd Rassam; Messrs. Macmillan and Co., for similar permission in the case of "The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia," by Sir Samuel Baker; Messrs. C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd., in the case of "Abyssinia," by Herbert Vivian; Messrs. Chapman & Hall in the case of "A Narrative of a Journey through Abyssinia," by Henry Dufton; and Mr. Augustus Wylde in the case of "Modern Abyssinia." It would have been impossible to publish the collated information about the Soudan and Abyssinia contained in this volume without the privilege kindly granted me by these gentlemen.
A. J. HAYES.
SUEZ, 1905.
TO FACE PAGE
THE START AHEAD OF THE CARAVAN 4
CHILDREN AT NO. 6 STATION, BETWEEN HALFA AND ABOU HAMED, EAT THE REMAINS OF LUNCH, CURRY AND RICE 4
THE WELCOME AT ABOU HARRAS 13
VILLAGE MUSICIANS AT ABOU HARRAS 14
THE WELLS AT THE FOOT OF GEBAL ARANG 18
MR. FLEMMING'S HOUSE AT GEDAREF 22
REST-HOUSE BETWEEN GOZ REGEB AND ADARAMA 22
GUM-BEARING MIMOSA TREES 30
TRYING THE TEMPERATURE OF A PATIENT AT THE DOCTOR'S PARADE 30
RAIN COUNTRY 64
THE KNOTTED SAPLING NOW BECOME A TREE 66
MESSENGER SENT TO STOP US GOING DOWN TO THE LAKE 68
HOUSES AT DELGI 79
WASHING OUT "TEDJ" POTS AT DELGI 79
A CASE OF LEPROSY 104
FORDING THE RIVER GUMARA 106
INTERESTED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA 110
WOMEN DANCING AT THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY 110
THE "CANDELABRA EUPHORBIA" ON THE EDGE OF A DRY WATER-COURSE 114
BETWEEN SARA AND KORATA 114
THE CHURCH AT KORATA CONTAINING THE FRESCOES 118
THE PORTUGUESE BRIDGE OVER THE BLUE NILE 118
FRESCOES IN THE CHURCH AT KORATA 120
OUR GUIDE BETWEEN KORATA AND WOREB 132
THE DONKEYS CROSSING THE FERRY 140
THE MULES SWIMMING THE FERRY 140
PUSHING THE DONKEYS INTO THE WATER, PREPARATORY TO THEIR BEING FERRIED ACROSS 142
INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH AT BAHARDAR GEORGIS 154
MARKET-DAY AT ZEGI 162
INTERVIEWING THE SULTAN OF DELGI 170
THE SULTAN OF DELGI, AN OLD PRIEST, AND SLAVE CARRYING THE SHIELD 170
HEAD OF A HAARTEBEEST 184
"LATES NILOTICUS" CAUGHT WITH A TROUT-ROD 184
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