The Niger Journal of Richard and John Lander by Robin Hallett

Author:Robin Hallett [Hallett, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415329910
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2004-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

XII

Boossa

August 23rd.—It was the earnest and oft-repeated desire of the chief of Wowow that we should return from Boossa and spend the approaching holiday with him, to which we thought proper to accede; indeed the old man had behaved so well to us, that we did not like to make him an ungrateful return. But his sister, the Midiki, is already jealous of her brother, because, perhaps, we have given him so good a character, and she says that she is apprehensive he may procure from us more than she is willing that he should have; and so she has not only set her husband’s mind against the measure, but she has slandered and defamed the character of her brother to us most shamefully.

This is positively the worst trait in the character of the queen, for in other respects she is an amiable good kind of woman enough. This despicable vice of slander is universal in Africa; the people all speak ill of each other, from the monarch to the slave.

This afternoon the expected messenger arrived from Wowow, with full power to treat with the Midiki for the purchase of our canoe; and though we are the parties most concerned in this business, we are not allowed to say anything at all about it. We have just learnt that the bargain has been concluded; we are to give both our horses for the canoe.

August 24th.—Accounts have reached Boossa of the total discom-forture of the Falatahs in the kingdom of Catsheenah, where, it is said, there had lately been much fighting; and that every Falatah has been expelled from the city of Catsheenah.

The reverses of the Falatahs have not ended here, for the people of the little but fertile kingdom of Zaria, of which Zeg Zeg is the capital, have also, with the assistance of the Bornouese, risen against their conquerors, defeated them in two or three engagements, driven out the Falatahs, and returned to the allegiance of their own native Prince, who was formerly, and will be again, tributary to the sheikh of Bornou.1

August 25th.—We despatched one of our men, named Ibrahim, this morning to Coulfo, with our ass, and a quantity of needles to sell. With him the king has sent a messenger, who has been commissioned to visit all the towns and villages on the Nouffie side of the Quotra, as far as the Falatah town of Rabba, and to request their chiefs and governors, in the name of the king of Boossa, to suffer us to pass down the river without inquiry or molestation. The messenger is not expected to return for a fortnight, for the journey is long and disagreeable.

August 31st.—A messenger with a canoe arrived today from the king of Wowow, but it is so very small that it is wholly inadequate for our purpose. Between the chief of Wowow and his sister, the Midiki, we have been completely taken in. Boats of a considerable size, are kept, it is said, at a small town

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