Travels in Kordofan

EMBRACING
A DESCRIPTION OF THAT PROVINCE OF EGYPT, AND OF SOME OF THE BORDERING COUNTRIES, WITH A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE COMMERCE IN THOSE COUNTRIES, OF THE HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS, AS ALSO AN ACCOUNT OF THE SLAVE-HUNTS TAKING PLACE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF MEHEMED ALI.
BY IGNATIUS PALLME.
FROM NOTES COLLECTED DURING A RESIDENCE OF NEARLY TWO YEARS IN KORDOFAN.
LONDON: J. MADDEN AND CO., 8, LEADENHALL STREET. 1844.
London: Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley, Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
Towards the close of the year 1837 I undertook, at the request of a friend, a journey into the most distant portion of the countries under the government of the Viceroy of Egypt, in order to collect information referring to commerce, but more especially with the view of convincing myself whether trade might be carried on with these countries directly, instead of through the intermediation of agents, in whose hands it had hitherto rested. The task, although rather arduous, was not displeasing to me, for a residence of several years in Egypt had rendered me tolerably proficient in the Arabic language and colloquial dialect, and my prior travels in various parts of the Soudan had made me familiar with the habits of the natives, besides procuring me the acquaintance of many merchants from the more distant provinces. With these advantages I travelled during nineteen months in all directions through these countries. Whilst on my journey, or sojourning in any place, I noted down in my journal everything that appeared to me remarkable, which I laid before my friends for their amusement on my return. It is with their advice, and more particularly at the instigation of the celebrated French traveller Antoine d’Abbadie , that the information I was able to collect respecting a country of which so little was formerly known, now appears in print. My journey was strictly mercantile in its tendency; I cannot, therefore, venture on so explicit a description as might be expected of a traveller or a man well versed in the various sciences a traveller should profess, and yet I am not altogether diffident, inasmuch as I think that my small contribution will at least form a short guide for those who may be willing to explore these countries more fully hereafter, as it will give them many a hint before they reach these climes, which will save them much trouble and inconvenience during their residence in Kordofan. Although two distinguished German travellers, Dr. Rueppel and the Conseillier des Mines, Russegger , have visited the country before me, their sojourn there was of such short duration, and they travelled in so much company, that many things must have escaped their observation, and remained hidden from them, which were revealed to me, who, defying every species of danger, wandered through the province alone, under a variety of circumstances, sometimes accompanied by one solitary servant, and sometimes even without thus much protection. Thus I have often shared the humble fare of a camel-driver in the desert, or conversed with the natives in their damp and obscure Tukkoli; whilst at other times I have enjoyed the opportunity of gaining information from the governor and higher officials, to whose feasts I was frequently invited.