[69]Horneman was told by the Augilans, that the Tibbo of Febabo, or Burgu, (it is not clear which) spoke a language that resembled the whistling of birds. He also takes occasion to remark, what Herodotus says concerning the language of the Ethiopians, hunted by the Garamantes; but probably without referring these last to the country of Fezzan.
[70]It appears in [page 176,] (note) that Burgu is 18 journies from Tibesty; which, at 14 G. miles each, (as they are of 18 B. miles by the road,) produce 252 miles. Burgu is said, [page 119,] to be situated to the south, some days distant from Febabo. On the construction the line of 252 miles passes to the eastward of Febabo, (placed at 10 days to SSW from Augila, see [page 108,]) so far, as to place Burgu to the south-eastward, instead of south, from Febabo. It may be, that Febabo does not bear so far to the west, as SSW from Augila; as less than 14 miles per day cannot well be allowed, from Tibesty. I have therefore altered the bearing from SSW, and made it somewhat nearer to the meridian. The Berdoa, or Bardeo of Leo, (pages 245, 246,) agrees to this position, 500 Arabic miles from the Nile, in the midst of the Desert of Libya; and abounding with dates.
[71]Notwithstanding the appearance of retributive justice in these attacks on the Tibbo, by the Sultan of Fezzan, yet Mr. Horneman lets us a little into the secret, by informing us, ([page 68,]) that “for some years past, the Sultan has augmented his revenues considerably, by cursory expeditions against the Tibbos of Burgu.” And the result of the above expedition was, “the stealing of about two hundred people, which were sold,” &c. It may be remarked, that Mr. Browne says of the Sultan of Darfoor, that a part of his revenue arises from a participation in the profits of the selatia, or slave-hunting parties, (page 299.) And of the Negro country of Dar Kulla, he says, that even the public regulations are framed with a view to the entrapping of individuals for slaves. (308.) So that the slave trade exists much in the same manner, in this quarter of Africa, where none of the slaves are purchased by European traders, as in the west.
[72]It has appeared that the caravan travellers in stating the time between distant places, are apt to give the whole time that elapses between their leaving one place, and arriving at another. Hence the days of halt, have often been added to the days of march; and a faulty route of travelling has thence been adopted. This, no doubt, occasioned the low rate adopted, soon after the institution of the Association: and which nothing but actual experiment can effectually correct.
[73]The proof of this fact is most satisfactorily established, by Herodotus, and by Ibn Haukel, a geographical writer of the tenth century, whose work has been lately translated by Sir William Ouseley; to whose labours the science of Geography is much indebted.
[74]Mr. Horneman regards this nation as the Terga of Leo, situated in the western quarter of the Great Desert. (Leo, page 245.)
[75]Ptolemy has a city named Tagama, at the Niger, but too far to the east, to answer to the position here given. (Afr. Tab. IV.). There is also a Tegoma in our geography, near Kashna.
[76]Many persons have expected to find in the interior of Africa, the remains of the Carthaginian nation, expelled by the Romans. Considering, however, the vast interval of time that has elapsed, we can hardly expect to find the remnant of a nation, continuing so far unmixed with the surrounding nations, as to preserve their distinction of character and language. Besides, it would really seem as if the Carthaginians themselves, (meaning the descendants of the Phœnicians,) were not to be regarded as a nation, so much as bodies of citizens, inhabiting commercial towns: so that their language may never have prevailed generally over Barbary.
[77]Mr. Browne (page 232) denominates the people of the Greater Oasis, Muggrebine Arabs, as well as those of the Lesser. It is probable then, that all the Oases are colonies of the Tuarick.
[78]See the sketch opposite to [page 111.]