In Soudan the people ride on Maherries.
Half-way between Nooffy and Ashantee is a country of great extent, called Gonja. It is said that the people have the power of taming the elephants, which there, as in Soudan, are found in great numbers. This country is traversed by the traders in their way to the Gold Coast.
The mountains of Kong, near Dagomba, are said actually to exist, but I know not whether under the same name. Beyond Dagomba the country is low and marshy, and at certain seasons is overflowed. All the people, who are not Moslems, in Soudan, Bornou, or indeed over the greater part of the interior, are called Kerdi, which means Kaffir, or “unbeliever,” and is considered as a term of reproach; but no distinct tribe called by that name exists.
The women of the whole of the interior have no hand-mills to grind their corn, but pound it in large wooden mortars, enlivening their labour by songs. The want of salt is much felt. The Tuarick of Aghades and Asben, of the tribes of Kelliwe and Atesin, trade to great advantage in that article, which they bring from the salt lakes of Agram (Doomboo of the maps), on the Desert of Bilma, the position of which I shall mention when speaking of the country of the Tibboo.
| Drawn from Life by G. F. Lyon. | On Stone by M. Gauci. |
Costume of Soudan.
London. Published by J. Murray Albemarle St. Feb.1.1821.
C. Hullmandel’s Lithography.
The women of Soudan are much famed for their singing. They accompany themselves on a little instrument made of a gourd, with a skin stretched over it like a drum, having a handle and one string, which is played by a bow made with horse-hair. This instrument is called Erbab. Their other instruments are drums, bagpipes, rude cymbals, and a long gourd called Zantoo, which has a hole at each end, and is beaten against the calf of the leg, and stopped quickly by the hand.
The women of Bornou have not so many attractions as those of Soudan. They are neither so handsome, well formed, clean, nor good-tempered; and, in consequence, the slaves from the latter country bring much higher prices. The costume of the women of both these places is very remarkable, particularly in the manner of dressing their hair; those of Soudan stretching it over a high pad raised like a helmet, and the Bornou girls plaiting it in some instances close to the head, and in others letting it hang down like little bobbins. They wear a large shirt of cotton, or striped silk, and a wrapper in the form of a petticoat, called Zeneh. Their silver ear-rings, bracelets, and anklets, form a very pretty contrast with their jetty skins. In their own countries they wear no shirts, but a long wrapper tied over the breasts and under the arms.