Mukni, who was very jealous of Lizari, and bore him great ill will, sent orders to certain people to murder him, by firing ball at him whilst at their evenings’ diversions; but his situation as a great man in Fezzan, and his excellent private character, had made him so respected, that those who had orders to kill him came and informed him of his danger, promising to defend rather than to injure him. He remained, however, in most unpleasant suspense, lest a second order should be more effectual. Even in our house, and in the same room with us, he slept with his pistols cocked under his head, and his sabre by his side.
The people of Wajunga are much allied to the Tibboo in their habits, arms, &c.; but the men have a way of plaiting their hair which is very remarkable, and in some it resembles the curling of a ram’s horn, in size and shape.
I saw this day a fine young Tibboo woman of Gatrone, who was inquiring amongst the Arabs if any one of them had a child to sell. She soon found one, whose mother had died on the road: it was about three weeks old, and miserably thin. As she wanted to suckle it, having lost her own infant, she bargained for it, and at last purchased it with a wooden bowl of about the value of sixpence, and a gallon of dates, worth about a penny more. She however soon returned with the child, which she tossed back to the man who had sold it, complaining that it would not take the breast, and demanding the purchase money back. The dates had been eaten, but the bowl was returned to her; and so ended the bargain, an Arab taking charge of the poor infant, and promising to carry it home to his wife.
A sick child whom I took under my care, and to whom I administered medicine, amused me much by his alarm at the sight of bread when shewn to him for the first time. I offered him a little flat loaf, and he was for a long while considering whether he should venture to touch it, but at last mustered courage to take it up, apparently in great trepidation, holding it between his fingers and thumbs, and frequently turning it round. Having first smelt to it, he began to nibble; and being very hungry and cold, and finding it not quite so terrific as he imagined, the poor little fellow despatched it very soon. I continued to feed him for the two or three days we remained together, and his mode of expressing his gratitude, was by coming close to me, and looking up in my face.
Many of the children were carried in leather bags, which the Tibboo make use of to keep their corn in; and in one instance I saw a nest of children on one side of a camel, and its young one in a bag, hanging on the other. The Arabs brought many asses and sheep from Borgoo: the former are very large and fine, and arrived in high condition, whereas the horses and camels were skeletons. I here had an opportunity of seeing the manner of chaining the prisoners. Five Wajunga men, fierce, well made, handsome people, about 25 years of age, were linked together. The right hand is fastened to the neck, round which is an iron collar, having two rings in the back; through this the heavy chain is passed and locked at each end on the unhappy slaves. The owner sleeps with this chain tied to his wrist, when in fear of their escaping. I was informed by their masters, that these men had been so confined during three months, “because they were fierce fellows, and had actually resisted their captors; but above all, they had been guilty of endeavouring to make their escape when taken.” Their cowardly owners dreaded them even in Fezzan. These were the only strong young men in the Kafflé; almost all the other males being little boys, or infirm old men.
The Tibboo of Borgoo are represented as a timid race, in such dread of a gun or horse, that the bare sight of an Arab, and particularly a mounted one, is sufficient to put a number of them to flight. They run with great swiftness, and when endeavouring to escape, use many successful and ingenious feints. For instance; if pursued on rocky ground, they will kneel suddenly in such a manner, as to resemble a rock or stone, the mountains in their own country being black like themselves; if where wood is lying, they embrace the trunk of a tree: if on sandy ground, they stand on an eminence, until their pursuer is in the hollow near them, they then run to the next hollow, and change their direction or even bury themselves before he gets to the rising ground. They show equal skill in eluding the vigilance of their keepers when caught. Mukni has often told me stories of their cunning, with evident astonishment and anger, that these poor wretches should dare to use their wits to such advantage. One of his remarks was, “if you catch one, and do not immediately bind him, when you turn away from him, he will run off.”
The country from whence these poor victims come produces sufficient dates to furnish the whole army, and the conquerors brought away enough to supply their slaves and animals. There are in this country some singular insulated rocks, which are almost inaccessible, and which stand on plains of sand. On these many of the Tibboo live, and by means of large stones and arrows are able to keep off any people, who, like themselves, are without muskets. The Sultan’s army, in a former Ghrazzie, stormed some of these fastnesses; and though they were superior in number and arms, and the Tibboo naturally timid, they met with very severe loss.
The plan adopted by the Arabs in taking these people is described in the following manner.—They rest for the night, two or three hours ride from the village intended to be attacked; and after midnight, leaving their tents and camels, with a small guard, they advance, so as to arrive by daylight; they then surround the place, and, closing in, generally succeed in taking all the inhabitants. As those who elude the first range have also to pass several bodies placed on the look-out, and armed with guns, their chance of escape is almost impossible. On a rising ground, at a convenient distance, is placed a standard, round which are stationed men prepared to receive and bind the captives, as they are brought out by those who enter the town: when bound, the pillagers return for fresh plunder. In the course of one morning, a thousand or fifteen hundred slaves have sometimes been procured in this manner, by two or three hundred men only. When the inhabitants are all secured, the camels, flocks, and provisions, come into requisition; and these dreaded Arabs march on and conquer other defenceless hordes, in the same manner. The Tibboo of Borgoo are of a lighter complexion than other Negroes, and are handsome people. The females braid their hair, which is not very woolly, in long plaits, which hang down round their head in bobbins of sometimes eighteen inches in length.
The Arabs found many pigeons in Borgoo; these birds emigrate from Fezzan in October and November, to Kawār, Bilma, Borgoo, and other places to the southward.
January 12th. Therm. 3°. Left Gatrone, and preceded the Ghrazzie to the wells of Wudakaire, from which place I have already noted the bearings to Gatrone. We slept here, and took care that it should be at least a mile distant from the Arabs. My Maherry was now in tolerable condition, owing to the care taken of him by the Marāboot, to whom I sent a six-bladed knife, as an acknowledgment for his trouble; this he considered so splendid a present, that his house had a constant succession of visitors, to see and admire its wonderful blades, saws, &c. which were opened with great care, and looked on with astonishment.