[93]In Binga a large quantity of copper ore is found, which is met with in commerce in Kordofan, and converted into anklets for the women, weighing about one pound each; it has not the same characteristics as the European copper, but bears a nearer resemblance to brass; its colour is pale yellow.
[94]A caravan leaves Bergu annually for Tripoli. The distance from Bergu to Kobbe, the chief commercial town of Darfour, is twenty days’ march. Since Bergu has become tributary to Darfour, European goods have found their way into the latter country from Tripoli by way of Bergu.
[95]Bagermi.—Tr.
[96]Banda has been vaunted to me as a country rich in gold; it is also said to possess a large quantity of white copper.
[97]At present any traveller might reach Darfour, but he would never return, because the reigning Sultan looks upon every white man as a spy of Mehemed Ali’s. Mohammed Fadel’s chief wish is to have some European settlers in his country; he even invited me through a Djelabi, to come; for he is well aware that Mehemed Ali has set his eye upon Darfour. An European died eight years ago in that kingdom: he was a renegade, and stood very high in the favour of the Court. He has left two full-grown sons; but I could neither discover his name, nor the country he came from.
[98]I have frequently dined at his table, and when I, on one of these occasions, observed no bread, and asked the reason, he answered: bread is only for servants and slaves; but that it had never been a custom of the Sultans of Darfour to eat bread.
[99]It need scarcely be mentioned that this change of government has not yet taken place.—Tr.
Transcriber's note:
- Some minor changes to punctuation and formatting have been done silently.
- Spelling inconsistencies have been left unchanged.
- New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.