Narrative of discovery and adventure in Africa, from the earliest ages to the present time: . one partythe most rapid process of plunder he ever witnessed. In afew seconds the camels were eased of their loads, and the poorwomen and girls stripped to the skin. Boo Khalloom, on thisand other occasions, interposed, and insisted on restitution ;but whether he would equally have done so without theurgent remonstrances of the English appears to be doubtful. The expedition, now advancing rapidly, entered Kanem,the most northern province of Bornou, and soon arrived atLari, a town of two thousand inhab
Narrative of discovery and adventure in Africa, from the earliest ages to the present time: . one partythe most rapid process of plunder he ever witnessed. In afew seconds the camels were eased of their loads, and the poorwomen and girls stripped to the skin. Boo Khalloom, on thisand other occasions, interposed, and insisted on restitution ;but whether he would equally have done so without theurgent remonstrances of the English appears to be doubtful. The expedition, now advancing rapidly, entered Kanem,the most northern province of Bornou, and soon arrived atLari, a town of two thousand inhabitants, composed ofclusters of rush-huts, conical at top, and looking like well-thatched corn-stacks. This place formed a remarkablestage in their progress ; for, from the rising ground in frontof it was seen stretching out the boundless expanse of thegreat interior sea of Africa, the lake Tchad, glowing withthe golden rays of the sun. Major Denham, who sawhere the key to his grand scheme of discovery, hasteneddown to the shores of tliid mighty water. These were DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 137. M 2 138 DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. darkened with the varied and beautiful plumage of ducks,geese, pelicans, and cranes four or five feet high, immensespoonbills of snowy whiteness, yellow-legged plovers, withnumerous unknown waterfowl, sporting around, and quietlyfeeding at half pistol-shot. It is not to be wondered at, thatMajor Denham should have felt reluctant to invade the pro-found tranquillity of these feathered tribes, and betray theconfidence with which they received him. At last, over-coming his scruples, he took up his gun, and soon filled alarge basket. It was evident here, that remarkable changesin the bed of the Tchad had recently taken place ; for,though this was not the rainy season, long stalks of thegrain called gussub were growing amid the waters on groundformerly dry. The caravan now marched along the shores of the lake,and arrived in two days at Woodie, a large town, the first
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booki, booksubjectnaturalhistory
