EMBRACING
A DESCRIPTION OF THATPROVINCE OF EGYPT,
AND OF SOME OF THE BORDERING COUNTRIES,
WITH A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE COMMERCE
IN THOSE COUNTRIES,
OF THE HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS,
AS ALSO AN ACCOUNT OF THE SLAVE-HUNTS TAKING PLACE
UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF MEHEMED ALI.
BY
IGNATIUS PALLME.
FROM NOTES COLLECTED DURING ARESIDENCE OF NEARLY TWO YEARS IN
KORDOFAN.
LONDON:
J. MADDEN AND CO., 8, LEADENHALL STREET.
1844.
London:
Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, andFley,
Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
Towards the close of theyear 1837 I undertook, at the request of a friend, a journey intothe most distant portion of the countries under the government ofthe Viceroy of Egypt, in order to collect information referring tocommerce, but more especially with the view of convincing myselfwhether trade might be carried on with these countries directly,instead of through the intermediation of agents, in whose hands ithad hitherto rested. The task, although rather arduous, was notdispleasing to me, for a residence of several years in Egypt hadrendered me tolerably proficient in the Arabic language andcolloquial dialect, and my prior travels in various parts of theSoudan had made me familiar with the habits of the natives,besides[vi] procuring methe acquaintance of many merchants from the more distant provinces.With these advantages I travelled during nineteen months in alldirections through these countries. Whilst on my journey, orsojourning in any place, I noted down in my journal everything thatappeared to me remarkable, which I laid before my friends for theiramusement on my return. It is with their advice, and moreparticularly at the instigation of the celebrated French travellerAntoine d’Abbadie, that the information I was able tocollect respecting a country of which so little was formerly known,now appears in print. My journey was strictly mercantile in itstendency; I cannot, therefore, venture on so explicit a descriptionas might be expected of a traveller or a man well versed in thevarious sciences a traveller should profess, and yet I am notaltogether diffident, inasmuch as I think that my smallcontribution will at least form a short guide for those who may bewilling to explore these countries more fully hereafter, as it willgive them many a hint before they reach these climes, which willsave them much trouble and inconvenience during their residence inKordofan. Although two distinguished German travellers,Dr.[vii]Rueppel and the Conseillier des Mines, Russegger,have visited the country before me, their sojourn there was of suchshort duration, and they travelled in so much company, that manythings must have escaped their observation, and remained hiddenfrom them, which were revealed to me, who, defying every species ofdanger, wandered through the province alone, under a variety ofcircumstances, sometimes accompanied by one solitary servant, andsometimes even without thus much protection.