Public-domain ebook
Language: en1,671 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Travel Writing·Archaeology & Anthropology
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #76317.
Heinrich Barth’s second volume of Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa is a meticulous field journal of a British‑government expedition that unfolded between 1849 and 1855. The opening pages plunge the reader into a rapid succession of terse entries, “Dissembling of the Chief,” “Native Warfare,” “Visit to Tasáwa,” “Encampment at Gozenákko”, each marking a new locale, encounter, or observation. Barth catalogs everything from market inventories and the construction of forts to the personalities of local rulers and the logistics of caravan trade, interspersed with brief narrative interludes that reveal his own movements, health, and the shifting alliances that shape the journey. The structure is essentially a series of labeled scenes, each offering a snapshot of life along the Sahelian and Sudanese corridors, with occasional reflective passages that give context to the raw data.
Barth writes in the sober, descriptive prose typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century exploration literature, combining precise ethnographic detail with a personal, often admiring tone toward his African hosts. The language is formal yet vivid, peppered with period terminology and occasional digressions into local customs, trade goods, and political intrigue. Readers fascinated by historical geography, colonial-era travel narratives, or the anthropology of West‑African societies will appreciate the work’s exhaustive cataloguing and its authentic voice, which conveys both the hardships of the trek and the richness of the cultures encountered.
The opening · free to read
An African Dandy. — My Protector Elaiji. — Camp-life. — Fortifications and Market of Gazáwa. — March resumed. — Desolate Wilderness. — Site of Dánkama. — Struggle between Islámism and Paganism. — Encampment near Kátsena. — Estimate of Salt-caravan. — Negro Horsemen. — Equestrian Musicians. — The Governor of Kátsena. — Detained by him. — The Governor’s Wiles. — Disputes. — Who is the “Káfer?” — Clapperton’s Companion. — The Tawáti Bel-Ghét conciliated. — Extortionate Demands. — Subject about the Káfer resumed. — The Presents. — Promenade through the Town. — The Governor’s Wishes. — Taking Leave of him.
CHAP. XXIV.
Háusa. — History and Description of Kátsena. — Entry into Kanó 69
The Name Háusa. — Origin of the Háusa Nation. — The seven States. — Origin of the Town of Kátsena. — The Mohammedan Missionary Ben Maghíli. — Kings of Kátsena. — The First Moslim. — The Oldest Quarter. — Magnitude of the Town. — Its Decline. — Salubrious Site and Favourable Situation of Kátsena. — Departure from Kátsena. — Wild State of the Country. — Shibdáwa. — Rich Scenery. — Kusáda. — The Bentang Tree. — Women with Heavy Loads. — Beehives. — Gúrzo. — Approach to Kanó. — Straggling Villages. — Composition of our Troop. — First View of Dalá. — Entering Kanó.
CHAP. XXV.
Residence in Kanó. — View of its Interior. — Its History and Present State. — Commerce 97
My Situation in Kanó. — Debts. — Projects. — The Commissioner. — Difficulties. — Sickness. — Interior of Kanó; Animated Picture. — The Quarters of the Conquered and the Ruling Race. — The “Serkí” and the Gháladíma. — The Audience. — Presents. — Plan of Kanó. — Street-groups. — Industry. — View from Mount Dalá. — Acquaintances in Kanó. — Meditated Departure. — Historical Sketch of Kanó. — Growth of the Town. — The Quarters of the Town. — Ground-plan of my House. — Population. — Commerce. — Various Kinds of Zénne. — Export of Cloth. — Grand Character of Trade. — Produce. — The Guinea-fowl Shirt. — Leather-work. — Kola-nut. — Slaves. — Natron, Salt, Ivory-trade. — European Goods in Kanó. — The South American Slave-traders. — Small Quantity of Calico. — Silk. — Woollen Cloth. — Beads. — Sugar. — Fire-arms. — Razors. — Arab Dresses. — Copper. — The Shells and the Dollar. — Markets of Kanó. — Revenues. — Administration. — The Conquering Tribe.
CHAP. XXVI.
Starting for Kúkawa. — The Frontier-district 148
Leaving Kanó quite by myself. — My Trooper. — Get off later. — Domestic Slavery. — Gezáwa. — My Runaway Servant ʿAbd Allah. — The Sheríf and his Attendants. — Mules in Negroland. — Kúka Mairuwá. — Insecurity. — Scarcity of Water. — Natron-trade. — Endurance and Privations of the Traveller. — Arrival at Gerki. — Take Leave of Háusa. — Gúmmel. — Housebuilding. — Antidote. — Market at Gúmmel. — Magnitude of Ilóri. — Two Spanish Dollars. — Depart from Gúmmel. — Benzári. — The Rebel Chief Bokhári. — His Exploits. — The Governor of Máshena. — Letter-carrier’s Mistake. — Curious Talisman. — Manga Warriors. — Wuëlleri. — Scarcity of Water again. — Town of Máshena. — State of the Country. — Cheerful, Out-of-the-way Place. — Álamáy. — Búndi and the Gháladíma. — The Kárda. — Route from Kanó to Álamáy by way of Khadéja.
CHAP. XXVII.
Intercourse. — Change of Life in Negroland. — Region of the Dúm-palm. — The Kúri Ox. — The River Wáni. — Enter Bórnu Proper. — Zurríkuló. — News of the Death of Mr. Richardson. — Sandy Downs. — Déffowa. — Industry. — The Stray Camel. — Town of Wádi. — Good Market and no Provisions. — Hospitable Treatment. — The Banks of the Wáni. — Locusts and Hawks. — Ngurútuwa; Grave of Mr. Richardson. — The Tawárek again. — Aláune. — The Jungles of the Komádugu. — Ruins of Ghámbarú. — A Forest Encampment. — Nomadic Herdsmen. — Abundance of Milk. — Ford of the Komádugu. — Native Ferry-boats. — Khér-Álla, the Border-warfarer. — Changing Guides. — The Runaway Horse. — A Domestic Quarrel.
CHAP. XXVIII.
Peculiar Character of the Alluvial Plains of Bórnu. — The Attentive Woman. — Entrance into Kúkawa. — Servants of the Mission. — Debts of the Mission. — Interview with the Vizier. — Sheikh ʿOmár. — Mr. Richardson’s Property. — Amicable Arrangements.
CHAP. XXIX.
Authenticity and general Character of the History of Bórnu 253
Documents. — Beginning of written History. — Pedigree of the Bórnu Kings. — Chronology. — Harmony of Facts. — The Séfuwa Dynasty. — Ébn Khaldún. — Makrízí and Ébn Batúta. — Surprising Accuracy of the Chronicle of Bórnu. — Statement of Leo Africanus. — Berber Origin of the Séfuwa. — Form of Government. — The Berber Race. — The Queen Mother. — Indigenous Tribes. — The Tedá or Tebu. — The Soy. — Epochs of Bórnu History. — Greatest Power. — Decline of the Bórnu Empire. — The Kánemíyín.
CHAP. XXX.
My Friends. — The Arab Áhmed bel Mejúb. — The Púllo Íbrahím from the Senegal. — Dangerous Medical Practice. — Áhmed the Traveller. — My Bórnu Friends. — The Vizier el Háj Beshír; his Career; his Domestic Establishment; his Leniency. — Debts of the Mission paid. — The English House. — Plague of Insects. — Preparations for a Journey. — Character of Kúkawa. — The Two Towns. — The Great Market. — Business and Concourse. — Defective Currency. — Prices of Provisions. — Fruits. — Camels. — Horses. — Want of Native Industry. — Bórnu Women. — Promenade.
CHAP. XXXI.
Character of the Road to Ngórnu. — Ngórnu. — Searching the Tsád. — Longer Excursion. — Character of the Shores of the Tsád. — The Búdduma and their Boats. — Fresh Water. — Swampy Plains. — Boats of the Búdduma again. — Maduwári. — Dress of the Sugúrti. — Account of the Lake. — Shores of the Creek. — Sóyorum. — Káwa. — Return to Kúkawa. — Servants dismissed. — Mohammed Titíwi the Auspicious Messenger. — Slave-caravan. — Announcement of Rainy Season. — Ride to Gawánge. — Mr. Overweg’s Arrival. — Meeting. — Property restored. — Mercantile Intrigues. — The Sheikh’s Relatives. — Messengers from Ádamáwa. — Anticipated Importance of the Eastern Branch of the Niger — Proposed Journey to Ádamáwa.
CHAP. XXXII.
Setting out on my Journey to Ádamáwa. — The Flat, Swampy Grounds of Bórnu 351
Leaving Kúkawa. — The Road Southwards. — Inhospitality near the Capital. — Buying with a Shirt. — The Winter Corn. — The Shúwa Arabs. — Múngholo Gezáwa. — Fair Arabs. — Magá District. — The Gámerghú District. — District of Ujé. — Fine Country. — Mábaní. — Pilgrim Traders, Banks of the Yáloë. — First View of the Mountains. — Fúgo Mozári. — Market of Ujé. — Aláwo. — Approach to Mándará.
CHAP. XXXIII.
Question about Snowy Mountains. — The Blacksmith. — Shámo District. — A Storm. — Molghoy. — The Southern Molghoy. — Large Kúrna-trees. — Structure of the Huts. — Deviations from Negro Type. — The Marghí, their Attire and Language. — Edible Wild Fruits. — The Baobab. — Beautiful Scenery. — Íssege. — Spirit of the Natives. — Degenerate Fúlbe. — The Lake. — View of Mount Míndif. — Wándalá Mountains. — Route to Sugúr. — The Marghí Tribe. — Scientific Dispute. — Unsafe Wilderness. — Unwholesome Water. — The Return of the Slave Girl. — The Bábir Tribe. — Laháula. — The Idol. — Alarm. — Abundance of Vegetable Butter. — Serious March. — The Báza Tribe. — The Dividing Range. — Úba. — The New Colony.
CHAP. XXXIV.
Ádamáwa. Mohammedan Settlements in the Heart of Central Africa 414
The Conquering Tribe. — The Granite Hills. — Valley and Mountain-chain. — Isolated Mountain-groups. — Múbi. — The Surrounding Country. — Origin of the Fúlbe. — Bágma and Peculiar Structures. — Camels a Novelty. — Compliment paid to the Christian. — Mbutúdi. — Fúlbe Way of Saluting. — The Déléb-palm (Borassus flabelliformis?) and its Fruit. — The Granite Mount. — Simplicity of Manners. — Mount Hólma. — Legéro. — Edible Productions. — Ground-nut Diet. — Badaníjo. — Fertile Vale. — Temporary Scarcity. — Kurúlu. — Red and white Sorghum. — Saráwu Beréberé. — Comfortable Quarters. — Accurate Description. — Important Situation of Saráwu. — Tebu Traders. — Fair Negroes. — Market of Saráwu. — Saráwu Fulfúlde. — The Mansion. — The Blind Governor. — Principal Men in Yóla. — Mount Konkel. — Bélem. — An Arab Adventurer. — Rich Vegetation. — The young Púllo. — Old Mʿallem Dalíli. — Arab Colony. — A Country for Colonies. — Ruined Village (Melágo). — Gastronomic Discussion. — Máyo Tíyel. — The Bátta Tribe. — Sulléri. — Inhospitable Reception.
CHAP. XXXV.
The Meeting of the Waters. — The Bénuwé and Fáro 463
Approach to the River. — Mount Alantíka and the Bénuwé. — The Tépe or “Junction.” — The great Arm of the Kwára. — The Traveller’s Pursuits. — Highroad of Commerce. — The Frail Canoes. — Bathing in the Bénuwé. — The Passage. — The River Fáro; its Current. — Floods and Fall of the River. — Chabajáure. — Densely inhabited District. — Mount Bágelé. — The Backwater. — Ribágo. — Cultivation of Rice. — The Bátta Language. — Inundation. — Yebbórewó. — Mount Bágelé and Island. — Reach Yóla.
CHAP. XXXVI.
My Reception in Yóla. — Short Stay. — Dismissal 485
Inauspicious Entrance. — Curiosity of Natives. — Quarters. — An Arab Traveller to Lake Nyassa. — The Governor Mohammed Lowel. — The Audience. — The Mission repulsed. — The Governor’s Brother Mansúr. — Ordered to withdraw. — Begin my Return-Journey. — Character of Yóla. — Slavery. — Extent of Fúmbiná. — Elevation and Climate. — Vegetable and Animal Kingdom. — Principal Chiefs of the Country. — Tribes; the Bátta, the Chámba, and other Tribes.
CHAP. XXXVII.
Start from Ribágo. — Hospitable Treatment in Sulléri. — Demsa-Póha. — The Memorable Campaign Southward. — View of a Native Settlement. — Beautiful Country. — Bélem again. — Mʿallem Dalíli and his Family. — Múglebú. — Múbi. — My Quarters. — Household Furniture. — Úba. — Unsafe Boundary-district. — Laháula. — Íssege. — Iron Ornaments of the Marghí. — Funeral Dance. — Ordeal. — Feeling of Love. — A Party going to Sacrifice. — Arrival at Yerímarí. — Villages of the Gámerghú. — Ujé Kásukulá. — Difference of Climate. — Plants. — Huts. — Plains of Bórnu Proper. — Seizing a Hut. — African Schoolboys. — A wandering Tribe. — Town and Country. — Guineaworm. — Thunder-storm. — People returning from Market. — Múnghono. — Return to Kúkawa.
The book keeps going
Reading is free forever. Sign up and watch scenes appear while you read.
Scenes Storieta drew for other classics.
New illustrated classics
Once or twice a month: the latest books to get full character casts, scene art, and free comic editions. No account needed.
