Chapter XVIII: Appendix: III (3)

Note 6 (p. 471). The opinion upon which the existence of this supposed river rests[158] is founded on certain accounts transmitted some time ago to the Governor of Bombay by the late Captain David Seton, the Company’s resident at Muscat. This communication states the information to have been obtained from some people of respectability in that place, who were well acquainted with the part of the African coast in question. The substance of this detail is as follows:—‘That a river of immense extent, known to the natives in its neighbourhood by the appellation of the Neelo (Nilo), and said to have its source in common with the Egyptian river of that name, discharges itself in the Indian Ocean, in about 0° 5′ N. lat.; near to its mouth it is called Govind Khala. That the length of its course is about three months’ journey; and nine weeks’ journey from the mouth stands a large city named Gunamma,[159] up to which, the river being navigable, immense quantities of slaves, elephants’ teeth, &c., are brought down within a short distance of Brava, to which (the river then taking a more southerly direction) these articles of merchandise are afterwards carried overland, and either disposed of there, or sent to Zanzibar.’ This story, though sufficiently plausible, would of itself, considering the known credulity and extreme propensity to exaggeration prevalent among the natives of the East, be entitled to very little regard did it not happen to receive some countenance from Herodotus, the Grecian historian, who says that when in Egypt he was told that a branch of the Nile bearing the same name took an easterly course, and was supposed to fall into the Indian Ocean, somewhere on the coast of East Africa.[160] These taken together were strong, but still left ample room to believe that the river called by the Portuguese Dos Fuegos, and known to us by the name of the Rogues River, which disembogues itself in 0° 17′ S. lat., might eventually turn out to be the same with this African Nile,[161]—22 miles the difference between their supposed mouths, being an error which people such as those of Muscat, unaccustomed to make accurate observations, may easily be supposed to fall into. It may here be seen that the truth of this surmise respecting the identity of the two rivers has been clearly established, though it will hereafter appear, from the information received at Patta, that the source of this river, viz. Dos Fuegos, will still be found to agree with and authenticate the reports and conjectures derived from the above authority,—and at all events cannot fail to render it an object of interest and curiosity to the civilized world in general.

Note 7 (p. 474). Or rather to the island on which Patta and Sieull stand, called Peer Patta.

Note 8 (p. 474). This town is by the natives called Humoo.

Note 9 (p. 476). Amounting in value to better than Rs 300.

Note 10 (p. 479). His cousin was at this moment held in confinement in a dungeon close to the residence of this cruel and usurping relation, for it seems Ben Baneeci had a prior claim to the Sultanship.

Note 11 (p. 481). The people of Patta (besides their civil dissensions) were at this time at war with Lamo, an island a few miles to the southward, whose boats were continually on the look-out to attack those of Patta. The Sooltan made this also a motive for detaining us under the pretence of preparing an armed boat to conduct us back to the ship; but we saw through his civility, and evaded it by telling him we had arms, and could defend ourselves. Patta has no trade at present; it used formerly to be resorted to for cowries (a small shell current as money in Bengal), but of late years this trade has been discontinued.

Note 12 (p. 484). Within this bay on the S.W. side stood the ancient city of Melinda, the site of which, in crossing the mouth of the bay, we were at too great a distance to see.

Note 13 (p. 485). These must, therefore, have been the rocks mentioned by Captain Bissel in his memoir on which the Leopard, Admiral Blankett’s flag-ship, struck (Feb. 15, 1799, on a voyage to the Red Sea), when bearing up to Zanzibar after a fruitless attempt to beat up this coast during the N.E. monsoon. The mosque, however, or pagoda, as he calls it, is by no means a good sea-mark, as no ship ought to go so close as to make it sufficiently conspicuous. A much better are two hills to the N.W.; they are considerably higher than any near them, and, in consequence, easily known. The two hills are close together, and only partially divided by a shallow notch resembling a woman’s breast in form.

Note 14 (p. 486). The River Quiliffa is in S. lat. 3° 26′, and in long. (by means of several good observations) 39° 26′ E.

Note 15 (p. 488). The Expedition sailed from Bombay on the 2nd January, 1811.

Note 16 (p. 488). There is also a group at the east end of the island.

Note 17 (p. 489). The only one of this group of islands that has no wood on it.

Note 18 (p. 491). This tree is by the natives of Hindostan called Brosh, and bears a large oval fruit with a smooth skin, but neither it nor the wood of the tree is of any use. (Editor’s note: the best is now worth £14 to £15 per ton.)

Note 19 (p. 491). Variation 8° W.

Note 20 (p. 493). Cocoa-nuts (of which the island produces vast quantities) are also exported to Malabar, and also wax and tortoise-shell.

Note 21 (p. 493). Dried salted shark and other fish, and ghee, are brought in considerable quantities from Socotra; likewise chinaware, earthen jars, and toys and ornaments from Surat.

Note 22 (p. 496). I do not give this as information to be depended on.

Note 23 (p. 497). The Galla are in their persons exactly similar to the west-coast negroes.

Note 24 (p. 499). The sugar-cane grows in great plenty, but the inhabitants are ignorant of the art of making sugar.

Note 25 (p. 500). Monkeys are also found on the island, with foxes and wild hogs, &c.

Note 26 (p. 500). Rice and ghee can be procured in considerable quantities, but it will be found expensive for strangers to provide any great supply of those articles.

Note 27 (p. 502). This, I think, must be an error. Five thousand is more probable,—the person who gave me the information being rather given to exaggeration.

Note 28 (p. 508). No revenue collected by the Imaum.

Note 29 (p. 508). Ibid.

Note 30 (p. 508). Camels numerous, at about 5 dollars each.

THE END.

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JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.

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Transcriber’s Note

Place names are often spelled differently, usually by employing (or not) a hyphen. Where there is no other instance of a given variant, the other more common version is adopted; otherwise, the spelling stands here as printed.

Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.

8.1 the tall tower of Fort Chak-[c/C]hak Replaced.

32.3 called by contemporary historians, ‘Zimbas[’]: Inserted.

62.19 [(]This appears to be Added.

86.8 and the dead[’], Added.

105.94 the Jongolia[-]ni promontory. Inserted.

142.27 turned into a verb, e.g. ‘ba-yatafaggazú[’], Inserted.

146.12 used as kilts [(]Mkifu) by the Wamasai Inserted.

168.23 from geograp[h]ical work Inserted.

183.5 wird zum Besten der Menschheit.[’] Removed.

277.4 des pièces de mâture[’] Added.

344.26 without cramp[ s/s ]or convulsions Shifted
space.

356.3 or fish w[ie/ei]rs Transposed.

370.23 Eastern Intertropical Africa[.] Restored.

373.20 with a deta[t]chment to capture a gun Removed.

415.17 and hippo[po]tamus’ teeth Inserted.

450.38 at [6 ]p.m., 85°. Added.

455.17 [52/25] Temperature of air at sunrise Transposed.

469.16 taken at 8 P.M. 60° 55[″/′]. Replaced.

476.16 carrying with[ with] us a present Removed.

481.22 No fruit except the co[o]coa-nut Removed.

494.27 They are in general pur[s/c]hased Replaced.