Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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Never Were
The People More Eager To Behold A White Man; The Little Ones Formed
Themselves Into A Ring Close
To the shed, then followed those of
maturer age, after them came a still older class, and the last circle
Consisted of people as tall as steeples; most of whom held infants in
their arms. Altogether a large amphitheatre was formed of black
woolly heads, and white teeth set in jetty faces, and although the
Landers felt rather amazed at their innocent curiosity, and were
obliged to wait a considerable time for the new chief, they could
not help being highly diverted with the spectacle around them; at
length, to their great relief and joy, intelligence was brought that
the chief was ready to receive them. It appears that the principles
of etiquette at the royal courts, whether of Europe or of Africa, are
not definitively settled, for that which at the court of a William
the fourth, would be considered as the extreme of rudeness and
disrespect, is at the African courts construed into the most decisive
testimony of good breeding and politeness. It may be difficult to
determine to which the preference ought to be given, but as etiquette
is an essential in all courts, no matter how far it departs from
common sense and reason, we do not see why, as amongst the many
fooleries which are enacted at courts, the African system should not
be introduced. It happens, however, that the etiquette of the
European and African are decidedly dissimilar: to make an individual
wait is certainly considered in the former, as a breach of good
manners, whereas in the latter, the longer a person is made to wait
before the introduction takes place, the greater is the honour done
him, and the higher is the rank of that person supposed to be, who
exacts that ungracious duty. They discovered the chief, or rather
governor, sitting on a piece of leather, under a large verandah at
one end of a commodious square yard. He was clad in the prevailing
finery of crimson velvet tobe and cap, both edged with gold lace. At
his right hand sat his wives and women, and the brothers were desired
to place themselves on his loft. The women sang the praises of their
master in a loud unpleasant voice, in which they were assisted by the
music, equally inharmonious, of drums, fifes, clarionets, and horns.
On their wishing the chief all the happiness in the world, all the
people who had flocked into the yard after them, and every one near
the chief, prostrated themselves on the ground, and clapped their
hands. Goora nuts were now presented to them in water, and a
profusion of compliments passed on both sides; but the dignity of the
newly-made governor seemed to sit rather awkwardly upon him for he
was as shy and bashful as a maiden, and really appeared agitated, and
afraid of his white-faced visitants. Strange as it may appear, the
patience of the most patient people in the world was completely
exhausted, as might be seen by the desertion of the premises before
the travellers quitted them, notwithstanding the few words that had
passed between them and the chief. The ceremony being over, they bade
adieu to the chief, and having visited the grave of Dr. Morrison on
their way, they repaired to a hut which had been got ready for their
reception.
The former governor of Jenna, who it will be recollected treated the
gentlemen composing the last mission so handsomely, died about
fifteen months before the arrival of the Landers, and the king of
Youriba chose one of the meanest of his slaves as his successor. This
appears, however, to be an invariable rule with the sovereigns of
that country, of which Jenna is a province; for they fear as its
distance from the capital is very great, that a person of higher
rank, if possessed of talents and spirit, could easily influence the
natives to throw off the yoke, and declare themselves independent of
Youriba. The then governor was a Houssa man, and was raised to the
dignity he then held, in all probability, on account of his childish
simplicity, and artlessness, for a person with a countenance more
indicative of innocence, and perhaps stupidity also, they never
recollected to have seen. The qualities of his heart were, however,
said to be excellent, and his manners were mild and amiable. He had
been twelve months in coming from Katunga to Jenna; being under the
necessity of stopping at every town between that place and the
capital, to receive the applause and congratulations of the
inhabitants, and to join in their festivities and amusements.
The showers were now becoming heavier, and fell more frequently than
heretofore, indeed the rainy season may be said fairly to have
commenced, the thermometer, on the 6th of April, fell suddenly from
94 deg. to 78", and remained stationary there for the whole of the day.
On the 7th April they carried a present to the governor, which he
received with every mark of satisfaction and gratitude; but he
declared with sorrow that he should be obliged to send some of it to
the king of Katunga, who would not allow him to wear red cloth, till
he had been a longer time established in his new situation.
It is related in Captain Clapperton's journal, that one of old
Pascoe's wives eloped from him in Katunga, whilst he was asleep,
taking with her the trinkets Mr. Belzoni had given him, and said that
she was never afterwards heard of. This woman had the effrontery to
introduce herself into the house of the Landers with an infant,
whereof she asserted with warmth that Pascoe was the father, and that
she was determined to leave it upon his hands. She had prevailed upon
a number of Houssa women to accompany her, that they might endeavour
to induce her quondam husband, who was a countryman of theirs, to
receive the child, and make up the breach between them; but the
infant not being more than nine or at most twelve months old, and
three or four years having elapsed since the elopement took place,
they were convinced that, independently of the age and infirmities of
Pascoe, it could not by any rule or law be his.
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