DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49271#0224
162
C. G. and B. Z. Seligman
waving of swords. Soon other horsemen galloped up in couples, then the camel-men,
and afterwards the whole force together. The horsemen formed up in a semicircle, flour-
ishing their swords and waving their whips. Every now and then one of them galloped up
to the group of dancing women, while a couple of men pranced about on foot with spears
and shields. This display lasted about half an hour, after which some of the women
mounted the camels behind their husbands and rode back with them to their tents.
We were given the following account of the affair. Three men of Jebel Midob from
beyond the Darfur border had swooped upon the boy, and compelled him to follow them
westward, driving his flock before them. It was some little time before the lad could
persuade his captors that he had companions who would quickly report his loss at the
nearest ferik, but presently they were either convinced by his words or saw signs of pursuit
and went off, leaving the boy and his flock intact, except for two animals which they
killed and cut up, carrying off the flesh. The Nurab had not gone far when they met
the first party to get on the trail of the thieves, men of the Aulad Terayf who, having made
sure that the boy and his flock were safe, were returning to their ferik.
Just before dusk another party of camel-men came in from the west, and made
straight for the Sheykh’s tent for news. These were the Berara, who had struck the Nurab
trail and followed it until it turned, when they rode to the ferik to hear from Muhammad
what had happened. They had no rifles, but as regards spears and shields seemed better
armed than the Nurab; every man carried a water-skin, while some had corn. Muham-
mad told them briefly what had happened, and wasting no time they rode away, their sheykh
and those who had horses riding their camels and leading their horses, the orthodox prac-
tice, so that the latter may be fresh for a charge. Had the Nurab been able to find the
requisite camels quickly their party would have started in the same way.
With the exception of gazelle there is now little or no game in the Kababish country,
but sixty or seventy years ago the ostrich was tolerably common, and the giraffe was
also hunted. Mansfield Parkyns relates his experience of ostrich hunting as follows: —
“One day we started from Amry, mounted, five persons on dromedaries: we- rode
several hours without finding any chase, in the direction of Sitteyr; at last an ostrich was
seen in the distance. We rode quietly towards him; but long before our arrival he was
off and out of sight. We continued till we had passed the spot where he was first seen,
and then, remaining near some bushes as much as possible covered from view, we waited
a long time in the utmost impatience. I continually proposed to advance on his track,
but the Arabs refused, only replying, ‘Wait yet a little’. At last one pointed him out a
little S. of the direction he had taken coming zigzag towards us, like a ship beating up
against the wind. He approached within some 300 or 400 yards, when, perceiving us,
C. G. and B. Z. Seligman
waving of swords. Soon other horsemen galloped up in couples, then the camel-men,
and afterwards the whole force together. The horsemen formed up in a semicircle, flour-
ishing their swords and waving their whips. Every now and then one of them galloped up
to the group of dancing women, while a couple of men pranced about on foot with spears
and shields. This display lasted about half an hour, after which some of the women
mounted the camels behind their husbands and rode back with them to their tents.
We were given the following account of the affair. Three men of Jebel Midob from
beyond the Darfur border had swooped upon the boy, and compelled him to follow them
westward, driving his flock before them. It was some little time before the lad could
persuade his captors that he had companions who would quickly report his loss at the
nearest ferik, but presently they were either convinced by his words or saw signs of pursuit
and went off, leaving the boy and his flock intact, except for two animals which they
killed and cut up, carrying off the flesh. The Nurab had not gone far when they met
the first party to get on the trail of the thieves, men of the Aulad Terayf who, having made
sure that the boy and his flock were safe, were returning to their ferik.
Just before dusk another party of camel-men came in from the west, and made
straight for the Sheykh’s tent for news. These were the Berara, who had struck the Nurab
trail and followed it until it turned, when they rode to the ferik to hear from Muhammad
what had happened. They had no rifles, but as regards spears and shields seemed better
armed than the Nurab; every man carried a water-skin, while some had corn. Muham-
mad told them briefly what had happened, and wasting no time they rode away, their sheykh
and those who had horses riding their camels and leading their horses, the orthodox prac-
tice, so that the latter may be fresh for a charge. Had the Nurab been able to find the
requisite camels quickly their party would have started in the same way.
With the exception of gazelle there is now little or no game in the Kababish country,
but sixty or seventy years ago the ostrich was tolerably common, and the giraffe was
also hunted. Mansfield Parkyns relates his experience of ostrich hunting as follows: —
“One day we started from Amry, mounted, five persons on dromedaries: we- rode
several hours without finding any chase, in the direction of Sitteyr; at last an ostrich was
seen in the distance. We rode quietly towards him; but long before our arrival he was
off and out of sight. We continued till we had passed the spot where he was first seen,
and then, remaining near some bushes as much as possible covered from view, we waited
a long time in the utmost impatience. I continually proposed to advance on his track,
but the Arabs refused, only replying, ‘Wait yet a little’. At last one pointed him out a
little S. of the direction he had taken coming zigzag towards us, like a ship beating up
against the wind. He approached within some 300 or 400 yards, when, perceiving us,