DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0100
72 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
his hand. I presented him with a telescope and small
pocket-knife: these he was at first inclined to refuse, saying
I was welcome without an offering. A pipe, dates, and
coffee, were brought me; and a wooden bowl filled with
curds rendered sour, and sweetened with a sort of sweet-
meat made of dates. His attendants sat down by us in a
circle, and many trifling questions were asked of me by all.
My wearing apparel was examined. I was questioned about
my rank, what number of soldiers my king commanded, how
many wives he had, in what garrison I was, and how far off;
what number of guns it contained, and whether my Pasha,
meaning my commanding officer, had power of life and
death.
On my telling the Cashief that he ought to send his son
to see England, he pointed to the presents I made him, and
asked if it was necessary to send presents to my king; upon
my answering in the negative, he replied, " Then why do you
English bring me presents?" The Cashief, whose name is
Hassan, is one of three brothers, hereditary chiefs of the
country between Philse and Dongola. He was a young man
of about twenty-five years of age, and his territory extends
from Philee to Deir. He has a nominal absolute power,
which, however, he does not exercise oppressively, nor does
he interfere with the quarrels of the natives.
He gave me a letter to his son, a boy of ten years old.
his hand. I presented him with a telescope and small
pocket-knife: these he was at first inclined to refuse, saying
I was welcome without an offering. A pipe, dates, and
coffee, were brought me; and a wooden bowl filled with
curds rendered sour, and sweetened with a sort of sweet-
meat made of dates. His attendants sat down by us in a
circle, and many trifling questions were asked of me by all.
My wearing apparel was examined. I was questioned about
my rank, what number of soldiers my king commanded, how
many wives he had, in what garrison I was, and how far off;
what number of guns it contained, and whether my Pasha,
meaning my commanding officer, had power of life and
death.
On my telling the Cashief that he ought to send his son
to see England, he pointed to the presents I made him, and
asked if it was necessary to send presents to my king; upon
my answering in the negative, he replied, " Then why do you
English bring me presents?" The Cashief, whose name is
Hassan, is one of three brothers, hereditary chiefs of the
country between Philse and Dongola. He was a young man
of about twenty-five years of age, and his territory extends
from Philee to Deir. He has a nominal absolute power,
which, however, he does not exercise oppressively, nor does
he interfere with the quarrels of the natives.
He gave me a letter to his son, a boy of ten years old.