Journal of Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander
AFRICAN EXPLORERS
journal from the second expedition / published in 1828 / name = Journal of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo
covers until Clapperton's death / aftermath told by Richard Lander - brought Clapperton's journal back to England
the first expedition was in 1824 / second began a year later / both reached Sokoto - Sakkwato in the local language / second trip went through the Bight of Benin crossing Yoruba lands
Sokoto Caliphate = Fulani Empire / it was expanding Islam through West Africa / they were at war with the Bornu Empire / Clapperton was stopped by Muhammed Bello = Second Caliph / the explorer got sick with malaria / died in 1827
book shares interesting accounts of the Hausa states, the Fula people, and the caliphate / mention spot where Mungo Park was attacked and killed by the Niger River - also called Quorra or Kworra / some excerpts from the journal
on the Yoruba people
The people of Katunga are fond of ornamenting their doors, and the posts which support their verandahs, with carvings; and they have also statues or figures of men and women, standing in their court yards. The figures carved on their posts and doors are various; but principally of the boa snake, with a hog or antelope in his mouth;
...the natives of that country often come and steal people from the neighbouring towns to sell into slavery.
When we told him that a white man had only one wife, he and the whole people, with his wives, laughed immoderately.
When a king of Yourriba dies, the caboceer of Jannah, three other head caboceers, four women, and a great many favourite slaves and others, are obliged to swallow poison, given by fetishmen, in a parrot’s egg: should this not take effect, the person is provided with a rope to hang himself in his own house
The religion of the people of Yourriba, as far as I could comprehend it, consists in the worship of one God, to whom they offer sacrifices of horses, cows, sheep, goats, and fowls. At the yearly feast all these animals are sacrificed at the fetish house, in which a little of the blood is spilt on the ground.
...it depends on the will of the fetish man or priest whether a human being, or a cow, or other animal is to be sacrificed. If a human being, it is always a criminal, and only one.
The commerce of this country is almost entirely confined to slaves
The government of Yourriba is hereditary, and an absolute despotism
They destroy wild animals with poisoned arrows, one of which they pretend to say will kill an elephant in about an hour.
I had a present of five alligators’ eggs sent me by the governor; they are only eaten by the principal people, and considered a great delicacy: they were brought from the banks of the Quorra.
...it is the universal belief that all those who are sold to the whites are eaten; retorting back on us the accusation of cannibalism.
...the slave trade was the ruin of Africa; that Yourriba presented nothing but ruined towns and deserted villages, and all caused by the slave-trade; that it was very bad to buy and sell men like bullocks and sheep.
on the Fula people
In addition to the white flag, the Fellatas were to wear a white tobe, as an emblem of their purity, and their war-cry was to be Allahu Akber! or, God is great! That everyone who was wounded, or fell in battle, was sure to gain paradise.
Before he gathered the Foulahs, or Fellatas, under his government, they did not live in towns, but were scattered over the greater part of Soudan.
I found in his hut, surrounded by Fellatas, one of whom was reading the Koran aloud for the benefit of the whole.
All their prayers and religious expressions are in Arabic; and I may say without exaggeration, taking Negroes and Fellatas together, that not one in a thousand know what they are saying. All they know of their religion is to repeat their prayers by rote in Arabic...
...and calling me a Kaffir, threatening to eat me [...] it is quite lawful in any way to abuse, rob, or kill an unbeliever...
...skirting along the banks of the lake. Saw the traces of elephants every where, and last night the lions were roaring close to the camp.
The city of Soccatoo stands on the top of a low hill, or rising ground, having a river passing at a short distance from the northern wall [...] are at present eleven gates into Soccatoo,
on the city of Timbuktu
Malem Mahomed says the whole of the district called Timbuctoo is at present under the authority of the Tuaricks; that the principal town is called Timbuctoo; and that their gold comes from Ashantee, Gonga, and Bambarra, where they exchange it for salt to the Tuaricks.
Timbuctoo produces no gold, it being only the great market where all the gaffles from the north and east meet those of the south and west
Richard Lander on the dead of Clapperton
My master grew weaker daily, and the weather was insufferably hot [...] He swallowed eight drops of laudanum, four times a day [...] but finding it did him not the least benefit, he discontinued taking it altogether: this, with the exception of two papers of Seidlitz powders and four ounces of Epsom salts, was the only medicine he had during his illness.
...deeply affected with my lonesome and dangerous situation [...] surrounded by a selfish and cruel race of strangers, my only friend and protector mouldering in his grave, and myself suffering dreadfully from fever.
Richard Lander died in Africa in 1834 / gangrene / he was shot in the leg
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