| Description | NOTE: This record contains content which may cause distress. Some of the language expressed here is considered offensive and derogatory, and its presence is not an endorsement of the terms. This language has been retained to reflect the historical context of the times.
Includes extracts of a letter from Tiboo, dated 26 November 1853. [Vogel] describes his fatigue, being on horseback for 13 hours a day, keeping watch a night, eating ‘rice and a dish made of wheat, boiled in water and now and then a handful if dates’ [on his journey]. Remarks ‘here we have an abundance of meat’. Description of the country. Remarks on being in the ‘scorching sun’ dressed ‘in half Arabic, half European dress’ living in a tent. Describes making his first official visit to the Sultan of Tiboo, recalls giving his hand to the Sultan ‘as a token’ that he ‘did not consider him a person above’ him as well as offering gifts. The Sultan in return sent [Vogel] 'plates of boiled rice and a flat sheep’ which were eaten in less than an hour by his ‘black followers’ [sic]. Describes the dressing of the women in this land and remarks they ‘are exceedingly proud of their bright black skin’ [sic].
Includes extracts of a letter from Kuka, dated 20th February 1854. Refers to making four or five excursions a day to collect plants and intends to go further south or east. [Vogel] ‘expected’ to meet Dr [Johann Heinrich] Barth however has not heard anything other than Barth’s departure from Sakuta and Timbuktu. Describes the country as ‘terrible and barren’ referring to the lack of ‘tropical abundance’. Describes collecting plants and refers to the trees. Discusses the temperature and the soil conditions suitability to cultivate crops. Remarks the Sultan gives away rice as presents due to its scarcity. Describes the ‘natives' [sic] finding it ‘more convenient to make a pillage into the neighbouring country, to steal or to capture a good number of slaves [sic] (especially children from nine to twelve years of age)’ to exchange them for necessities their own country does not produce, and comments on the price of an enslaved person. Description of the Lake of Tshad, swamps with mosquitoes, and keeping lizards for their ‘destruction’ in houses. Recalls receiving a good reception in the country with the Sultan sending 150 horsemen, his own brother with an army of 3000 horse. |