Download the Full Version of textbook for Fast Typing at textbookfull.

com

Practical Web Penetration Testing Secure Web

Applications Using Burp Suite Nmap Metasploit and
More 1st Edition Gus Khawaja

https://textbookfull.com/product/practical-web-penetration-
testing-secure-web-applications-using-burp-suite-nmap-
metasploit-and-more-1st-edition-gus-khawaja/

OR CLICK BUTTON

DOWNLOAD NOW

Download More textbook Instantly Today - Get Yours Now at textbookfull.com

 Recommended digital products (PDF, EPUB, MOBI) that
you can download immediately if you are interested.

Quick Start Guide to Penetration Testing: With NMAP,

OpenVAS and Metasploit 1st Edition Sagar Rahalkar

https://textbookfull.com/product/quick-start-guide-to-penetration-
testing-with-nmap-openvas-and-metasploit-1st-edition-sagar-rahalkar/

textboxfull.com

Metasploit Penetration Testing Cookbook Evade antiviruses

bypass firewalls and exploit complex environments with the
most widely used penetration testing framework Agarwal
https://textbookfull.com/product/metasploit-penetration-testing-
cookbook-evade-antiviruses-bypass-firewalls-and-exploit-complex-
environments-with-the-most-widely-used-penetration-testing-framework-
agarwal/
textboxfull.com

Practical Rust Web Projects: Building Cloud and Web-Based

Applications Shing Lyu

https://textbookfull.com/product/practical-rust-web-projects-building-
cloud-and-web-based-applications-shing-lyu/

textboxfull.com

Metasploit Penetration Testing Cookbook Evade antiviruses

bypass firewalls and exploit complex environments with the
most widely used penetration testing framework 3rd Edition
Daniel Teixeira
https://textbookfull.com/product/metasploit-penetration-testing-
cookbook-evade-antiviruses-bypass-firewalls-and-exploit-complex-
environments-with-the-most-widely-used-penetration-testing-
framework-3rd-edition-daniel-teixeira/
textboxfull.com
Practical JAMstack: Blazing Fast, Simple, and Secure Web
Development, the Modern Way Frank Zammetti

https://textbookfull.com/product/practical-jamstack-blazing-fast-
simple-and-secure-web-development-the-modern-way-frank-zammetti/

textboxfull.com

Mastering Metasploit Take your penetration testing and IT

security skills to a whole new level with the secrets of
Metasploit 3rd Edition Nipun Jaswal
https://textbookfull.com/product/mastering-metasploit-take-your-
penetration-testing-and-it-security-skills-to-a-whole-new-level-with-
the-secrets-of-metasploit-3rd-edition-nipun-jaswal/
textboxfull.com

Full-Stack Web Development with Go: Build your web

applications quickly using the Go programming language and
Vue.js 1st Edition Nanik Tolaram
https://textbookfull.com/product/full-stack-web-development-with-go-
build-your-web-applications-quickly-using-the-go-programming-language-
and-vue-js-1st-edition-nanik-tolaram/
textboxfull.com

SOA using Java Web Services 1st Edition Hansen

https://textbookfull.com/product/soa-using-java-web-services-1st-
edition-hansen/

textboxfull.com

Web Application Security Exploitation and Countermeasures

for Modern Web Applications 1st Edition Andrew Hoffman

https://textbookfull.com/product/web-application-security-
exploitation-and-countermeasures-for-modern-web-applications-1st-
edition-andrew-hoffman/
textboxfull.com
||||||||||||||||||||

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Practical Web Penetration Testing

Secure web applications using Burp Suite, Nmap, Metasploit, and more

Gus Khawaja

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Practical Web Penetration Testing

Copyright © 2018 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief
quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information
presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or
implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any
damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and
products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot
guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Commissioning Editor: Gebin George

Acquisition Editor: Rahul Nair
Content Development Editor: Abhishek Jadhav
Technical Editor: Prachi Sawant
Copy Editor: Safis Editing
Project Coordinator: Judie Jose
Proofreader: Safis Editing
Indexer: Rekha Nair
Graphics: Tom Scaria
Production Coordinator: Arvindkumar Gupta

First published: June 2018

Production reference: 1200618

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Livery Place
35 Livery Street
Birmingham
B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-78862-403-9
www.packtpub.com

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

mapt.io

Mapt is an online digital library that gives you full access to over 5,000 books
and videos, as well as industry leading tools to help you plan your personal
development and advance your career. For more information, please visit our
website.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Why subscribe?
Spend less time learning and more time coding with practical eBooks and
Videos from over 4,000 industry professionals

Improve your learning with Skill Plans built especially for you

Get a free eBook or video every month

Mapt is fully searchable

Copy and paste, print, and bookmark content

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

PacktPub.com
Did you know that Packt offers eBook versions of every book published, with
PDF and ePub files available? You can upgrade to the eBook version at www.Pac
ktPub.com and as a print book customer, you are entitled to a discount on the
eBook copy. Get in touch with us at service@packtpub.com for more details.

At www.PacktPub.com, you can also read a collection of free technical articles, sign
up for a range of free newsletters, and receive exclusive discounts and offers
on Packt books and eBooks.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Contributors

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

About the author

Gus Khawaja holds a bachelor's degree in computer science. He specializes
in IT security and ethical hacking. He is an author and shares his passion with
millions of viewers around the world using his online courses. He also works
as a cybersecurity consultant in Montreal, Canada.

After many years of experience in programming, he turned his attention to

cybersecurity and the importance that security brings to this minefield. His
passion for the ethical hacking mixed with his background in programming and
IT makes him a wise swiss-knife professional in the computer science domain.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

About the reviewer

Akash Mahajan is an accomplished security professional with over a
decade's experience of providing specialist application and infrastructure
consulting services to companies, governments, and organizations around the
world. He has deep experience of working with clients to provide innovative
security insights that truly reflect the commercial and operational needs of the
organization, from strategic advice to testing and analysis to incident response
and recovery. He has authored Burp Suite Essentials and Security Automation
with Ansible2, both by Packt.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Packt is searching for authors like

you
If you're interested in becoming an author for Packt, please visit authors.packtpub
.com and apply today. We have worked with thousands of developers and tech
professionals, just like you, to help them share their insight with the global tech
community. You can make a general application, apply for a specific hot topic
that we are recruiting an author for, or submit your own idea.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Table of Contents

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Title Page
Copyright and Credits
Practical Web Penetration Testing
Packt Upsell
Why subscribe?
PacktPub.com
Contributors
About the author
About the reviewer
Packt is searching for authors like you
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Download the example code files
Download the color images
Conventions used
Get in touch
Reviews
Disclaimer
1. Building a Vulnerable Web Application Lab
Downloading Mutillidae
Installing Mutillidae on Windows
Downloading and installing XAMPP
Mutillidae installation
Installing Mutillidae on Linux
Downloading and installing XAMPP
Mutillidae installation
Using Mutillidae
User registration
Showing hints and setting security levels
Application reset
OWASP Top 10
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

2. Kali Linux Installation

Introducing Kali Linux
Installing Kali Linux from scratch
Installing Kali on VMware
Installing Kali on VirtualBox
Bridged versus NAT versus Internal Network
Updating Kali Linux
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

3. Delving Deep into the Usage of Kali Linux

The Kali filesystem structure
Handling applications and packages
The Advanced Packaging Tool
Debian's package management system
Using dpkg commands
Handling the filesystem in Kali
File compression commands
Security management
Secure shell protocol
Configuring network services in Kali
Setting a static IP on Kali
Checking active connections in Kali
Process management commands
Htop utility
Popular commands for process management
System info commands
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

4. All About Using Burp Suite

An introduction to Burp Suite
A quick example 
Visualizing the application structure using Burp Target 
Intercepting the requests/responses using Burp Proxy
Setting the proxy in your browser
BURP SSL certificate
Burp Proxy options
Crawling the web application using Burp Spider
Manually crawling by using the Intruder tool
Automated crawling and finding hidden spots
Looking for web vulnerabilities using the scanner
Replaying web requests using the Repeater tab
Fuzzing web requests using the Intruder tab
Intruder attack types
Practical examples
Installing third-party apps using Burp Extender
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

5. Understanding Web Application Vulnerabilities

File Inclusion
Local File Inclusion
Remote File Inclusion
Cross-Site Scripting
Reflected XSS
Stored XSS
Exploiting stored XSS using the header
DOM XSS
JavaScript validation
Cross-Site Request Forgery
Step 01 – victim
Step 02 – attacker
Results
SQL Injection
Authentication bypass
Extracting the data from the database
Error-based SQLi enumeration
Blind SQLi
Command Injection
OWASP Top 10
1 – Injection
2 – Broken Authentication
3 – Sensitive Data
4 – XML External Entities
5 – Broken Access Control
6 – Security Misconfiguration
7 – Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
8 – Insecure Deserialization
9 – Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
10 – Insufficient Logging & Monitoring
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

6. Application Security Pre-Engagement

Introduction
The first meeting
The day of the meeting with the client
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Kick-off meeting
Time and cost estimation
Statement of work
Penetration Test Agreement
External factors
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

7. Application Threat Modeling

Software development life cycle
Application Threat Modeling at a glance
Application Threat Modeling in real life
Application Threat Modeling document parts
Data Flow Diagram
External dependencies
Trust levels
Entry points
Assets
Test strategies
Security risks
Practical example
xBlog Threat Modeling
Scope
Threat Modeling
Project information
Data Flow Diagram
External dependencies
Trust levels
Entry points
Assets
Threats list
Spoofing – authentication
Tampering – integrity
Repudiation
Information disclosure – confidentiality
Denial of service – availability
Elevation of privilege – authorization
Test strategies
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

8. Source Code Review

Programming background
Enterprise secure coding guidelines
Static code analysis – manual scan versus automatic scan
Secure coding checklist
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

9. Network Penetration Testing

Passive information gathering – reconnaissance – OSINT
Web search engines
Google Hacking Database – Google dorks
Online tools
Kali Linux tools
WHOIS lookup
Domain name system – DNS enumeration
Gathering email addresses
Active information gathering – services enumeration
Identifying live hosts
Identifying open ports/services
Service probing and enumeration
Vulnerability assessment
OpenVas
Exploitation
Finding exploits
Listener setup
Generating a shell payload using msfvenom
Custom shells
Privilege escalation
File transfers
Using PowerShell
Using VBScript
Administrator or root
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

10. Web Intrusion Tests

Web Intrusion Test workflow
Identifying hidden contents
Common web page checklist
Special pages checklist
Reporting
Common Vulnerability Scoring System – CVSS
First case – SQLi
Second case – Reflected XSS
Report template
Summary

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

11. Pentest Automation Using Python

Python IDE
Downloading and installing PyCharm 
PyCharm quick overview
Penetration testing automation
 Automate.py in action
Utility functions
Service enumeration
DTO service class
The scanner core
Summary
Nmap Cheat Sheet
Target specification
Host discovery
Scan types and service versions
Port specification and scan order
Script scan
Timing and performance
Firewall/IDS evasion and spoofing
Output
Metasploit Cheat Sheet
Metasploit framework
Using the database
More database-related commands
Getting around
Using modules
Miscellaneous
msfvenom
Listener scripting
Meterpreter
Netcat Cheat Sheet
Netcat command flags
Practical examples
Networking Reference Section
Network subnets
Port numbers and services
Python Quick Reference
Quick Python language overview
Basics of Python
Operators

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Arithmetic calculation operators

Assignment operators
Comparison operators 
Membership and identity operators
Binary operators
Making an if decision
Variables
Strings
Escape String Characters
Numbers
Lists
Tuples
Dictionary
Miscellaneous
Other Books You May Enjoy
Leave a review - let other readers know what you think

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Preface
This book will teach you how to execute penetration testing from start to finish.
Starting from the pre-engagement phase, you will learn threat modeling for the
architecture phase. After that, you will engage in the source code review
process. Following this, you will also learn how to execute web application
and network infrastructure penetration testing, and finally, you'll discover how
to automate all this using Python.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

Who this book is for

This book is for security professionals and enthusiasts who want to deepen
their knowledge of the web penetration testing world. Many topics will be
covered in this book, but you will need the basics of ethical hacking before you
start reading (many online courses out there will get you up to speed). If you're
a professional, I'm betting that you will appreciate a lot the straight forward
checklists that I will provide. In fact, I use them myself in my career as a
penetration tester.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Building a Vulnerable Web Application Lab, will help us to get and
install the vulnerable application Mutillidae using Windows and Linux. Also,
we will have a quick tour of how to use this vulnerable web application.

, Kali Linux Installation, will explain how to download, install, and

Chapter 2
configure Kali Linux

, Delving Deep into the Usage of Kali Linux, will teach more about
Chapter 3
how to deal with Kali Linux from the Terminal window, and will help you to
become a ninja in bash scripting as well.

, All About Using Burp Suite, covers what you need to know about
Chapter 4
Metasploit to fulfil the role of a web application security expert.

Chapter 5, Understanding Web Application Vulnerabilities, explains the attacks

that can happen on a web application, and after finishing the chapter, you will
be able to use these skills to manipulate your findings during pentests.

, Application Security Pre-Engagement, will explain how to sign all

Chapter 6
the necessary contracts before starting the tests. Also, you will learn how to
estimate, scope, and schedule your tests before they start.

Chapter 7, Application Threat Modeling, will explains that ATM is a security

architecture document that allows you to identify future threats and to pinpoint
the different pentest activities that need to be executed in the future deployment
of the web application project.

, Source Code Review, covers how to deal with the source code
Chapter 8
review process. The source code is the heart or engine of a web application,
and it must be properly constructed from a security perspective.

, Network Penetration Testing, explains how to use Metasploit, Nmap,

Chapter 9
and OpenVAS together to conduct a network infrastructure vulnerability

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

assessment.

Chapter 10, Web Intrusion Tests, will show how to look for web application
based vulnerabilities (SQLi, XSS, and CSRF) using Burp. Also, the readers
will learn how to take advantage of, get a remote shell, and probably elevate
their privileges on the victim web server.

, Pentest Automation Using Python, explains how to automate

Chapter 11
everything that we have learned using the Python language for a more
performant result.

, Nmap Cheat Sheet, a list of the most common Nmap options.

Appendix A

, Metasploit Cheat Sheet, provides a quick reference to the

Appendix B
Metasploit framework.

, Netcat Cheat Sheet, provides Netcat commands and a few popular

Appendix C
practical examples.

, Networking Reference Section, provides important information

Appendix D
about networking, such as network subnets, port number, and its services.

, Python Quick Reference, provides a quick overview of the amazing

Appendix E
programming language—Python.

||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||

To get the most out of this book

To get the most out of this book you need to know the basics of ethical hacking
and you will need to build a lab. You will need a virtual machine software (for
example, VirtualBox or VMware) for the virtualization of the lab environment.
To follow the examples, you will also need to install Kali Linux. Don't worry, I
will discuss how to do it in Chapter 2, Kali Linux Installation. Kali Linux will
be the attacker machine that we will use to test the security of the victim's
machine. Speaking of the victim host, I encourage you to install a Windows 7
virtual machine where you will install a vulnerable web application called
Mutillidae. Again, I will walk you through all the steps of building the
vulnerable host in Chapter 1, Building a Vulnerable Web Application Lab.
Finally, I will be using Burp Suite Professional Edition, but you can follow
along with the free edition of this tool. That being said, all the tools that we are
going to use for the security tests are already installed by default on Kali
Linux.

||||||||||||||||||||
Random documents with unrelated
content Scribd suggests to you:
women; and I was glad in my heart, when, taking ten sheep and a fat
bullock, we left these poor creatures to their fate, as, had more
Arabs arrived, they would most certainly have stripped them of every
thing. We halted, after dark, at a place called Mull.
Feb. 2.—Our road, as yesterday, was an extensive valley,
bounded to the right and left by low hills; about noon we descended
slightly, and found ourselves in a productive plain of great extent,
thickly planted with trees and underwood, not unlike a preserve in
England. About an hour before sun-set, we came to what had the
appearance of the bed of a lake, and here was the wished-for well of
water. The horses had not drank since noon on the 31st, and
although ready to drop on the road from faintness, were, on reaching
the well, quite unmanageable. The name of the well was Kofei.
On the 31st, Boo-Khaloom had thought it right to send on a
Tibboo with the news of our approach to the sheikh El-Kanemy, who,
we understood, resided at Kouka, and one was despatched with a
camel and a man of Mina Tahr: the Gundowy accompanied him on
the arrival at Kofei of the Arabs, who preceded us for the purpose of
clearing the well. The Tibboo who had been despatched was found
alone and naked; some Tibboo Arabs, of a tribe called Wandela, had
met them near the well on the preceding evening and robbing him
even to his cap, and taking from him the letters, saying, they cared
not for the sheikh or Boo-Khaloom, tied him to a tree, and then left
him. In this state was he found by our people; and Mr. Clapperton
coming up soon after, gave him, from his biscuit-bag, wherewithal to
break his fast, after being twenty-four hours without eating. Eighteen
men had stripped him, he said, and taken off the camel and Mina
Tahr’s man, who, they also said, should be ransomed, or have his
throat cut. Mina Tahr represented these people as the worst on the
road in every sense of the word: “They have no flocks,” said he, “and
have not more than three hundred camels, although their numbers
are one thousand or more; they live by plunder, and have no
connexion with any other people. No considerable body of men can
follow them; their tents are in the heart of the desert, and there are
no wells for four days in the line of their retreat. Giddy-ben-Agah is
their chief, and I alone would give fifty camels for his head: these are
the people who often attack and murder travellers, and small kafilas,
and the Gundowy, who respect strangers, have the credit of it.”
The men of Traita, with their chief, Eskou-ben-Coglu, came in the
evening to welcome us: the well Kofei belongs to them; and greatly
enraged they appeared to be at the conduct of the Wandelas. This
chief returned to Boo-Khaloom his letters, which, he said, “the chief
of the Wandelas had sent him that morning, begging that he would
meet the kafila at the well, and deliver them to Boo-Khaloom: had he
known then what had taken place, the slave,” he said, “should have
been stabbed at his father’s grave before he would have delivered
them.” Boo-Khaloom was greatly enraged; and I was almost
apprehensive that he would have revenged himself on the Traita
chiefs. However, the Tibboo courier was again clothed and mounted,
and once more started for Bornou. The Traita Tibboos are more
important-looking fellows than the Gunda, but they want their
quickness and activity: they are said not to be more than eight
hundred strong in males.
Feb. 3.—Our course, during the early part of the day, was due
south, and through a country more thickly planted by the all-tasteful
hand of bounteous Nature. We disturbed a flock of what we at first
thought were deer, but they were only a large species of antelope;
they are of a deeper fawn colour, and have black and white stripes
under the belly. The Guinea fowl were in great numbers, but
extremely shy. The whole day our route lay through most pleasing
forest scenery. It was near sunset when we arrived at Mittimee,
which, in the Bornou language, means warm, tepid: the wells exceed
fifty in number, and lie in a woody hollow, where there are clumps of
the tulloh and other species of the mimosa tribe, encircled by
kossom and various parasitical and twining shrubs, which,
embracing their stems, wind to the extremities of their branches, and
climb to the very tops, when, falling over, they form weeping bowers
of a most beautiful kind: it was indeed a lovely and a fair retreat.
Boo-Khaloom, myself, and about six Arabs, had ridden on in front:
it was said we had lost the track, and should miss the well: the day
had been oppressively hot, my companions were sick and fatigued,
and we dreaded the want of water. A fine dust, arising from a light
clayey and sandy soil, had also increased our sufferings: the
exclamations of the Arab who first discovered the wells were indeed
music to our ears; and after satisfying my own thirst, with that of my
weary animals, I laid me down by one of the distant wells, far from
my companions; and these moments of tranquillity, the freshness of
the air, with the melody of the hundred songsters that were perched
amongst the creeping plants, whose flowers threw an aromatic odour
all around, were a relief scarcely to be described. Ere long, however,
the noisy kafila, and the clouds of dust which accompanied it,
disturbed me from the delightful reverie into which I had fallen.
Feb. 4.—Previously to arriving at Lari, we came upon two
encampments of the Traita Tibboos, calling themselves the sheikh’s
people: their huts were not numerous, but very regularly built in a
square, with a space left in the north and south faces of the
quadrangle, for the use of the cattle. The huts were entirely of mats,
which, excluding the sun, yet admitted both the light and the air:
these habitations, for fine weather, are preferable to the bete shars,
or tents, of the Arabs of the north. The interior was singularly neat:
clean wooden bowls, with each a cover of basket-work, for holding
their milk, were hung against the wall. In the centre of the inclosure
were about one hundred and fifty head of cattle feeding from cradles:
these were chiefly milch cows, with calves and sheep. The Tibboos
received us kindly at first, but presumed rather too much on sheikh
Kanemy’s protection, which they claim or throw off, it is said, as it
suits their purpose. The modest request of a man, with two hundred
armed Arabs, for a little milk, was refused; and ready as the Arabs
are to throw down the gauntlet, a slight expression of displeasure
from their leader was followed by such a rapid attack on the Tibboos,
that before I could mount, half the stock was driven off, and the
sheikh well bastinadoed. Boo-Khaloom was, however, too kind to
injure them; and after driving their cattle for about a mile, he allowed
them to return, with a caution to be more accommodating for the
future. Accustomed as these people are to plunder one another, they
expect no better usage from any one who visits them, provided they
are strong enough, and vice versa; they are perfect Spartans in the
art of thieving, both male and female.
 An old woman, who was sitting at the door of one of the huts, sent
a very pretty girl to me, as I was standing by my horse, whose massy
amber necklace, greased head, and coral nose studs and ear-rings,
announced a person of no common order, to see what she could
pick up; and after gaining possession of my handkerchief and some
needles, while I turned my head, in an instant thrust her hand into
the pocket of my saddle-cloth, as she said, “to find some beads, for
she knew I had plenty.”
Another and much larger nest of the Traitas lay to the east of our
route, a little further on, with numerous flocks and herds. About two
in the afternoon we arrived at Lari, ten miles distant from Mittimee.
On ascending the rising ground on which the town stands, the
distressing sight presented itself of all the female, and most of the
male inhabitants, with their families, flying across the plain in all
directions, alarmed at the strength of our kafila. Beyond, however,
was an object full of interest to us, and the sight of which conveyed
to my mind a sensation so gratifying and inspiring, that it would be
difficult in language to convey an idea of its force or pleasure. The
great lake Tchad, glowing with the golden rays of the sun in its
strength, appeared to be within a mile of the spot on which we stood.
My heart bounded within me at this prospect, for I believed this lake
to be the key to the great object of our search, and I could not refrain
from silently imploring Heaven’s continued protection, which had
enabled us to proceed so far in health and strength, even to the
accomplishment of our task.
It was long before Boo-Khaloom’s best endeavours could restore
confidence: the inhabitants had been plundered by the Tuaricks only
the year before, and four hundred of their people butchered; and but
a few days before, a party of the same nation had again pillaged
them, though partially. When, at length, these people were satisfied
that no harm was intended them, the women came in numbers with
baskets of gussub, gafooly, fowls, and honey, which were purchased
by small pieces of coral and amber of the coarsest kind, and
coloured beads. One merchant bought a fine lamb for two bits of
amber, worth, I should think, about twopence each in Europe; two
needles purchased a fowl; and a handful of salt four or five good
sized fish from the lake.
Lari is inhabited by the people of Kanem, who are known by the
name of Kanemboo: the women are good-looking, laughing
negresses, and all but naked; but this we were now used to, and it
excited no emotions of surprise. Most of them had a square or
triangular piece of silver or tin hanging at the back of the head,
suspended from the hair, which was brought down, in narrow plaits,
quite round the neck.
Feb. 5.—By sun-rise I was on the borders of the lake, armed for
the destruction of the multitude of birds, who, all unconscious of my
purpose, seemed as it were to welcome our arrival. Flocks of geese
and wild ducks, of a most beautiful plumage, were quietly feeding at
within half pistol shot of where I stood; and not being a very keen or
inhuman sportsman, for the terms appear to me to be synonymous,
my purpose of deadly warfare was almost shaken. As I moved
towards them they only changed their places a little to the right or
left, and appeared to have no idea of the hostility of my intentions. All
this was really so new, that I hesitated to abuse the confidence with
which they regarded me, and very quietly sat down to contemplate
the scene before me. Pelicans, cranes, four and five feet in height,
grey, variegated, and white, were scarcely so many yards from my
side, and a bird, between a snipe and a woodcock, resembling both,
and larger than either; immense spoonbills of a snowy whiteness,
widgeon, teal, yellow-legged plover, and a hundred species of (to me
at least) unknown water fowl, were sporting before me; and it was
long before I could disturb the tranquillity of the dwellers on these
waters by firing a gun.
 From a Sketch by Major
Engraved by E. Finden.
Denham’s.
KANEMBOO MARKET UNMARRIED WOMAN
WOMAN. OF SOUDAN.
Published Feb. 1826, by John Murray, London.

The soil near the edges of the lake was a firm dark mud; and, in
proof of the great overflowings and recedings of the waters, even in
this advanced dry season, the stalks of the gussub, of the preceding
year, were standing in the lake, more than forty yards from the shore.
The water is sweet and pleasant, and abounds with fish; which the
natives have a curious way of catching. Some thirty or forty women
go into the lake, with their wrappers brought up between their legs,
and tied round their middles, as I should say, by single files, and
forming a line at some distance in the water, fronting the land, for it is
very shallow near the edges, and absolutely charge the fish before
them so close, that they are caught by the hand, or leap upon the
shore. We purchased some, and the best flavoured was a sort of
bream.
A circumstance happened whilst I was on the margin of the lake,
which was a further proof that the little kindnesses I had shown the
Arabs were not lost upon them; and which supported my favourite
position, that no people on earth are so savage, but that gentle kind
treatment, with a frank and liberal manner, will gain their confidence
and regard. A lamb, the most harmless thing that breathes, alarms a
child who for the first time sees such an animal. I had suffered my
horse to go loose, in order to approach close to the flights of birds
around me, and he probably thinking the tents might afford him
better fare than where I left him, first rubbed off his bridle, and then
quietly returned to the encampment. About the same time one of the
freed women found my bornouse, which had fallen from the saddle,
and brought it to Boo Khaloom. All this created an alarm, and it was
then found out, that two boats or canoes had been seen coming from
the south-east, in which direction are islands inhabited by the
Biddoomah, a people who live by plundering on the main land, and
carry off any thing they can pick up. This was quite enough to make
Boo Khaloom think I was already gone, or in great danger; and not
only several Arab chiefs armed themselves, and mounted, to seek
me, but some of the merchants also. They found me, after a long
search, on the lake among the gussub stalks, loaded with more birds
than I could carry, and would scarcely believe that I had seen neither
enemies nor boats. The dread which the natives appear to have of
these koorie, or islanders, is almost equal to their fear of the
Tuaricks; but the former are less rapacious and bloody in their visits.
Their habitations are three or four days distant to the southward of
east, towards the centre of the lake.
In the evening I visited the town of Lari: it stands on an eminence,
and may probably contain two thousand inhabitants. The huts are
built of the rush which grows by the sides of the lake, have conical
tops, and look very like well thatched stacks of corn in England. They
have neat inclosures round them, made with fences of the same
reed, and passages leading to them like labyrinths. In the inclosure
is a goat or two, poultry, and sometimes a cow. The women were
almost all spinning cotton, which grows well, though not abundantly,
near the town and lake. The interior of the huts is neat: they are
completely circular, with no admission for air or light, except at the
door, which has a mat, by way of safeguard. I entered one of the
best appearance, although the owner gave me no smiles of
encouragement, and followed close at my heels, with his spear and
dagger in his hand. In one corner stood the bed, a sofa of rushes
lashed together, and supported by six poles, fixed strongly in the
ground. This was covered by the skins of the tiger-cat and wild bull;
round the sides were hung the wooden bowls, used for water and
milk: his tall shield rested against the wall. The hut had a division of
mat-work, one half being allotted to the female part of the family. My
host, however, continued to look at me with so much suspicion, and
seemed so little pleased with my visit, notwithstanding all my
endeavours to assure him I was a friend, that I hurried from the
inhospitable door, and resumed my walk through the town.
Feb. 6.—A gratifying scene took place this morning, in the
departure of nearly thirty freed slaves, natives of Kanem, who here
left us for their homes, three days’ journey to the eastward. I had
been applied to, the night before, to intercede with Boo Khaloom for
this indulgence; for as he had heard that the sheikh was at war with
some of the chiefs of Kanem, he had determined on first taking them
to Bornou, for fear of their being plundered on the road of the little
they had saved in slavery. These poor creatures had, however,
found one or two of their countrymen at the market of Lari, who
assured them of their safety on the road between that place and their
homes. The good man complied with evident reluctance on their own
account, and they took leave, kissing his hand, with tears and
blessings. They had most of them been in the service of the bashaw,
some for a term of years, and were returning to die at home at last.
One poor deaf and dumb woman, whom the rapacity of Mukni, the
former sultan of Fezzan, who spared neither age, sex, nor infirmity,
had induced him to march to Tripoli, had shed torrents of tears ever
since she had been made acquainted, by signs, that she was to go
to Bornou. She had left two children behind her; and the third, which
was in her arms when she was taken by the Arabs, had been torn
from her breast after the first ten days of her journey across the
desert, in order that she might keep up with the camels. Her
expressive motions in describing the manner in which the child was
forced from her, and thrown on the sand, where it was left to perish,
while whips were applied to her, lame and worn out as she was, to
quicken her tottering steps, were highly eloquent and interesting.
They had all been my friends for more than five months, and to some
I had rendered little services by carrying their bag of zumeeta, or
salt. They were not ungrateful, and our parting had something in it
affecting, which, considering negroes in the degraded light they do,
seemed greatly to astonish the Arabs.
On quitting Lari, we immediately plunged into a thickly-planted
forest of acacias, with high underwood; and at the distance of only a
few hundred yards from the town, we came upon large heaps of the
elephants’ dung, forming hillocks three and four feet in height, and
marks of their footsteps: the tracks of these animals increased as we
proceeded. Part of the day our road lay along the banks of the
Tchad, and the elephants’ footmarks, of an immense size, and only a
few hours old, were in abundance. Whole trees were broken down,
where they had fed: and where they had reposed their ponderous
bodies, young trees, shrubs, and underwood, had been crushed
beneath their weight. We also killed this day an enormous snake, a
species of coluber; it was a most disgusting, horrible animal, but not
however venomous. It measured eighteen feet from the mouth to the
tail; it was shot by five balls, and was still moving off, when two
Arabs, with each a sword, nearly severed the head from the body.
On opening the belly, several pounds of fat were found, and carefully
taken off by the two native guides who accompanied us. This they
pronounced a sovereign remedy for sick and diseased cattle, and
much prized amongst them. Scarcely a mile further, a drove of wild
red cattle, which I at first took for deer, were seen bounding to the
west. I had no gun, but got extremely close to them, and found they
were what the Arabs call “bugra-hammar-wahash” (red cow wild).
They appeared to partake of the bullock and buffalo, with a tuft or
lump on the shoulder.
We bivouacked near a small parcel of huts, called Nyagami, in a
beautiful spot, so thick of wood, that we could scarcely find a clear
place for our encampment. While the tents were fixing, an alarm was
given of wild boars: one of our party followed the scent, and, on his
return, said he had seen a lion, and near him seven gazelles. I could
not, however, find from the natives, that lions were ever seen here:
numerous other animals appeared to abound, and that confirmed the
opinion.
Feb. 7.—We moved for Woodie about eight, accompanied by two
Arabs of Boo-Saif. I left the kafila, and proceeded a little to the
westward, making a parallel movement with the camels. Birds of the
most beautiful plumage were perched on every tree. Guinea fowls
were in flocks of eighty or one hundred; and several monkeys
chattered at us so impudently, that, separating one from the rest, we
chased him for nearly half an hour: he did not run very fast, or
straight forward, but was constantly doubling and turning, with his
head over his shoulder, to see who was close to him. He was a
handsome fellow, of a light brown colour, and black about the
muzzle. About noon we came on a village of huts, called Barrah; and
although only three in number, the natives flew in all directions. On
our approaching the town, we beckoned to them, and got off our
horses, for the purpose of giving them confidence, and sat down
under the shade of a large tamarind tree. An old negro, who spoke a
little Arabic, was the first who ventured to approach: seeing that he
was not ill-treated, the others soon followed his example. I begged a
little leban (sour milk), a most refreshing beverage after a hot ride,
but none was to be found, until they were assured that I should pay
for it; and at the sight of the dollar they all jumped and skipped like
so many monkeys. Some biscuit, which I carried in my saddle-cloth
pocket, and now began to eat, created much astonishment, and the
first to whom I gave some, refused to eat it. One, rather bolder than
the rest, put a small piece into his mouth, and pronounced it good,
with such extravagant gestures, that my visitors all became so
clamorous, that my stock was speedily demolished. I refused for a
long time the man who had been suspicious at first, to the great
amusement of the rest, who seemed to like the joke amazingly.
I had promised the Arabs to share with them a sheep, provided
they did not help themselves, and now made signs of my wish to
purchase one. Two men went off to bring, as they said, a fat one.
After a short time had elapsed, during which they had been delighted
with the opening and shutting of my pocket-knife, a very miserable
sheep was brought to me, which they seriously endeavoured to
make me understand was a very fine one. The Arabs declared it to
be good for nothing; and, therefore, though unwilling to be
displeased, I quickly returned my dollar to my pocket, and made a
motion towards my horse. The whole tribe, to my great
astonishment, shouted out, and began to push about the vender of
the sheep, and dance round me. Another very fine fat sheep was
now brought forward from behind the crowd: offering the other first
seemed a trick, in order to try whether I should find out the lean from
the fat one; and although much sagacity was not required for this, it
appeared to have raised me very much in their estimation.
The little nest of thatched huts in which they lived was most
beautifully situated on a rising spot, in the midst of a rich and
luxuriant, though not thick forest, about three miles to the north-east
of Woodie; and the wells, which stand in a dell, thickly planted with
palms (the first we had seen on this side of the desert), had troughs
for more than a hundred and fifty cattle to drink at. One of the old
men accompanied us, while his son carried the carcass of the sheep
to Woodie, for which service he was rewarded by two coral beads,
and a little snuff.
Close to the town we found the tents. Our party had made about
fourteen miles, without leaving the banks of the lake at any great
distance. Two elephants were seen swimming in the lake this day;
and one, belonging to a drove at a distance, absolutely remained just
before the kafila. Hillman had gone on in front on his mule, suffering
sadly from weakness and fatigue, and had laid himself down in what
appeared a delightful shade, to await the arrival of the camels, not
expecting to see an elephant. He was absolutely reposing within a
dozen yards of a very large one, without being aware of it; and on an
Arab’s striking the animal with a spear, he roared out and moved off.
Poor Hillman’s alarm was extreme.
Feb. 8.—On walking to the shores of the lake this morning, soon
after sunrise, I was surprised to see how the water had encroached
since the day before. More than two miles of the wood was entirely
overflowed—the cotton plantations were covered with water. Were
the lands cleared of wood, which would not be a laborious task, as
the trees are mostly tulloh, and not large, almost any thing might be
produced.
Feb. 9.—The courier had been sent off a second time, after being
re-clothed and re-mounted, to receive the sheikh’s orders, and we
were not to proceed beyond Woodie until his pleasure was known.
So jealous and so suspicious are these negro princes of the
encroachment of the Arabs, that divers were the speculations as to
whether the sheikh would, or would not, allow them to proceed with
us nearer his capital.
A weekly fsug, or market, was held about a mile from the town;
and the women flocking from the neighbouring negro villages,
mounted on bullocks, who have a thong of hide passed through the
cartilage of the nose when young, and are managed with great ease,
had a curious appearance: a skin is spread on the animal’s back,
upon which, after hanging the different articles they take for sale,
they mount themselves; milk, sour and sweet, a little honey, fowls,
gussub, gafooly, are amongst their wares, fat and meloheea (ochra),
a green herb, which, with bazeen, all negroes eat voraciously, and
indeed Christians too, as I afterwards found out. The men brought
oxen, sheep, goats, and slaves: the latter were few in number, and in
miserable condition.
Woodie is a capital, or as they say, Blad Kebir, and is governed by
a sheikh, who is a eunuch, and a man of considerable importance:
they appear to have all the necessaries of life in abundance, and are
the most indolent people I ever met with. The women spin a little
cotton, and weave it into a coarse cloth of about six inches’ width;
the men either lie idling in their huts all day, or in the shade of a
building, formed by four supporters and a thatched roof, which
stands in an open space amongst the huts: this is also the court of
justice and place of prayers. The men are considerably above the
common stature, and of an athletic make; but have an expression of
features particularly dull and heavy. The town stands about one mile
west of the Tchad, four short days’ march from Bornou. Game of all
descriptions comes to within a stone’s-throw of their doors, and the
lake abounds with fish and water-fowl; yet have they so little
exertion, that a few fish was almost the only produce of their labour
which was offered for sale.
The women, like the Tibboo, have a square piece of blue or white
cloth, tied over one shoulder, which forms their whole covering: their
hair is however curiously and laboriously trained, and I observed that
no one of tender years had any thing like a perfect head of hair.
From childhood the head is shaved, leaving only the top covered; the
hair from hence falls down quite round from the forehead to the pole
of the neck, and is then formed into one solid plait, which in front
lying quite flat just over the eyes, and behind being turned up with a
little curl, has just the appearance of an old-fashioned coachman’s
wig in England: some of them are, however, very pretty.
Feb. 10.—I this morning went to the eastward, in order to see the
extent of the forest, and also, if possible, to get a sight of the herd, of
upwards of one hundred and fifty elephants, which some of the
Arabs had seen the day before while their camels were feeding. I
was not disappointed. I found them about six miles from the town, in
the grounds annually overflowed by the waters of the lake, where the
coarse grass is twice the height of a man: they seemed to cover the
face of the country, and, I should think, exceeded the number I had
expected to see. When the waters flow over these their pasturages,
they are forced by hunger to approach the towns, and spread
devastation throughout their march; whole plantations, the hopes of
the inhabitants for the next year, are sometimes destroyed in a single
night. Nothing, however, more ferocious than large antelopes, with a
fox and wild hog or two, was to be seen, besides elephants, although
I beat every thicket. We had followed about half a dozen of these
antelopes for more than three hours, who merely changed their
place without ever getting out of sight, but never allowed us to get
near enough to hazard a shot. When quite fatigued, I determined on
making for some distant huts, and begging a little milk, sweet or
sour. No knowing landlady of a country inn ever scanned the
character of her customer more than did this untaught, though
cunning negro, whom we found there. He first denied that he had
any, notwithstanding the bowls were full scarcely ten paces behind
him; and then asked, what I had got to pay for it? I had really
nothing; and after offering my pocket-handkerchief, which was
returned to me as not worth any thing, I was about to depart, though
ten long miles from the tents, thirsty as I was, when the Arab pointed
to a needle, which was sticking in my jacket: for this and a white
bead which the Arab produced, we had a bowl of fine milk and a
basket of nuts, which refreshed us much; and we returned home by
the lake, where I shot two birds—one a very fine crane, and the
other of the woodpecker species, and saw a flock of at least five
hundred pelicans, but could not get near enough to fire at them.
The whole surface of the country for the last eighteen days had
been covered with a grass which produced a calyx so full of prickles
as to annoy us almost to misery: these prickles were of the finest
and most penetrating sharpness that can be imagined; they attached
to every part of our dress; and so small were the points, that it was
impossible to extract them without their breaking and leaving a part
behind: if we walked, at every step we were obliged to clear them
from our feet—mats, blankets, trowsers, were filled with these
irritating annoyances, so that there was no getting rid of them, by
day or night; in short, no part of the body was free from them. The
seed from this grass is called kashcia, and is eaten[21].
Feb. 11.—Two of the sheikh’s officers arrived last night, with
letters, and a present of goroo nuts of Soudan: they have a pleasant
bitter taste, and are much esteemed by all the Tripoli people. After
eating these nuts, water has a grateful flavour, be it ever so bad: the
Arabs call them the coffee of the black country. These letters
pressed Boo Khaloom to continue his march towards Kouka, with all
his people—a very great proof of his confidence in the peaceable
disposition of our chief. The men were clothed with a bornouse each,
a turban, and a red cap; and after giving us fifteen bullocks, six
sheep, and seventeen kail of gussub, returned home, promising that
fresh supplies should be prepared for his people at Yeou, two days’
march nearer Bornou. It was nearly dark when we reached a town
called Burwha. We had travelled at a considerable distance from the
lake after the first four miles of our journey, which here sweeps off
greatly to the east.
Burwha is a walled town, and the first negro one we had seen: it
may be called in this country a place of some strength; in proof of
which the inhabitants have always defied the Tuarick marauders,
who never entered the town: the walls may be about thirteen or
fourteen feet high, and have a dry ditch, which runs quite round
them. The town probably covers an extent equal to three square
miles, and contains five or six thousand inhabitants. There is a
covered-way, from which the defenders lance their spears at the
besiegers, and instantly conceal themselves: there are but two
gates, which are nearly east and west; and these being the most
vulnerable parts for an enemy to attack, are defended by mounds of
earth thrown up on each side, and carried out at least twenty yards
in front of the gate, and have nearly perpendicular faces. These
advanced posts are always thickly manned, and they conceive them
to be a great defence to their walls: they cannot, however, calculate
upon their being abandoned, as an enemy once in possession of
them would so completely command the town, that from thence
every part of it may be seen. Nevertheless, Burwha is a strong place,
considering the means of attack which the Arabs have; and we were
much struck with its appearance.
Feb. 12.—I rode through the town early this morning, previous to
our move. All the principal huts had their little inclosure, with a cow
or two, some goats and fowls; and I saw a very fine fish, apparently
roasted, or broiled, carried into one of them, on which I could have
breakfasted with great pleasure. Gussub, in large baskets, and in the
straw, was every where to be seen, and the women were spinning at
the doors of most of the huts.
I rode nearly the whole of this day with Min Ali Tahar, the
Gundowy Tibboo sheikh, who was accompanying us to Bornou: he
had some little difference with the sheikh, of whom he was perfectly
independent, and Boo Khaloom, ever politic, undertook to make up
the misunderstanding; thereby not only showing his influence, but
securing, in a manner, the future friendship of Tahar, whose district
was always considered as the most dangerous part of the Tibboo
country on the road to Mourzuk. Tahar was a sharp, intelligent fellow,
spoke a little Arabic, and had often asked me many questions about
my country, and my sultan; but to-day he was more inquisitive than
usual.—“Rais Khaleel,” said he, “what would your sultan do to Min
Ali, if he was to go to England? Would he kill me, or keep me there a
prisoner? I should like to be there for about a month.” I answered,
“Certainly neither one nor the other: he would be much more inclined
to make you a handsome present, and send you back again.” Min
Ali. “Oh! I should take him something; but what could I give him?
nothing but the skins of a dozen ostriches, some elephants’ teeth,
and a lion’s skin.” Ans. “The value of the present could be of no
importance to my sultan; he would look at the intention: befriend his
people—remember the Inglezi that you have seen; and should any
more ever find their way to your tents, give them milk and sheep,
and put them in the road they are going: promise me to do this, and I
can almost promise you, that my sultan shall send you a sword, such
a one as Hateeta had on my return, without your going to England,
or giving him any thing.” Min Ali. “Is he such a man? Barak Allah!
What’s his name?” “George.” “George! Health to George; much of it!
Salam Ali: George Yassur. Tell him, Min Ali Tahar wishes him all
health and happiness; that he is a Tibboo who can command a
thousand spears, and fears no man. Is he liberal? Is his heart large?
Gulba Kebir. Does he give presents to his people?” “Very much so,
indeed; some of his people think him too generous.” Min Ali. “By the
head of my father! Raas el Booe! they are wrong; the sultan of a
great people should have a large heart, or he is unworthy of them.
Who will succeed him when he dies?” “His brother.” “What is his
name?” “Frederick.” “Barak Allah! I hope he will be like George,
matlook, liberal. Salem Ali! Frederick. Health to Frederick! How many
wives have they?” “No Englishman has more than one,” said I. “A
gieb! a gieb! Wonderful! wonderful! why they should have a
hundred.” “No! no! we think that a sin,” replied I. “Wallah! really
(literally, by G—!) why I have four now; and I have had more than
sixty. Her I like best, however, always says, one would be more
lawful: she may be right. You say she is. You are a great people. I
see you are a great people, and know every thing. I, a Tibboo, am
little better than a gazelle.”
The road to-day was thickly scattered with trees—saw flocks of
red cattle, and killed a wild hog. The hyænas came so close to the
tents last night, that a camel, which lay about a hundred yards from
the enclosure, was found nearly half-eaten. A lion first made a meal
on the poor animal; when the hyænas came down upon what he had
left. We had fires the whole night; and notwithstanding the continued
howlings which these animals kept up until daylight, our rest was but
little disturbed.—Halted near a water, called Chugelarem. We had
now about eleven miles to make, previous to arriving at Yeou.
13th.—Chugelarem, though said to be a branch of the Tchad, was
merely a still water, increased considerably by the overflowings of
that lake in the wet season: the bottom was muddy, and nowhere
deeper than two feet. The camels, horses, and followers of the kafila,
waded through it without being much above their knees: it takes a
zigzag direction, going first to the east, then to the north, and then to
the east again.
We proceeded south, passing several very neat negro villages;
and after about eleven miles, came to a very considerable stream,
called the Yeou, in some parts more than fifty yards wide, with a fine
hard sandy bottom, and banks nearly perpendicular, and with a
strong current running three miles and a half in an hour to the
eastward. As I expected, every one of the Arabs said this was the
Nile, and that it ran into the great water the Tchad. A town of the
same name stands on the south side of the river, which the
inhabitants were unanimous in saying came from Soudan. It is at
times double the width, and considerably deeper, and two canoes
now lay upon the sand, in which the goods and passengers of kafilas
passing in the wet season are conveyed across. The camels and
horses swim with their heads made fast to the canoes. These
canoes were of the rudest manufacture, and were formed of planks,
rudely shaped by a small hatchet, and strongly fastened together by
cords passed through holes bored in them, and a wisp of straw
between, which they say effectually keeps out the water: they have
high poops like the Grecian boats, and would hold twenty or thirty
persons. The air from a running stream of clear water, and the
freshness it imparted to all around, was such a relief after a march
through sandy deserts, that both man and beast were in a manner
renovated by its effects. The men, and even the women, bathed and
washed, and the negroes swam all the horses. We here received ten
bullocks by the sheikh’s order, to make up the fifteen which he had
directed to be given to Boo Khaloom, and the remainder of the
seventeen kail (loads) of gussub which was to accompany them.
Feb. 14.—Visited Yeou, which is a neat town of huts, walled, but
not above half the size of Burwha, and proceeded fourteen miles,
when we came to a well. Here we should have remained with our
tired camels and horses; but the numerous negro parties, with from
two to twelve laden oxen, all said another well was grieb (near). Boo
Khaloom, therefore, determined on proceeding to the next maten, or
halting-place: some of the group were picturesque in the extreme;
the women all laden with some purchase at the market, and the
naked black children mounted on the tops of the loaded bullocks;
and after twelve additional miles, an hour and a half after sunset, we
came to a halt, but without arriving at the well. The branches of the
trees hung so much over the road, and impeded the movements of
the camels so greatly, that it was past ten o’clock at night before
some of them came up.
Feb. 15.—We found the well, kalielwa, just off the road, nearly
four miles nearer Bornou, and we were to push the camels on as far
as possible, in order that the day after we might enter Kouka, the
residence of the sheikh, in Arab form, and at an early hour. The road
branched off in two directions: the one to the west led towards
Kouka. Soon after this we came to a well and small town, and after
sunset another; near the latter of which a Fezzaneer in the service of
the sheikh met us, with a request that we would pitch our tents near
a dead water called Dowergoo, a few miles further on, and remain
the next day, as the huts that had been preparing were not ready.
About eight we came to this piece of still water, abounding with wild
fowl, having a village near it, called Gurdawa.
 Feb. 16.—Halted. Our visitors here were not very numerous,
although we were not above one hour’s journey from the sheikh’s
residence, Kouka. Various were the reports as to the opinion the
sheikh formed of the force which accompanied Boo-Khaloom: all
agreed, however, that we were to be received at some distance from
the town, by a considerable body of troops; both as a compliment to
the bashaw, and to show his representative how well prepared he
was against any attempt of those who chose to be his enemies.
One of the Arabs brought to me this day a Balearic crane; it
measured thirteen feet from wing to wing.
Feb. 17.—This was to us a momentous day, and it seemed to be
equally so to our conductors. Notwithstanding all the difficulties that
had presented themselves at the various stages of our journey, we
were at last within a few short miles of our destination; were about to
become acquainted with a people who had never seen, or scarcely
heard of, a European; and to tread on ground, the knowledge and
true situation of which had hitherto been wholly unknown. These
ideas of course excited no common sensations; and could scarcely
be unaccompanied by strong hopes of our labours being beneficial
to the race amongst whom we were shortly to mix; of our laying the
first stone of a work which might lead to their civilization, if not their
emancipation from all their prejudices and ignorance, and probably,
at the same time, open a field of commerce to our own country,
which might increase its wealth and prosperity. Our accounts had
been so contradictory of the state of this country, that no opinion
could be formed as to the real condition or the numbers of its
inhabitants. We had been told that the sheikh’s soldiers were a few
ragged negroes armed with spears, who lived upon the plunder of
the Black Kaffir countries, by which he was surrounded, and which
he was enabled to subdue by the assistance of a few Arabs who
were in his service; and, again, we had been assured that his forces
were not only numerous, but to a certain degree well trained. The
degree of credit which might be attached to these reports was nearly
balanced in the scales of probability; and we advanced towards the
town of Kouka in a most interesting state of uncertainty, whether we
should find its chief at the head of thousands, or be received by him
under a tree, surrounded by a few naked slaves.
These doubts, however, were quickly removed. I had ridden on a
short distance in front of Boo-Khaloom, with his train of Arabs, all
mounted, and dressed out in their best apparel; and, from the
thickness of the trees, soon lost sight of them, fancying that the road
could not be mistaken. I rode still onwards, and on approaching a
spot less thickly planted, was not a little surprised to see in front of
me a body of several thousand cavalry drawn up in line, and
extending right and left quite as far as I could see; and, checking my
horse, I awaited the arrival of my party, under the shade of a wide-
spreading acacia. The Bornou troops remained quite steady, without
noise or confusion; and a few horsemen, who were moving about in
front giving directions, were the only persons out of the ranks. On the
Arabs appearing in sight, a shout, or yell, was given by the sheikh’s
people, which rent the air: a blast was blown from their rude
instruments of music equally loud, and they moved on to meet Boo-
Khaloom and his Arabs. There was an appearance of tact and
management in their movements which astonished me: three
separate small bodies, from the centre and each flank, kept charging
rapidly towards us, to within a few feet of our horses’ heads, without
checking the speed of their own until the moment of their halt, while
the whole body moved onwards. These parties were mounted on
small but very perfect horses, who stopped, and wheeled from their
utmost speed with great precision and expertness, shaking their
spears over their heads, exclaiming, “Barca! barca! Alla hiakkum
cha, alla cheraga!—Blessing! blessing! Sons of your country! Sons
of your country!” and returning quickly to the front of the body, in
order to repeat the charge. While all this was going on, they closed
in their right and left flanks, and surrounded the little body of Arab
warriors so completely, as to give the compliment of welcoming them
very much the appearance of a declaration of their contempt for their
weakness. I am quite sure this was premeditated; we were all so
closely pressed as to be nearly smothered, and in some danger from
the crowding of the horses and clashing of the spears. Moving on
was impossible; and we therefore came to a full stop: our chief was
much enraged, but it was all to no purpose, he was only answered
Welcome to our website – the ideal destination for book lovers and
knowledge seekers. With a mission to inspire endlessly, we offer a
vast collection of books, ranging from classic literary works to
specialized publications, self-development books, and children's
literature. Each book is a new journey of discovery, expanding
knowledge and enriching the soul of the reade

Our website is not just a platform for buying books, but a bridge
connecting readers to the timeless values of culture and wisdom. With
an elegant, user-friendly interface and an intelligent search system,
we are committed to providing a quick and convenient shopping
experience. Additionally, our special promotions and home delivery
services ensure that you save time and fully enjoy the joy of reading.

Let us accompany you on the journey of exploring knowledge and

personal growth!

textbookfull.com