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imported>CastleCourt (Created page with "for two men to walk abreast and they wind round and round. the cross and crook turn and twine as it were full of dirt and mud and filth and big strong looking strong smelling...") |
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for two men to walk abreast and they wind round and round. the cross and crook turn and twine as it were full of dirt and mud and filth and big strong looking strong smelling Negroes. it is no easy Matter to find ones way tho the town for we got lost amongst its windings. There are several business streets the Bazar is one here are exposed for sale beads roots beans cloths cottons knives callicos silks &c all the cotton goods I saw were marked Lowell Mills in fact Most of the goods I saw were Yankee goods. on the sides in the doors and windows were exposed these things for sale whilst back in a close room was the sleeping apartments. The bazar that was some times crowded with Negroes [?] and loitering about. Next the Market street was the most important There was every thing to be seen that the isle produced in the way of eatables but usually in such small quantities that it was difficult to obtain enough for more than one person without going to a dozen. Then came the private streets dirty and crooked but not as bad as the public ones. in every street that I went the Natives looked at me with curious expressions and all seemed as friendly as could be. The little negroe children seemed amused at me and when two or three of us were together we were followed like a Militia Company is in the states in every street we went there we found the Natives as kind and as polite as curious and inquisitive as Yankees, many poor devils asked me to step in and look at their sick brothers or sisters or fathers. Many asked me for charms and I followed the example of Mongo Park who gave them the lords prayer, in many streets I saw black smiths and was induced to stop to look at their work. The black smith does all his work sitting down. he has a little shaver who blows the bellows, does it also sitting down. he blows it with two bags of leather open at top and fitted with two pieces of wood air tight which he opens as he draws it out with thumb and hands. And shuts as he pushes it from him to keep the air in better pieces of soft hide or skins are fastened on the inside all their work is done sitting there are also silver smiths on a small scale near the out skirts of the town are a kind of mills to grind the palm oil out of coco & palm trees the mill was moved by Camels. The palm oil is sent to America & Europe. The Town contains about 30,000 inhabitants, Mostly Negroes who are slaves to the Arabs, Banyans, Parsees &c. the Mosques are very numerous | for two men to walk abreast and they wind round and round. the cross and crook turn and twine as it were full of dirt and mud and filth and big strong looking strong smelling Negroes. it is no easy Matter to find ones way tho the town for we got lost amongst its windings. There are several business streets the Bazar is one here are exposed for sale beads roots beans cloths cottons knives callicos silks &c all the cotton goods I saw were marked Lowell Mills in fact Most of the goods I saw were Yankee goods. on the sides in the doors and windows were exposed these things for sale whilst back in a close room was the sleeping apartments. The bazar that was some times crowded with Negroes [?] and loitering about. Next the Market street was the most important There was every thing to be seen that the isle produced in the way of eatables but usually in such small quantities that it was difficult to obtain enough for more than one person without going to a dozen. Then came the private streets dirty and crooked but not as bad as the public ones. in every street that I went the Natives looked at me with curious expressions and all seemed as friendly as could be. The little negroe children seemed amused at me and when two or three of us were together we were followed like a Militia Company is in the states in every street we went there we found the Natives as kind and as polite as curious and inquisitive as Yankees, many poor devils asked me to step in and look at their sick brothers or sisters or fathers. Many asked me for charms and I followed the example of Mongo Park who gave them the lords prayer, in many streets I saw black smiths and was induced to stop to look at their work. The black smith does all his work sitting down. he has a little shaver who blows the bellows, does it also sitting down. he blows it with two bags of leather open at top and fitted with two pieces of wood air tight which he opens as he draws it out with thumb and hands. And shuts as he pushes it from him to keep the air in better pieces of soft hide or skins are fastened on the inside all their work is done sitting there are also silver smiths on a small scale near the out skirts of the town are a kind of mills to grind the palm oil out of coco & palm trees the mill was moved by Camels. The palm oil is sent to America & Europe. The Town contains about 30,000 inhabitants, Mostly Negroes who are slaves to the Arabs, Banyans, Parsees &c. the Mosques are very numerous and are well built neat buildings one that I entered was extremely well furnished and clean and was full of worshipers it is the law of the Coran or Koran that an unbeliever entering a Mosque must either turn Mohometan or be put to death; This is the law every where but in Madagascar and in Mozambique the law has changed this much that you can get off by paying a sum of money. but here it is different for they are Arab and the Sultan is sei-seid Ben Sultan a true believer and defender of the faith. Not knowing the custom I mounted the steps leading to the Mosque and entered the door. There was several fellows on all fours bowed to the ground. At first I thought they were fastening down the mats but then I saw them get up all facing the same way, bow and down again. I had hardly time to see these things before I was caught by the arm by one of the Consuls friends who pulled me down off and away in short order I had hardly time to see the half drawn knives and angry glances of the Arabs before I was out of danger. Capt Wilson gave me a severe lecture about it saying that there were many fanatics who would think it right & proper and that to kill me would please god and the prophet. After I was more careful and kept a proper distance from them. The Mohometan confession of faith is this Allah el Allah. Mahome Ras-ul or god is great and Mahome is his prophet. They pray 5 times per day and wash themselves (face and arms) there are two sects who are mortal enemies they split on this [crossed out: that is] viz. the place to commence washing at. The followers of Ala' commence at their finger ends and wash the followers of Omer commence at their elbows. Should two Mahometans meet says | ||
Latest revision as of 00:31, 11 October 2020
for two men to walk abreast and they wind round and round. the cross and crook turn and twine as it were full of dirt and mud and filth and big strong looking strong smelling Negroes. it is no easy Matter to find ones way tho the town for we got lost amongst its windings. There are several business streets the Bazar is one here are exposed for sale beads roots beans cloths cottons knives callicos silks &c all the cotton goods I saw were marked Lowell Mills in fact Most of the goods I saw were Yankee goods. on the sides in the doors and windows were exposed these things for sale whilst back in a close room was the sleeping apartments. The bazar that was some times crowded with Negroes [?] and loitering about. Next the Market street was the most important There was every thing to be seen that the isle produced in the way of eatables but usually in such small quantities that it was difficult to obtain enough for more than one person without going to a dozen. Then came the private streets dirty and crooked but not as bad as the public ones. in every street that I went the Natives looked at me with curious expressions and all seemed as friendly as could be. The little negroe children seemed amused at me and when two or three of us were together we were followed like a Militia Company is in the states in every street we went there we found the Natives as kind and as polite as curious and inquisitive as Yankees, many poor devils asked me to step in and look at their sick brothers or sisters or fathers. Many asked me for charms and I followed the example of Mongo Park who gave them the lords prayer, in many streets I saw black smiths and was induced to stop to look at their work. The black smith does all his work sitting down. he has a little shaver who blows the bellows, does it also sitting down. he blows it with two bags of leather open at top and fitted with two pieces of wood air tight which he opens as he draws it out with thumb and hands. And shuts as he pushes it from him to keep the air in better pieces of soft hide or skins are fastened on the inside all their work is done sitting there are also silver smiths on a small scale near the out skirts of the town are a kind of mills to grind the palm oil out of coco & palm trees the mill was moved by Camels. The palm oil is sent to America & Europe. The Town contains about 30,000 inhabitants, Mostly Negroes who are slaves to the Arabs, Banyans, Parsees &c. the Mosques are very numerous and are well built neat buildings one that I entered was extremely well furnished and clean and was full of worshipers it is the law of the Coran or Koran that an unbeliever entering a Mosque must either turn Mohometan or be put to death; This is the law every where but in Madagascar and in Mozambique the law has changed this much that you can get off by paying a sum of money. but here it is different for they are Arab and the Sultan is sei-seid Ben Sultan a true believer and defender of the faith. Not knowing the custom I mounted the steps leading to the Mosque and entered the door. There was several fellows on all fours bowed to the ground. At first I thought they were fastening down the mats but then I saw them get up all facing the same way, bow and down again. I had hardly time to see these things before I was caught by the arm by one of the Consuls friends who pulled me down off and away in short order I had hardly time to see the half drawn knives and angry glances of the Arabs before I was out of danger. Capt Wilson gave me a severe lecture about it saying that there were many fanatics who would think it right & proper and that to kill me would please god and the prophet. After I was more careful and kept a proper distance from them. The Mohometan confession of faith is this Allah el Allah. Mahome Ras-ul or god is great and Mahome is his prophet. They pray 5 times per day and wash themselves (face and arms) there are two sects who are mortal enemies they split on this [crossed out: that is] viz. the place to commence washing at. The followers of Ala' commence at their finger ends and wash the followers of Omer commence at their elbows. Should two Mahometans meet says