'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎76] (93/258)

Ixxvi
PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY.
“ His intention was, on arrival at Zeyla, with the assistance of the Somali
chief Shermachi, to collect carriage and join the first caravan proceeding di
rectly to Hurrur, a country which has never yet been visited by European, al
though only ten camel marches distant from the coast. With that spirit of
adventure which characterises Eietit. Burton he has on the principle of ‘ tak
ing the bull by the horns’ selected a route beset with more than usual dangers,
well knowing that if he accomplish this feat he will find African travel easy.
The tribes through which he will have to pass are the Dankali and Esa-Somals,
savages who profess no religion, both notorious for lawless plunder, little above
the Galas in the scale of civilization, and shewing as small a regard for human
life. If he manage to escape the perils of the journey,—and I must not
omit the lions,—on his arrival at Hurrur he will encounter fresh dangers. The
present Amir of Hurrur is a young man, a son of the former old tyrant, and a
worthy successor of his truculent father. He holds a firm faith in an old (rather
shrewd) tradition that if the Franks see his country they will covet it and take
it from him ; he entertains a more than paternal dread of all Turks and Egyp
tians, and sits in Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). with an exceedingly inconvenient courtier, whose exe
cutive duties are easily guessed, holding a naked sword over him. To add to
these difficulties, small pox is said to be raging at Hurrur like a plague. Lieut.
Burton is by no means the first African traveller who has essayed a visit to
Hurrur. As far back as 1841 Dr. Krapfmade the attempt and failed sig
nally. Captain Barker, I. N., about the same time was not more prosperous.
Mr. Rochel d’ Hericourt was obliged to relinquish the enterprize. Lieut.
Christopher, I. N., a bold traveller, could not accomplish the object. Since
then some R. C. missionaries have tried in vain to penetrate inland from the coast,
and latterlyDr. Beke gave up the idea in despair* It remains to be seen if Lieute
nant Burton will succeed where so many distinguished travellers have failed. If
however boldness and energy can ensure the desired result, I feel no doubt of
Lieut. Burton’s success. His plan is judicious. He travels as a peaceable
merchant from Hindostan, always a respected character in the East, taking
with him two trustworthy Somalis from Aden as his servants, and an assort
ment of goods such as cloths, beads, hardware, tobacco, &c., for barter or for
plunder, as the case may be, and expects if this garb and with conciliating
manners to impress the people with respect for his person if not for his pro
perty : should they attempt the other thing, of a truth they will find him a bitter
gourd. Lieut.Burton’s object in visiting Hurrur is to explore a totally unknown
country, and to ascertain whether a direct channel of commerce could not be
there opened for British enterprise. The soil is reported to be most fertile.
On the hills round the populous town flourish the coffee plant, whose produce
at present commands the best price in the market, the grape, the khal and
the wurras; herbs and gums are also articles of export. Unfortunately Hur
rur is also the head quarters of an odious slave trade. No less than 6,000
woolley headed Galas of both sexes find their way thence annually to 5 the
Western ports of the Red Sea to supply the Arabian and Egyptian slave
markets. Having collected as much useful information as possible on these
various subjects, and disposed of, or rather perhaps having been relieved of,
* Aden correspondent, 12th November. I have deemed it right to give Lieutenant Burton’s
plans, which were perfectly known to the Aden writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , as well as the difficultes to be encoun
tered, more fully than they have hitherto been given. As the first journey was an experiment
the second unsuccessful, it is but fair the difficulties to be faced should be made known. ’