Travels, between the years 1765 and 1773, through part of Africa, Syria, Egypt, and Arabia, into Abyssinia, to discover the source of the Nile : comprehending an interesting narrative of the author's adventures in Abyssinia, and a circumstantial account of the manners, customs, government, religion, history &c &c of that country : being the substance of the original work / by the late James Bruce.

  • Bruce, James, 1730-1794.
Date:
[1812]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels, between the years 1765 and 1773, through part of Africa, Syria, Egypt, and Arabia, into Abyssinia, to discover the source of the Nile : comprehending an interesting narrative of the author's adventures in Abyssinia, and a circumstantial account of the manners, customs, government, religion, history &c &c of that country : being the substance of the original work / by the late James Bruce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Misunderstanding with the J)ey respecting passes. quire a still greater variety of instruoients than he possessed, and the co-operations of some assistants, he wrote to Italy, particidarly for a small camera obscura, and for some young men acquainted with architecture and drawing; but one only, Luigi Batugani, a native of Florence, could be prevailed upon to engage in his service. His skill in drawing was very imperfect, but with Mr. Bruce’s instruction, he so far improved as to be of great use to him. When thus prepared, his journey into the' interior of Africa was for some tiiue retarded by a inisunder- standiiig* with the dey and government of Algiers respecting passports. The article in the treaty of peace and commerce between the British and Alge^ lines, which defines the passport to be carried by English ships in those seas, uses the words ‘‘ proper passes,” by which the Algerines were accustomed to understanci a printed paper issued by the Admiralty with a check like a bank note. A number of these ' passports fell into the hands of the French, when they took Minorca, in 1756, and were sold by them to the Spaniards and other enemies of the states of Barbary. In consqiience of this accident the gover» nors of Mahon, Gibraltar, and other British ports, furnished vessels with certificates, written on square jiieces of common paper, sealeti witii the arms of the governor, and signed by him and his secretary. These certihcaies, QdJi\ex\ pas^aoants, the corsairs could not read or distinguish, as they vvanted the check, and carried the vessels which bore them into Algiers as good prizes. When Mr. Brace claimed the ships, as was h's duty, he was immediately summoned before the* Hey and the divan. The former asked isim upon his word as a Christian and an Englishman whether the \yo\'d passctvant was to he found in any of our Ireaties with the Barharv states. As equivocation was useless, Mr. B nice admitted that these passes were not accord- ing tb treaty, and stated the circumstances wliicii had occasioned the adoption of this measure. On this the Dey,