The Country of the Blacks
⌘ Note from Beyond the Keep: Upon entry to the country, travelers must be cautious–this is a relatively unknown land and the journey to the largest cities in the country is grueling. “Takshif” is the name given to any man of the Massufah whom the people of the caravan hire to go ahead of them to Iwalatan with letters from them to their friends there, asking them to let houses to them and come four days’ journey to meet them with water. Anyone who has no friend in Iwalatan writes to a merchant there known for his benevolent character, who then enters into the same relationship with him” (282). As a renowned and worldly organization, Beyond the Keep has contacts all over the world, including in the Country of the Blacks. If you or your family does not have any known friends in Iwalatan (one of the first cities in the country), Beyond the Keep will set you up with one of our on-site contacts, and your group will be taken care of.
Destination Guide: Malli
Lay of the Land
Malli is the capital of the kings of the Blacks. It is home to a variety of people, including both blacks and whites, both rich and poor, and communities of multiple religions. Although there are many different types of people, the general culture of the country is not very impressive. Many of the city residents are known for their bad manners, contempt for white people, meagre hospitality and lack of worldly knowledge. Though there are certainly some residents who are better than others, travelers should not expect to be greeted as warmly as they have been in the past.
⌘ See & Do
Like in other destinations around the world, the people in Malli hold big feasts for sacrifice and Breaking the Fast. These feasts are mainly held for the Sultan, but they are beautiful to experience nonetheless–ceremonies involving splendid weapons, quivers of gold and silver, swords and scabbards ornamented in gold, spears of gold and silver, and maces of crystal are very exciting and mystifying to behold. During these feasts there are also poetry recitals which are lovely. So although these feasts may not be as impressive as those held in other destinations, they are a good activity for those who choose to visit Malli.
Malli is also home to a large population of hippopotamuses, which are large, horse-like animals who spend their time living in water and on land. Battutah describes them as “bigger than horses with manes and tails, their heads like horses’ heads, and their feet like elephants’ feet” (291). A day spent observing the hippos is one that might appeal to your family, especially if you are animal lovers. If you are interested in organizing a day trip to the countryside with a guide to enjoy the hippos, please contact our Bookings Team for more information.
Weekend Trips
Gawgaw is one of the biggest and best cities in the Country of the Blacks. It sits right on the Nile river and has a bounty of rice fields, curds, chickens, fish and other produce. This is a great place to experience local cuisine practices and observe the agricultural traditions of this country, as they are very different from those found in Northern Africa.
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