text:
Incidents Connected with the Life of Selim Aga, A Native of Central Africa
I n c i d e n t s
Connected with
The Life of Selim Aga
A Native of Central Africa.
8000.e.43
P. Pearson
F. Taylor
Mr. Bettridge
Yours with due respect
Selim Aga
Oct. 15th 1849
black slave
not in NOC
or BMC
the life of Selim Aga,
Dedicated to
Mrs. Thurburn of Murtle.
Published for the Author.
009761215✓
Dedication.
To Mrs. Thurburn.
Murtle, June, 1846.
Madam,—Having written a short account of some incidents connected with my life, I return my grateful and sincere thanks to you for the great interest you have taken in my education, by which means I have been brought from African darkness to a knowledge of the comforts of a civilized and social life. Hitherto, for these ten years, I have experienced your benevolent care and tuition, and have been elevated far above many of my poor countrymen, whose minds are lying with the dust. To whom should I ascribe this work, if not to the patroness of my education? To whom should I dedicate these incidents, if not to the guardian of my younger years? Yes, Madam; to you, and to you alone, I now acknowledge my gratitude for the many benefits which I enjoy. Although far distant from kindred and relations—although far from the care of an overlooking mother—I have found in you, Madam,
iv Dedication.
a truly good substitute for these wants. I have experienced your goodness in sending me to school, and putting me in the hands of one whose whole interest was absorbed in teaching the young idea how to shoot. In whatever my lot may be cast, I hope your private admonitions will render me impregnable when attacked by the many vices prevalent in the world.
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedt. Servant,
Selim Aga.
Preface, viii
Aga's Recollections—
Description of the Valley of Tegla and its Inhabitants, 11
Personal History—Youth and Premature Slavery, 17
Additional poems, 40
It is not the Author's intention to make great orations out of nothing, nor to picture the description of his country in eloquent language, but to give, in the form of recollections, a brief account of incidents connected with his own life. Having been urged by several friends to write an account of his life, he hopes that this small work will meet the approbation of all who read it. He will not fail, therefore, to make it as interesting as possible. The reader, however, must not expect something extraordinary when beginning to read this narrative. Great anxiety has been felt by geographical and other societies, to obtain an accurate knowledge
viii Preface.
of Africa and its products. Of these, the Author is sorry that he cannot satisfy his readers, having been taken away from his country at a very early age. Of all the quarters of the globe, Africa is the least known. Ignorance, barbarity, and superstition, prevail in its centre, and the unhealthy nature of its climate renders it almost impracticable for any European to travel into it, and satisfy an enquiring public. Taking a natural view of the country, it is barren, sandy, and mountainous, interspersed with a few green spots, called oases, or made fertile by the inundation of some river in the rainy season. Taking an artificial view of those regions, you will perceive nothing but a few small huts here and there, built by the inhabitants for their own accommodation. The Northern and Southern States can boast of a little civilization, being frequented
Preface. ix
and inhabited by the dwellers of the north temperate zone. In taking a political view of the centre of Africa, the enquirer will find the country divided into a number of small principalities, who maintain their dignity by making war against each other. The captives taken in these wars are sold as slaves, being purchased by Arabs and Turks on the east coast, and Spaniards, Portuguese, and Americans, on the west. Thus many of these poor creatures are brought to a level with the brute beasts, by the inhabitants of that federal government, (the United States), who pretend to profess the principles of freedom and Christianity in their truest light. The selling of these captives stimulates others to kidnap some of the poor natives, and carry on a brutal traffic in buying and selling human victims for the gratification of their own
x Preface.
ambitious propensities. In this manner the fate of the author was sealed. The author will proceed to detail the events of his history in the form of recollections.
Aga's Recollections.
Description of the valley of Tegla, and its inhabitants.
Surrounded by some beautiful mountain scenery, and situated between Durfur and Abyssinia, is a small valley going under the denomination of Tegla, or Tegeley. To this valley I stretch forth my affections, giving it the endearing appellation of my native home and father land. It was there that I was born; 'twas there that I received the fond looks of a loving mother; and it was there that I set my feet for the first time upon a world full of cares, trials, difficulties, and dangers. I cannot give the exact limits of the valley of Tegla. There were, however, three Chiefs who exercised power over its inhabitants. Mehemet Chammaroo (under whose government my father was) ruled the centre; while two other princes had the sway, one on each side. Like many of the regions bordering on the equator, the valley of Tegla is exposed to the excessive heat of the burning sun. Its seasons, properly speaking, can only be divided into two parts—the rainy and the dry season. In the rainy season
12 Aga's Recollections.
agriculture is carried on by the farmer on a very small scale—the only substitute for a plough being a long pole, with something similar to a shovel attached to the end of it. With this instrument the surface of the ground is broken, after which the seed (consisting of Indian corn and maize) is sown in small quantities at certain distances from each other. After it has grown a certain length, part of it is transplanted into different fields, thus giving the crop full scope and encouragement to grow. When the corn begins to change colour, the rainy season declines, till at length the refulgent rays of the sun perceive the inhabitant of the vale preparing to reap his harvest. The rain is over, the dry season is on; many begin to reap the fruits of their labour.*
My juvenile recollections did not bring the nature of the implements used for shearing. The shearers are not formed of a number of mercenaries, who expect to pocket shillings and half-crowns at the end of their period of labour; but such is the social nature of the people among themselves, that they exchange services with each other. A large concourse of them assemble
* How wisely has Providence ordered all things. The inhabitants of Egypt have no rain, and yet the river Nile has its yearly inundations. The rainy season in the valley of Tegla, and its neighbouring countries forms tributaries to the Nile; makes it overflow its banks; spreads fertility through the muddy soil of the country; and supplies its dependant natives with the necessaries of life.
Tegla and Its Inhabitants. 13
in the harvest field; and, in a very short time, the harvest is taken in. The day of shearing is generally ended with dancing, of which amusement they are very fond. The reader, perhaps, will inquire what sort of drink these dancers use? His mind will very likely answer, Jamaica rum, French brandy, or Irish whisky. But no; water is their chief drink. They have a thick intoxicating liquor, which they make from the Indian corn; but such a luxury is only used on extraordinary occasions. After all their harvest festivities are over, they give themselves up to all the indolent habits prevalent in these eastern countries; and lounge in their booths until the appearance of the skies proclaim the distant approach of the rainy season.
Widely different is the dry season, when compared with the rainy. In the dry season the inhabitant of the vale employs his time with various pursuits;* in the rainy, nothing but agriculture occupies his attention. In the dry season he has to dig wells to supply his household with water; in the rainy, he has only to go to the rivulets for that supply. The dry season carries off all traces of water; scorches all the grass and green trees; occasions deep chasms in the earth; and leaves the poor native nothing to depend upon but his industry in the rainy season. Indian corn, maize, and a flock of goats are generally
* Building, hunting, travelling, and warfare, generally in this season. Every grown up man is a warrior.
all his treasure. Money is not valued. The valley of Tegla boasts of no cows, although many are kept in its vicinity. Prince Chammaroo's dominions had only three wells. The different districts regularly awaited their turn in receiving a supply of water. The religion is Paganism, mixed with several Mahommedan rites, such as the shaving of their heads, circumcision, and fasting; but their chief attention is attracted to the sun, the moon, and stars.
About a month after the ceremony of circumcision, a number of young men convene at the house where the rite had been performed, and sally from thence through the country on hunting excursions. Everything falls a prey to the hunter's knife and spear; and on these occasions the poultry-yard suffers most, while the poor owners are mere lookers on at these depredations, it being deemed sacred to interfere with the behaviour of these young men. Fasting is also very strictly observed by the devotee, one month in the year being alloted for that purpose. Before daybreak, he rises and eats, and never again tastes anything, until the evening stars declare the shades of night, when he breaks his fast and retires to rest. The houses in the valley of Tegla are built in a style peculiar to themselves. Every room is built about ten or twenty yards from eaeh other, of a round form, with thatch roofs. The under part of the rooms are built of stones and mud; the roofs are thatched with the maize and Indian corn canes. Four or five rooms
form a respectable dwelling, the whole of which are enclosed by a wall about five feet high, thus leaving an open square in the centre. In the great heat of the dry season, this square is used by the indwellers for sleeping apartments, where they all lie down on the floor, and cover themselves with a large white sheet. If disturbed by any wild beasts during the night, they betake themselves to the inner rooms. My father's house consisted of two bedrooms, a kitchen, a mill room, and a goat room, or fold. Goats' milk is considered a very wholesome commodity; it has a pleasing sweet taste, which attracts the palate to it, and is said to possess a certain virtue in medicinal qualities. The junior male members of the family are employed in taking care of the flock. When a number of them are going in the same direction they mix their flocks together, and each in his turn mutually takes care of the whole flock till evening, when, by a cry peculiar to each goat-herd, his flock separates from the rest, and follows him. He then takes them home, gets them milked, and secures them in the fold. Those which are great favourites are generally taken into the sleeping apartments. The milk must not be allowed to stand till the middle of next day, else it would get quite sour. In order to prevent this catastrophe they either drink it or make butter of it. Their mode of churning is as follows:—
The gourd or calabash, which grows plentifully in these districts, is a plant something similar to
a melon plant. It's fruit is like a melon, but the inside is bitter. The gourd melons grow to different sizes, so that the natives make dishes and plates out of them, by cutting them into halves. The churn, however, requires a whole melon, and one of the largest is taken for that purpose. After a part of the pith is taken out, it is filled with water, and permitted to stand till the inside is quite rotten. It is then cleaned out, secured into a rope basket, suspended to the roof of one of the rooms, so as it can be reached by a person standing, and there it serves as a churn,—the dairymaid's work being to put the milk into it, and work it to and fro with her hands. No cream is extracted.
The butter is generally used for rubbing their skins; and very little clothing being used, many of them could be seen standing out in the sun like a number of polished statues. After washing themselves with water, they never think that they are complete till they rub some butter on their skins. The dress among the higher classes is a long wide gown, reaching to the ancles, and wide open sleeves, so as not to confine the wearer too much, and sandals on their feet. The lower classes, again, have a long wide plaid, which they tie round their body, and over one of their shoulders, leaving the other quite free; while in length it only reaches to the knees. This forms all their variety of dress.
Their food is entirely confined to the Indian corn, served up in different ways. They seldom
kill their goats for butcher meat, having a great desire to preserve a large stock.
Having given a short account of the customs of my native country, I shall now relate my own history.
Self-history.—Youth and premature slavery.
Youth is the period in which true happiness is enjoyed. It is the time when all trials and difficulties seem to lie in oblivion; and it is then that all principles can be instilled into the tender mind. The mind in youth is not prejudiced, builds many castles in the air although without any symptoms of ambition, is pleased and always desires to please. It is like the shoot of a tender flower ere its leaves expand. It is the germ on which strong propensities and sentiments are framed. It is in youth that the stronger faculties of the artist, the genius, and the mechanic are pictured. None of these propensities, however, were predominant in my mind while home was my residence. Being the oldest of the boys, my pride was raised to no small degree when I beheld my father preparing a farm for me. This event filled my mind with the grand anticipation of leaving the goats to my brother, who was then beginning to work a little. While my father was making these preparations, I had the constant charge of the goats; and being accompanied by two other boys who resided near
my father's house, we wandered many miles from home, by which means we acquired an acquaintance with the different districts of the country. 'Twas while in these rambles with my companions that I became the victim of the slaveholder. While tending our flock between two hills, we spied two men shaping their course towards us. They inquired whether we had any goats for them, a term quite common in that country. Our reply was, of course, in the negative; but they merely used this craft in order to deprive us of suspicion. Myself being nearest to them, I was firmly secured in their hands, and forced away whether I would or not.
On showing symptoms of resistance, one of them procured a green twig, and whipped me till the blood was falling in drops from my legs. After proceeding some miles, we came to a house, where I was tied with ropes hand and foot, and laid down to rest. Next morning, before dawn of day, my cruel master took the ropes off my legs, and, setting me on a certain direction, desired me to walk while he followed with a large whip. Terrified out of my judgment, I saw that there was nothing to be done but either do or suffer. I of course chose the former. This was rather a harsh treatment for a child of eight years of age. Commencing before sunrise, we continued our journey till the middle of the day, when we arrived at a village. This village went under the name of Tegla. At the village of Tegla my inhuman master disposed of me, and returned
The Village of Tegla. 19
home. On entering the house of my new master, what was my astonishment on seeing an old acquaintance there, a girl with whom I had an interview a few weeks previous. She, poor creature, had also fallen into the hands of the enemy only a few days before myself. This girl, whose name was Medina, admonished me on this occasion, telling me to do whatever I was desired, assuring me that the white man would not care for taking our lives, that the killing of us would not cost him a thought.
We were well secured with iron chains on our feet, and were never permitted to go far from the house. We could never fall upon plans for effecting our escape, although we often tried different means for that purpose. One night I managed to get the chains off my feet, and would have escaped had not the fear of being recaptured prevented me. Notwithstanding all the plans which Medina resorted to, she could not get the chains off her feet. A short time after this, a caravan (consisting of merchants and travellers) left the village of Tegla. With this caravan our master joined, and, after a day's journey, we arrived at a small village, where he was disappointed in his object, viz., the disposing of us into another's hands, therefore he had no other recourse but to return to his own country. Arriving at the village, we received the heart-rending intelligence that our friends had been in search of us, and were frustrated, having heard that we were taken to a distant land. Another caravan was soon
equipped for a farther distance. This was some four day's journey from the village of Tegla, to a large town called Kordofan, under the jurisdiction of the Pacha of Egypt. The first night we pitched our tents at a well of water, not having seen a single house on the whole of our journey. The second day we continued our journey till late at night, when we received the guidance of some light from a distant village, where we arrived and reposed ourselves. This village was called by the natives Albaharr, or, as seen on our maps, Albeit. The inhabitants are a people who might be distinguished among a thousand different nations. Such is their love of jewellery, that they wear rings on their nostrils as well as ears. Instead of horses, or donkeys, or camels, they ride upon bullocks, the noses of which are also adorned with rings, and to these the bridles are tied. We stayed a few days at this place, and shared the unfeigned hospitality of the people, who were uncommonly kind. During our stay here, Medina and I were taken to the camp of the Turks, not far away from the village, where we were put through different exercises. The first thing we were desired to do was to show our tongues, and then our teeth. The rest of our limbs underwent a serious examination also. Having undergone this examination, we were taken back to our lodgings again. The next day our master joined the Turks, who were returning to Kordofan, and by that means ensured our fate of never returning to our native country. In two days we
Kordofan. 21
reached the point of our destination, and there our master disposed of us to an Arab, with whom we lived but two or three days. From an Arab we fell into the hands of a Turk. My time while with the first three masters was employed doing nothing. The Turkish gentleman found work for every body; and all the testimony I can bear to his good character is, that he was one of the cruelest men in existence.
Being an officer of the rank of an aga , his men suffered many harsh cruelties under him. On one occasion, a soldier having been brought to his house for a small offence, he took the office of corporal; and commanding four men to hold him down, beat the poor man, till the blood was running from his cheeks. The keeper of his camels often suffered in a similar way. My office was what might be called a general house-servant. The duties of waiting the table, washing dishes, making coffee, and waiting for orders, were allotted to me as my share of the work. Medina was made assistant cook for a short time, but I had the disagreeable misfortune to see her sold to another Turk; thus I was left to suffer alone.
Some six months, however, relieved me of my hardships. To mention all the cruelties I suffered at that time, would be quite needless. I will only notify a few of them. My master, on whom I had continually to attend, punished every small fault with great severity. If he called, he said I ought to hear him at whatever distance I might be. At one time, being sent from home by my
mistress, my master interrogated me on my return with where have you been, and began to thrash me. Self-justification was of no use. No moderate blows did with him, for while he struck one side of my head, he met it at the other side also. I became almost insensible, while the blood was running out of my ears. At another time, having made some coffee by his own orders, I happened to make a few cups more than was required. He said nothing at the time; but after I was in bed, he got hold of a horse whip, and coming upon me unawares, thrashed me till I was quite speechless. I am persuaded he would have killed me had not one of the domestics heard my cries, and come to my rescue. Here I may mention that a very small child can stop a Mahomedan from revenging himself to too great an extent, by taking the whip, or whatever he uses, from him. One of the slaves was the means of preventing my master from whipping me any longer. In Kordofan the houses are all of one storey high. The part in which I lived was chiefly occupied by officers in the Pacha's service. My master was married, had two children, two female slaves, two males, and myself. The other two being grown-up men, were taken out to exercise along with the rest of the soldiers. When coming home from exercise, my master was sure to be heard crying my name a quarter of a mile's distance from the house, at which I had to run out to meet him and carry his sword home. These, and other sufferings of the like nature,
prepared me for my subsequent career, and fitted me for the journey on the desert. The circumstances which relieved me of my present master were as singular as the many unlooked-for whippings I received. One evening, when the sun was going down, and everything assuming the quietude of an eastern calm, a certain Arab came to our house, with whom I was desired to go and fetch some soap. I left everything behind me, and went on my supposed errand. Having arrived at the man's house, he asked my name, and told me that I was his property. I merely answered his reply by a look, for ere this time I had become quite regardless of my fate. My new master, whose name was Jubalee, was a native of Dongola, and had come to Kordofan on a trading excursion. He was in company with two others of the names of Auchmet and Mahomet from the same town. Mahomet, the youngest of the two, was a cruel monster, torturing and beating the slaves without any occasion. Auchmet was moderate. My master was of a quiet resigned temper, unless too much interfered with, and very seldom whipped any of his slaves. Having gathered six of us, they now thought of starting for their native country; and to this effect preparations were soon made. They procured four camels, a horse, and other necessaries for travelling, and started, shaping their course to the banks of the Nile. Travelling in these eastern countries is attended with many perilous situations, those engaged in it being exposed to
starvation from want of water, liable to be attacked by beasts which have reliquished their first subordination, and entirely under the mercy of the monsoons.*
Our journey (before reaching the banks of the Nile) occupied ten days. Many were the privations we suffered on our way, sometimes from the excessive heat of the sun, and sometimes from want of water. During the middle of the day, we were so much overpowered by the heat, that we often had to delay our journey. At another time we had to exist a whole day without water, under the following circumstances: The water camel, of which I had a particular charge, was going before all the rest, and, unfortunately came, upon a dead camel lying on the road. The sight and smell of this animal soon spirit-stirred it, and the result was, that it danced and ran through thick and thin till the water bags, which were hanging on each side of the saddle, were destroyed, having come in contact with some wood on the side of the saddle. Fortune, however, had not altogether turned her face from us, for, in the evening, we came to some wells, where we supplied ourselves and rested for the night. From this place we pursued our journey to the banks of the Nile, and pitched our tents in the valley of Senaar, only a short distance from the town. My master left me here with the old man, two
* A strong wind which raises the sand, by which means many have been buried alive in the eastern deserts.
Valley of Senaar. 25
of the slaves, and a camel. Taking with him Mahomet, and the rest of the travelling appendages, he went to the town of Senaar, and there stayed for about a fortnight. During the whole of my time here, I had very little to occupy me, so I ran about through the different places without the least danger of meeting with a second kidnap. The vale at that time was in its prime, the trees having on their coats of variegated green; the grass, the herbs, and flowers, in full bloom; in short, everything was so beautiful, that nature seemed to contradict the wickedness of the world. Happening one day to go to the river side, I observed something uncommon moving on the water, with some white sheets filled with wind, as I thought. I had a dish in which I intended to have carried some water home, but on seeing this curious spectacle approaching me, I took to my heels, and leaving the dish behind, presented myself almost breathless before the old man. On explaining to him the appearance of the sight I had seen, he reprimanded my silliness, and told me that it was a ship, assuring me that it would injure no person, provided the people on board kept quiet, so I went back for my dish. This was the first time I ever saw a ship. My master arriving from Senaar soon after, we started, with an additional number of merchants from the town, and proceeded to Dongola. These merchants were not possessed of slaves, but had a great number of camels, and horses, and donkeys, thus making a
formidable caravan. For three or four days we shaped our course along the banks of the Nile, under the direction of one of the native Arabs. At the end of that time, we prepared for a journey on the Libyan desert.
Our Arab guide now left us to pilot ourselves, and returned home. I was entirely deprived of a ride on any of the camels, being engaged in leading my old friend, the water camel, which was now turned into an hospital. One of the female slaves having grown ill with a mortal swelling in her thigh, could not walk, and, in consequence, I had to lead the camel on which she rode for nearly a month while crossing the desert. She grew worse and worse every day till she died, and was buried in the sand, without coffin or anything, while her death was not commemorated by the shedding of a single tear. Such are the horrors of the slave trade. Well do I remember the evening of her death. The sun was going down, the azure sky appeared to witness the end with calmness and composure, while the surrounding aspect threw a deep gloom over all our proceedings. I was thrown far behind the rest of the travellers; my fellow companion in slavery began to totter on her saddle, and death was soon announced by her falling from the camel. She was a native of Durfur,—a woman in the zenith of her life. The death of this unfortunate female put me in permanent possession of the camel during the remainder of the journey. By this time I became a great favourite with my master; and on one occasion
Journey to Dongola. 27
he broke his walking cane over the back of one of the slaves on account of having taken the chief seat on my camel from me. Constrained by sorrow afterwards, my master desired me not to tell how his cane was broken. From the tediousness of our journey, we were glad to see Old Dongola, which predicted our nearness to the point of our destination. This town is situate on the banks of the Nile, and is distinguished for its ruins. We stayed here a short time to recruit our strength, and then proceeded to New Dongola, along the river's banks. A few days saw us home, and on our arrival, the different masters separated, each taking a share of the spoil with him. Auchmet, the eldest, took two of the slaves and a camel; Jubalee took for his share three of the slaves—one having died in the desert; and Mahomet took the rest of the live stock. I was only a few days with my master at his home when I was purchased by Mahomet's father. Mahomet's father and mother were two aged persons, and wished me to be a companion to them while their son followed his occupation. But their next door neighbour having expressed a desire for me to keep his shop, I was accordingly sold to him. I did not like my new master so well as the two former ones,—he often behaving cruelly to his slaves. I was generally very fortunate in keeping out of the many whippings which the rest received. On taking me to his house, he gave me some meat, and immediately after took me to his shop, about half a
mile from the house. He was a dealer in all sorts of spices and gums,—the produce of the country. His shop was in one of the Dongola arcades, and was situated between a doctor's and a jeweller's. Besides myself, another young man, of the name of Salama, graced the shop door. Salama and I became great friends, and often went together to play by the water side. After the shop was shut one evening, we traced our steps, as usual, to the river's side, but what was my singular astonishment on perceiving a female at a distance whom I thought I knew. On going up to her, whom should I see but my old friend, Medina. Salama stood quite astonished when he heard her call me her brother. A small explanation, however, soon settled him. Medina took us to her master's house, and introduced us to her fellows, but our time being limited, we had to leave and get home as quick as possible, promising to return and see them again. This was a thing which we never accomplished while together, for Salama was sold soon after. A few days after this event, Salama and I happened to fall in with a pistol and some powder in the shop. Curiosity induced us to load it. Being the first time I had examined a pistol closely, I desired Salama to fire. He went to the window, and putting the mouth of it out to the open air, fired it off, and loaded it again, asking me to fire it off next. Instead of using the same precautions as he did, I fired it off in the shop, which caused a great smell of powder in the arcade. This induced
Dongola. 29
the neighbours to investigate every place closely, who found that the greatest smell proceeded from our shop. They accordingly took hold of Salama, and would have thrashed him had he not put the blame upon me. I now took to my heels and ran for it, but my limbs were not sufficient to escape so many pursuers in the arcade; in consequence I was captured, and received such a thrashing as I did not forget in a very short time. Luckily our master was away from the shop at the time of this occurrence. Contrary to our expectations, he only gave a laugh when he was informed of our conduct. Soon after our master found out that it was not adequate to keep two of us in the shop, and accordingly sold my friend, Salama. I was now obliged to deal alone among the spices. I made out to pay another visit to Medina, who always gave me a kind reception, and had a little more time to relate our respective histories. I found that I was with my seventh master, whilst she was only with her fifth. Our time being so uncertain, we always bid each other good bye for ever, and it proved so on this occasion. Two or three days after, my master brought a man to the shop, who carefully scrutinized me after the manner of the slave traders, and then I was desired to follow him as my future owner.
Without taking farewell of my fellow slaves who were at the house, I was obliged to abandon everything and follow him. Hemet Hether (for that was the man's name) was a person of a
pleasant countenance, a native of Berber, or as it is called by the inhabitants, Barbary. It is a small tract of country lying in the wilds of Upper Egypt, inhabited by a mild race of people, who addict themselves chiefly to agricultural interests. Hemet Hether took me by the hand and led me through the streets of Dongola to the suburbs of the town. We arrived at his brother's house, situate a few miles out of town, where two of his sons were waiting to receive us. I was put into a room where two other slaves were sitting, and with them I soon entered into conversation. The one was a boy the other a girl; the former from Durfur, the latter from Senaar. Our master was merely staying at his brother's for the purpose of gathering slaves, as his home was nearly a month's journey from Dongola, on the way to Cairo, a small village, called by the natives Goortie. Having gathered three of us, he and his sons now thought of going home, and began to prepare accordingly. We started on a morning when the sun was shining on the green fields of corn with bright illumination, and marched along till we found ourselves in a desert country. Before I left Dongola, my old master, Jubalee (having heard that a travelling merchant had bought me), came and gave my character as being an excellent traveller, and mentioned several incidents to ratify that belief on my present master's mind. For this reason I was entrusted with one of the camels. After going through the usual difficulties
to be expected in the desert, we arrived at Goortie. The many congratulations which my master received on this occasion were indescribable. His wife kissing him, with tears of joy in her eyes, his daughter clinging to his neck, and the neighbours shaking hands with him, all showed friendship in the superlative degree.
Here I write this small poem:—
Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear.
How can the mother's loving eye Part with the children whom she bore; Her sons are called, they'll not deny, To serve on some far distant shore. Swift time may soar on lofty wing, With patience yet she'll stand and bear; She knows they're gone to serve their king, "Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear."
How can the loving husband's eye Look from the wife he holds so dear: She soon his secrets does descry, He tells them all without a fear. But business calls him soon apart, From her he holds so dear and near; He near forgets her from his heart, "Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear."
But who can mark the sacred glance, Two lovers bear when doom'd to part; They part for months, for years, perchance, Far from those scenes which cheer the heart.
They wait fair fortune's future day, In hopes to meet some distant year; Tho' parted far, true love can say, "Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear."
Let such as court dear friendship's path, Pass happy days with friendship here; Let all forget the way to wrath, In mutual love let all adhere. Let those who cherish in their heart The thoughts—"Tho' absent, ever dear," Remember that although they part, "Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear."
The time had not arrived when slave-dealers went to Cairo to dispose of their slaves, in consequence we had to stay at Goortie for three months, during which time I was employed in doing sundry things. First of all, I was sent to live with a friend of my master's, who behaved very kindly to me. Here I had to take care of some cows, while the man's two sons attended to the lands of the farm, which were between three and four miles from the house. About six miles from Goortie, my master married a young woman, with whom I was soon taken to live. In many of the eastern countries, and particularly Egypt, a man is not confined to one wife, but can keep as many as his abilities will allow him. My master's recent marriage was the cause of raising a deal of jealousy on the part of the old one. He chiefly resided at the house he had built for the former, and when the latter met
Gourtie. 33
him they were sure to quarrel about something or other. On one occasion, being sent with some corn to the old lady's, on a donkey's back, she would not allow me to empty the sacks, so I had to stand for about half a day to await my master's arrival. On his coming up to me, he asked me why I did not empty the sacks? I told him my reason; after which he went into the house, and a quarrel ensued. The neighbours gathered about the house, and tried to prevent the quarrel; but, my master being in a passion, they found great difficulty in getting him quieted. After he had broken a great number of things, they managed to get him out of the house, and I obtained liberty to empty my sacks and return home. My master also returned to his new wife's, and never went back to Goortie, till within a few days of leaving for Cairo. The slave-ship landed in its season at Goortie, and took us on board. We arrived at the first cataracts of the Nile, and it being impracticable for the ship to proceed farther, we had to change our quarters. The masters busied themselves looking out for another ship to contain their menagerie of human beings. For this purpose we had to travel by land, and finally to sleep on land, before embarking again. Our new ship was a small one, and could not contain all our luggage without a crush; in consesequence, some of the slaves sickened, and were paid for their trouble by receiving a good flogging. After a fortnight had elapsed, we landed within a few miles of Cairo, in order to make ourselves
look as fresh as daisies before entering the city. From this place we were made to march in military order. The grown up slaves led the van, and I, along with other young ones, marched in the rear, while our masters kept on the flanks. On reaching the entrance to the royal city, we were all counted by a man appointed for that purpose, who found that there were forty of us and ten masters. As soon as the counting was over, each master took his slaves and separated. Our master took us to an acquaintance of his, where he disposed of us, one after the other, but not before two months elapsed. We were regularly taken and exhibited in the slave market, where purchasers came to pick and choose. The grown up ones soon went off, while the small live stock remained for a long time in the market. A month after, my master shifted to another part of the town, a place near the barracks of Cairo. Here there were several of his countrymen, (under the employ of the Pacha ,) whose duty it was to keep the gate of a manufactory of sundry wares. In this place he left me, and went away, but where I could not tell. A week or ten days after he returned for me, and took me to my old quarter, the slave market, where he soon disposed of me. My ninth master was a European gentleman, of the name of P——. With Mr. P—— I only lived a fortnight, when I was dispatched (under charge of a Turk) down to Alexandria. The next master into whose hands I fell was R—— T——, Esq., British Consul in Egypt. Having fallen
Cairo. 35
into the hands of a British gentleman, I now thought that I was lost, having heard so many Mahommedan prejudices against Christians. Contrary to my expectation, however, I was treated with the greatest clemency, received many indulgences which I never met with before, and what completed my happiness was the pains which Mr. L——, my master's son-in-law, took in learning me to read and write. When he found it impossible to teach me himself, the duty devolved upon Mrs. S——, the housekeeper. I found much gratification in this novel treatment, and expected to know great things by it. Mrs. L., who took great charge of me, never failed in seeing that I was comfortable. While all the African formalities were exchanging for European fashions, four months elapsed, after which the family sailed up the Nile to the first cataracts, taking me, and Mrs. S——, and an Italian servant, of the name of Jacquomo. The first cataracts are about 400 miles from Alexandria. A whole month was spent in going and coming back from the cataracts; and the objects which occupied the particular attention of the family were the ancient buildings then standing in ruins. On the left bank of the Nile, and at some distance from Cairo, the Egyptian pyramids present a huge spectacle, having the appearance of small hills. These and many other edifices were built in the distant ages of antiquity, when the Egyptian monarchy flourished under its native dynasty. It is now a country ruled by a despotic viceroy.
The native Egyptians are a quiet, inoffensive people, rather darker than the decendants of Ishmael, and still devote their time to learning, not seeming to have forgot the noble propensities of their ancestors. Architecture had been carried to its highest eminence by the Egyptians three thousand years before the Christian era. The ruins are scattered throughout the whole country. There are several old ruins at the cataracts, and these, along with the waterfalls, form the most romantic scenery imaginable. On our way home, the family visited Thebes and other places of antiquity. Arriving at Alexandria, my master, along with Mr. [L.] and Mrs. L., soon prepared for another journey. Taking Mr. [S.] and Mrs. S—— with them, they took the steamer to Malta. This was the first steam-boat I ever had been in, and was curious to know how the vessel went without sails. I asked one of the sailors, who explained the whole mystery by telling me that it went upon wheels. Five days and five nights on the Mediterranean brought us to Malta—a beautiful island, under the British Government . During our quarantine at Lazarett, my master sent Mr. [S.] and Mrs. S—— by a vessel bound for England, while we were confined for three weeks at this place previous to our entering the town. No foreigner is allowed to go to the town of Malta without riding quarantine for a certain length of time. Our time elapsing in this place of confinement, the family went to the town, stayed a short time there, and then set sail for Messina, in Sicily,
37 To England.
but the sea grew so boisterous that the vessel (which was but a small one) had to return to Malta again. I had fallen asleep during the night, and was not aware of our return till morning. When I went on deck I learned that the family had gone ashore during the night, while the sailors, who were all Maltese, told me that they were desired to remunerate their toils by appropriating me to themselves. I began to cry, and and could not be pacified till they assured me to the contrary. They gave me some breakfast, and two of them (who had received previous instructions) took me to my master.
In a short time after, we again set out to Messina in a larger ship; and, after two days sail, arrived safe at the long-looked-for place. At Messina my master's nephew (Mr. H—— T——) awaited our arrival, and took us to his house. Here we stayed for sometime, and then went to Naples, where my master left Mr. [L.] and Mrs. L——, and proceeded to England. Having left Naples in the evening, the Italian steamer sailed the whole night; and next day, by twelve o'clock, landed us at Leghorn, and there we had to fork for our dinner on shore. Although we were taken on board upon condition of getting everything, they played us the same trick at two other places. When the vessel arrived at Genoa, my master betook himself to inland travelling, wishing to cross the continent, and sail over the channel to England. In pursuance of this scheme, he got a carriage from
Genoa to Milan. In the suburbs of Milan my master was met by Mr. J—, another son-in-law. After staying a short time here, we left for England. Mr. J. also left his family and accompanied my master. We traversed the continent, and parmanently crossed the channel from Rotterdam to London.
Having entered Britain, I shall now celebrate the occasion by writing an ode to the country to which many of my countrymen owe their freedom, and liberty of conscience:—
Ode to Britain.
Surrounded by the foaming surge, The Queen of land and sea; For who can boast of Nelson's arms, Or Wellington's, as thee.
Britain, thou land of peace and joy, How strong thy bulwarks are; Thou standest far above the world, And that without a par.
All nations do thy seamen fear, Thy ships they see with awe; Allegiance, too, and homage pay, As e'er fair Albion saw.
Thy vet'rans prove a fatal scourge, To those who thee offend; To those who court thy shelt'ring arms, Protection dost extend.
Ode to Britain. 39
Thou wavest high the flag of fame, Liberty is thy theme, And while the exile seeks thy shore, Salvation dost proclaim.
They hail thee as the stranger's home, The freedom of the slave; Thy motto is—"Where'er I go, "The captive I will save."
The ancient empires, what were they, When thus compared with thee? The powers of Media, Greece, and Rome, Thy fame did never see.
Addtional Poems.
The sky.
Methinks, when I the world behold, What things this earth is made to hold, Creation has not spared her pains, To show the powers of Him who reigns.
The light blue and transparent sky, Tells man his mind to lift on high, And bids him view the ethereal light, "That beams upon his ravish'd sight."
The sun, by day, with ardent mirth, Glows on the cold unfeeling earth: The moon and stars begin their sway, And shed their light till morning day.
O look to that palacious view, Which stands in colours red and blue; Resign thy fate submissively To Him who lives above the sky.
No human fiends there can we fear; No earthly foes above that sphere. But He who reigns in yonder realm Wields care's crown with a mercy's helm.
Additional Poems. 41
Battle of Gwalior.
'Twas when the shades of ev'ning fell On India's lofty hills of snow: That eve the minds will ne'er forget Of those who have escap'd the blow.
'Twas on that eve that Gough did say, Prepare to fight whene'er you start, For we will seize Gwalior's fort: Maharajpoor shall know we're smart.
As soon's the morn began to dawn Each soldier stood with sword in hand Resolved to fight with all his might Or die upon a foreign land.
In columns three they stood array'd With all their force to face the foe; From high Gwalior's fort look'd down, And threw her balls on them below.
Brave Thacwell stood, and at the head Of the first column did command, Valiant, with grace, the second took, While Dennis at the third did stand.
They fought with might and eager true For Britain's fame and Britain's name, Till they beheld Maharajpoor Invested with a fire and flame.
The guns were then to silence called, Each man to charge with sword in hand With bay'nets fix'd they did advance, And shook Gwalior's fort and land.
42 Aga's Poems.
Gwalior yielded power to them, Maharajpoor a treaty sign'd, The British march'd within their bounds, And left the conquer'd all behind.
Eclipse of the moon.
Led by ambition's mighty force, A friend and I did take our course To view the eclipse upon the moon: We wished to see ere late or soon.
We walked with slow and gentle pace; Perceived darkness on the moon's trace. Nought we saw but the cloudy sky; Nought we heard but the Zephyr's sigh.
All nature lay without alarms, Wrapt silently in Morpheus' arms. Nocturnal bliss had lull'd to rest The chirps of the robin red breast.
While thus our thoughts did wander o'er Proud nature's wide creative power, We saw as if reluctantly The moon peep through the cloudy sky.
Far through the azure of the sky She stood downcast and ghastly shy. One minute pass'd and she was gone Behind her cloudy misty throne.
Aga's Poems. 43
The seasons.
In winter's freezing frost and wind How sad the hills and mountains stand, While ice and snow do fill the plains, And seal the wide and mighty strand.
The rivers look with mournful gaze; The hills return their woeful song. Why does the sun refuse to shine, And leave us pedling in the throng?
Up starts nature and exclaims, Why do ye look so sour and sad? The sun will come and bring again With him the warm luxuriant plaid.
The voice of spring is heard afar Proclaim the sun and summer nigh, While all the birds do sing with joy, And soar with grace along the sky.
The trees begin to flourish green; The flowers appear above the ground; The sun shines with glittering rays, Diffusing mirth to all around.
Clad with a light translucent robe, The God of summer glides along. His "cheering" breath and "glad'ning" rays Give life and health to weak and strong.
See how the stream glides in the vale To join the sea with rapid pace. The fruit begins to ripen fast; The flowers bloom with lovely grace.
But hark! who comes with sheaf of corn Wrapt round her head with grapes so fine? Ah! 'tis Pomona in her prime, Godess of harvest and the vine.
The winter comes, when she departs; The spring it bids the birds to sing; While summer days with mirth return, Autumnus tries the fruit to bring.
W. Bennett, printer, Aberdeen.
Author(s) & contributor(s): Selim Aga
Date(s): 1846
Form & transmission history: Autobiographical narrative, as self-published by author in book form.
Original publication details: Selim Aga, Incidents Connected with the Life of Selim Aga, A Native of Central Africa (Aberdeen: W. Bennett, 1846).
Critical editing & encoding: Apex Data Services, Inc., Elizabeth S. Wright, Celine Noel, Wanda Gunther, Heather F. Ball, Adrian S. Wisnicki
Cite this digital edition (MLA): Aga, Selim. "Incidents Connected with the Life of Selim Aga, A Native of Central Africa" (1846). Apex Data Services, Inc., Elizabeth S. Wright, Celine Noel, Wanda Gunther, Heather F. Ball, Adrian S. Wisnicki, eds. One More Voice, new dawn edition, 2021, https://onemorevoice.org/html/transcriptions/liv_020050_TEI.html.
Rights: 2021: Critically-edited text copyright One More Voice. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. 2003: Published by the Academic Affairs Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. No Copyright - United States.
Explore complete/original item: Documenting the American South
Production note: The editors produced this edition through a rigorous process that involved using the following workflow: 1) Convert PDF of original document via OCR to Word; 2) Convert Word to XML; 3) Proofread XML against PDF of original document; and 4) Edit and encode XML using the One More Voice coding guidelines (PDF). However, users are encouraged to consult the original document if possible.


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WARSAW, Ind., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to stockholders for the first quarter of 2012. Zimmer's Board of Directors also has authorized a new share repurchase program.
The initial quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share will be paid on or about April 27, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 30, 2012. Future declarations of dividends are subject to approval of the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.
In the past year, Zimmer has demonstrated its commitment to pursue strategic growth opportunities through external development by completing three acquisitions — Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co., Ltd., Sodem Diffusion S.A., and ExtraOrtho, Inc. Since 2005, the Company also has returned considerable value to stockholders through approximately $4.5 billion of share repurchases.
The new share repurchase program authorizes purchases of up to $1.5 billion of the Company's common stock through December 31, 2014. No further purchases will be made under the earlier program, which authorized purchases through December 31, 2013.
Repurchases under the program may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, depending on market conditions and other factors. The Company had approximately 179.2 million shares of common stock outstanding as of October 26, 2011.
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2010 sales were approximately $4.2 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "assumes," "guides," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in our periodic reports. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.


In order to improve long-term student outcomes, policymakers must establish a data system that connects K-12 schools to community colleges and four-year universities, according to a report released last week by the Public Policy Institute of California.
"Right now, California's education data systems are fragmented," Jacob Jackson, a PPIC research fellow, said during a presentation on the report. "Without connecting this data across systems we don't have a full picture of a student's development.
PPIC's research is the second analysis from a major academic institute to reach the same conclusion after studying California's school data systems.
Earlier this year in a report published by a team of scholars affiliated with Stanford University, who found that the state's cumbersome and unorganized data management system hinders the ability of policymakers to make even the most fundamental decisions regarding California's school performance.


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text:
Speech Graphics secures £2m for 'game-changing' US growth
Michael Berger (left) and Gregor Hofer (right), co-founders of Edinburgh-based Speech Graphics are reaching a new level with expansion into the US and customer service markets. Picture: Contributed
HANNAH BURLEY
An Edinburgh-headquartered firm specialising in facial animation is setting its sights on "game-changing" developments in the customer service market following a multi-million pound investment.
Tech company Speech Graphics is targeting the customer service sector's intelligent visual assistant market, estimated to be worth more than £8 billion in the next six years, on the back of a £2 million funding injection.
The firm, a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh founded in 2010, provides real-time audio-based facial animation and lip sync technology, which has featured in video games such as the newly launched Lara Croft adventure, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and music videos by artists including rapper Kanye West.
Working from its California base in the San Francisco Bay area, Speech Graphics will use the funding boost to build a software platform which will support the creation of emotionally responsive avatars capabale of engaging in real-time conversations with customers. It claims its technology introduces an "emotional connection currently lacking in existing artificial intelligence (AI) platforms used in customer service".
The investment was raised from business angel syndicate Archangels, venture capital firm Par Equity and Scottish Enterprise's investment arm, Scottish Investment Bank (SIB).
According to data from Grand View Research, the intelligent virtual assistants market is expected to grow from $750m (£538m) to some £8.8bn by 2024.
Gregor Hofer, co-founder and chief executive of Speech Graphics, said: "This is an exciting time for Speech Graphics as we realise our strategic vision of expanding into the US, taking our revolutionary technology into the customer service realm with the funding from Archangels, Par Equity and SIB.
"Today, the consumer expects round-the-clock customer service. Intelligent virtual assistants may seem like the answer but we also expect service with a smile. A smile you can believe in."
Co-founder and chief technology officer Michael Berger said the company's experience in achieving animated faces with a "real" feel in video games will transfer well to the customer services sector. He added: "We succeed in creating the illusion that the animated face you see on the screen is the source of the sound you hear.
"Speech is not just about lip sync, it's also about energy and emotion in the voice that need to come across perfectly in the face.
"We were proud to add the Lara Croft Tomb Raider game to our distinguished track record in the entertainment sector, which demands the highest quality output.
"That proven tech now allows us to bring the same emotional connection to customer service applications where it is sorely needed."
David Ovens, chief operating officer at Archangels, said Speech Graphics "could be a game changer" for the customer service experience.
Scottish Lotto syndicate plays happy families with £1m triumph
He said: "The core technology created by Speech Graphics is already market-leading in the gaming industry and we look forward to supporting the business to achieve its global ambitions."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to prevent Magento to generate urls for disabled categories? Using Magento 1.9.x
I have a lot of disabled categories that I'm utilizing in my store to view specific products on Magento frontend.
Magento creates Urls for those disabled categories with and products are assigned to them.
I have this setting "Use Categories Path for Product URLs" as No
Any suggestion on how to prevent Magento stop generating URL for disabled categories would be helpful.

A: I believe this patch does it
https://www.dnd.fr/2012/09/magento-patch-how-to-optimize-re-index-processing-time-for-url-rewrite/
Test on a dev store first

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Fifth Harmony Lauren Jauregui Arrested Caught with Drugs at Airport Full Details :- Member of popular female music group Fifth Harmony 'Lauren Jauregui' has been arrested on Tuesday night at Dallas Airport when she was about to board a flight for Brazil suddenly security officials there conducted a search on her and she was found in possession of a bag full of Marijuana in her luggage. Now the group will perform without Lauren at the concer in Brazil and yet there was been no statement came from the Group also from the security officials.
As per a police insider : "Lauren was stopped at a TSA checkpoint and forced to submit to a secondary search, when a TSA staffer found what appeared to be a bag of marijuana in her carry-on luggage.
It will be very interesting to see what will be the future repercussions Lauren Jauregui will face after this incident.


text:
Researchers list '7 chemical separat ...
28-Apr-2016 - Georgia Institute of Technology
Researchers list '7 chemical separations to change the world'
Thermally-based industrial chemical separation processes such as distillation now account for 10 to 15 percent of the world's annual energy use. Slaking the global thirst for energy could therefore get a substantial boost from improved technologies for producing fuels, plastics, food and other products with reduced inputs of energy.
In a comment article published April 26 in the journal Nature, two researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggest seven energy-intensive separation processes they believe should be the top targets for research into low-energy purification technologies. Beyond cutting energy use, improved techniques for separating chemicals from mixtures would also reduce pollution, cut carbon dioxide emissions - and open up new ways to obtain critical resources the world needs.
Technologies applicable to those separation processes are at varying stages of development, the authors note. These alternative processes are now under-developed or expensive to scale up, and making them feasible for large-scale use could require a significant investment in research and development.
"We wanted to highlight how much of the world's energy is used for chemical separations and point to some areas where large advances could potentially be made by expanding research in these areas," said David Sholl, one of the article's authors and chair of Georgia Tech's School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. "These processes are largely invisible to most people, but there are large potential rewards - to both energy and the environment - for developing improved separation processes in these areas."
In the United States, substituting non-thermal approaches for purifying chemicals could reduce energy costs by $4 billion per year in the petroleum, chemical and paper manufacturing sectors alone. There's also a potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 100 million tons per year.
"Chemical separations account for about half of all U.S. industrial energy use," noted Ryan Lively, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and the article's second author. "Developing alternatives that don't use heat could dramatically improve the efficiency of 80 percent of the separation processes that we now use."
Dubbed the "seven chemical separations to change the world," the list is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes:
Hydrocarbons from crude oil. Hydrocarbons from crude oil are the main ingredients for making fuels, plastics and polymers - keys to the world's consumer economy. Each day, the article notes, refineries around the world process around 90 million barrels of crude oil, mostly using atmospheric distillation processes that consume about 230 gigawatts of energy per year, the equivalent of the total 2014 energy consumption of the United Kingdom. Distillation involves heating the oil and then capturing different compounds as they evaporate at different boiling points. Finding alternatives is difficult because oil is complex chemically and must be maintained at high temperatures to keep the thick crude flowing.
Uranium from sea water. Nuclear power could provide additional electricity without boosting carbon emissions, but the world's uranium fuel reserves are limited. However, more than four billion tons of the element exist in ocean water. Separating uranium from ocean water is complicated by the presence of metals such as vanadium and cobalt that are captured along with uranium in existing technologies. Processes to obtain uranium from sea water have been demonstrated on small scales, but those would have to be scaled up before they can make a substantial contribution to the expansion of nuclear power.
Alkenes from alkanes. Production of certain plastics requires alkenes - hydrocarbons such as ethane and propene, whose total annual production exceeds 200 million tons. The separation of ethene from ethane, for instance, typically requires high-pressure cryogenic distillation at low temperatures. Hybrid separation techniques that use a combination of membranes and distillation could reduce energy use by a factor of two or three, but large volumes of membrane materials - up to one million square meters at a single chemical plant - could be required for scale-up.
Greenhouse gases from dilute emissions. Emission of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons such as methane contribute to global climate change. Removing these compounds from dilute sources such as power plant emissions can be done using liquid amine materials, but removing the carbon dioxide from that material requires heat. Less costly methods for removing carbon dioxide are needed.
Rare earth metals from ores. Rare earth elements are used in magnets, catalysts and high-efficiency lighting. Though these materials are not really rare, obtaining them is difficult because they exist in trace quantities that must be separated from ores using complex mechanical and chemical processes.
Benzene derivatives from each other. Benzene and its derivatives are essential to production of many polymers, plastics, fibers, solvents and fuel additives. These molecules are now separated using distillation columns with combined annual energy usage of about 50 gigawatts. Advances in membranes or sorbents could significantly reduce this energy investment.
Trace contaminants from water. Desalination is already critical to meeting the need for fresh water in some parts of the world, but the process is both energy and capital intensive, regardless of whether membrane or distillation processes are used. Development of membranes that are both more productive and resistant to fouling could drive down the costs.
Sholl and Lively conclude the paper by suggesting four steps that could be taken by academic researchers and policymakers to help expand the use of non-thermal separation techniques:
In research, consider realistic chemical mixtures and reflect real-world conditions,
Evaluate the economics and sustainability of any separation technique,
Consider the scale at which technology would have to be deployed for industry, and
Further expose chemical engineers and chemists in training to separation techniques that do not require distillation.
David S. Sholl & Ryan P. Lively; "Seven chemical separations to change the world"; Nature; 2016
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The Poznan Armia head to Zielona Gora in western Poland Sunday March 24 to face the Zielona Gora Wataha in the opening round of Poland's Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego, LFA.
Shannon O'Brien is the new head coach of Poznan. The club has opted to play without imports for 2019 and could be in for a long season.


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How To Embed Google 360 Virtual Tour On Your Website
Jason Moss:
Hey, Jason Moss here. And today I'm going to show you how to embed a Google three 60 tour on your website, okay. For your customers to view. It's pretty simple. So take a look. The first thing you're gonna want to do is go to Google and just search your business, okay? For this example, we're going to be using a subzero, a showroom that's out up in Chicago. This isn't one of my clients or anything is just an example, okay? So once you do the Google search, a lot of times on the right hand side, you will have the Google my business knowledge panel show up, okay? Now this is what you don't want to do, okay? You don't want to click on see photos and come over to this area, okay? Because if you're looking here, like this is a three 60 photo right here, you'll see at the top, there's no there, there's no options, there's no share options, there's no embed options.
You can't right click or anything to get other options. What you're looking for is three little dots up here, next to this name, okay? So what you have to do is this. All right, come back to that search page. All right, your normal Google search page, you're going to want to click on maps, okay, we have to go over to the maps section of Google. All right, so when you do that, you're going to have the knowledge panel come up over here. All right, and now once you're in this area, you just scroll on down to their photo section, okay? You can click on one of the three 60 photos or just click on photos here. All right, and when this pops up here, this little icon in the bottom left of photos means it's a three 60 photo. You can also click on this area three 60 view.
Now the first photo that you want to show up on your website, like a, the beginning of the tour is the one that you want to find on here. Okay? Now I haven't gone through this entire tour. I don't know which one is the beginning of the tour. So that's really up to you to find, but let's just choose this one here. Okay, so we're on this photo and at the top left here you will notice that now we have those three dots. We have options here. So when you click it, you have options for print, report, a problem or share or embed image, and that is exactly what we want to do. We want to embed this image, so we click on that. Click on embed a map. All right, we have this pop up and then we have our source code. All right, well you can click on copy HTML or right click copy, however you want to do it.
Just copy it. All right, now you go over to your website. Okay, and this is just an example website that I'm just playing around with. All right? But we're going to embed it on this page. So, and I use WordPress. You might use something else. It's kind of all the same process. We just need to embed that HTML on that page. So I'm going to just drop it right here in the text area, not the visual side. If you're using WordPress, you want to use it on the tech side, drop it in, paste. There's our code, and that's how it's gonna render. So if we go back, let's update this and go and look at this page here. Now the tour is embedded on this webpage. Okay, very simple. And this is the starting page. And since this tour was made, the only pictures that are going to be available inside this embedded object are those two or pictures. So as you go through the tour,
Everything works. Everything is beautiful. You can even make it full screen. I mean, this is all hosted by Google, so it's not slowing down your website or anything like that. Everything works like it should. All right, so very, very simple. If you want to, you know, play around with this, of course, you know, the size of it you can go back to like that the code and you can just simply change the width and the height of it, you know, and play around with it and make it as big or as small as you want. But yeah, it's just like embedding any other map that you might embed or a YouTube embed code or anything like that. It's, it's very, very simple. Just make sure when you're doing it, go over to the maps section so you can get those three dots to get that embed code. But I hope that makes sense. If you have any questions about it, leave a comment below. I'm happy to help. Thanks.
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Scarecrows descend on Schomberg
Schomberg will see an influx of visitors this weekend, but they're a little lifeless.
The Schomberg Village Association presents its 8th annual Schomberg Scarecrow competition.
It began in 2006 and has become a very popular family event, and now many other activities in Schomberg occur on that same weekend. The 5th annual Street Gallery takes place this weekend, too.
The competition is fun for all, and people enjoy making them especially if they do it together as a group of family or friends and neighbours. The scarecrow can be made of any medium, and a wonderful way to advertise a business, group or organization or just be anything made by an individual or family. The only limits are your imagination.
There are prizes to be won, but most important are bragging rights, and if you are a winner of the family category you have the honor of turning on the Christmas lights on Main Street, the week before the annual yuletide celebration, "A Main St. Christmas."
There is plenty of "how to" information on the website, and it really doesn't take that long to make one. Two people can create a masterpiece in a matter of hours.
There are also many photos for inspiration and ideas on the website.
Official judging is on Saturday morning and winners will be decorated by early afternoon and prizes given and announced at the Community Bonfire at approximately 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. There is also a People's Choice award where visitors can vote for their favourite, until 5 p.m. on the Sunday. Look for the orange boxes on Main Street.
Hope you join in and make this the best scarecrow competition yet! Make a scarecrow, view the other scarecrows and vote for your favourite!
To register yours visit www.schombergscarecrows.com or visit the Schomberg Library. Call Cheryl Fisher at 905-939-8494 for full details.
Mizzoni sizzles with his best album to date
Following up on worldwide exposure for his 2019 hit, King's Len Mizzoni will release what he calls his best album so far. The prolific songwriter and musician is thrilled with "Forever" and its single "It's You Always been You." The album is set for a Feb. 3 release. Mizzoni said this album is a mixed bag – everything you could want in terms of adult contemporary tunes.
King philanthropist focused to start new decade on serious note
A King-based philanthropist and influencer is starting a new decade on a serious note. Joan Kelley Walker is intent on leading by example, never forgetting about the numerous charities she supports.
Local doctor delivers vision care to the needy
Dr. Sonia Postiglione's resolution for the new year is to deliver 20-20 vision to people who don't have access to it. It's not a mere coincidence that it's the year 2020. The optometrist has been collecting old glasses since September in preparation for an upcoming trip to Chinandega in Nicaragua, where she joins a team of professionals on a mission to provide corrective vision to those in need.
Residents spring into action to help wounded deer
A local doctor didn't think twice about rescuing a wounded deer. The incident occurred Nov. 16 at roughly 8 p.m. on King Road, east of Highway 27. Dr. Brian Van Arem just left his equine veterinary practice at Woodbine Racetrack when he came across a number of vehicles pulled over to the side of the road. "As I passed I saw that a deer had been hit by a car and was lying between the vehicles. I pulled over and was told by the bystanders that a deer had been hit and the vehicle had left the scene. The deer was in shock and was unable to stand."
King City Secondary students give back
tudents at King City Secondary School took time to give back to their community and help those in need for the holiday season. The ESP Team ran two events simultaneously: a fundraiser for Yellow Brick House and a homeroom challenge for Socks for Souls.
Increase in water rates necessary for cost-recovery
Water rates are going up again in King in 2020, and some residents aren't too happy about it. A staff presentation at council Dec. 2 revealed the rate hikes coming in the new year are the result of a multi-year phased increase by the Region of York. Municipalities are being encouraged to make their water and wastewater services pay for themselves. Mandates from the Province have added to the burden, which is being passed on to homeowners.
King adopts corporate energy plan
ing Township has approved its ambitious corporate energy management and conservation plan, complying with provincial regulations. But the move to set the corporate target at 35% reduction through 2030 was seen by the public as a step backwards, and a retreat from council's previously set goal of 45%.
Local jazz artist marks first anniversary on Jazz FM91
A King jazz artist has been dishing out jazz like home-made New Orleans delicacies for just over a year. And he can't be more pleased. Ron Littlejohn of Snowball is the voice behind "The Gumbo Kitchen" on Jazz FM 91.
King artist Panopoulos reinvents historic monoliths
A King artist's imagination is sparked by the "mystery of history." John Panopoulos takes his direction from the past, those faint whispers that reverberate around some of humankind's most amazing, and often mysterious, monoliths.
Hush blankets ensure comfort and a good night's sleep
We are stressed for many reasons. People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and sleep quality has decreased as well.
Let's clean up our act, before the Messiah arrives
Just when did we begin to lose faith? It's no secret that Christianity has been waning, slowly slipping year after year. In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade.
Making plans and taking steps to self-improvement
We humans tend to make a lot of noise, whether standing or sitting. I wonder how the world would sound if you eliminated all of the chatter, voices, and human utterances. Eerie, or soothing? Fireworks accompanied most new year's celebrations and they date back thousands of years as ancient Asian cultures used firecrackers, fireworks and guns – loud noises of any kind – to frighten away dark spirits.
Why do we do what we do on a daily basis?
Why? Now there's the question for all of human existence. But really, this is a question most of us should ask ourselves on a daily basis.
Canadians not taking much-needed vacation time
Canadians are a proud bunch. We're decent folks and yet we just don't understand how important it is to take time off.
Consumers share the blame for climate change
Human beings are experts at turning a blind eye to really important issues. We're quite proficient at ignoring facts, twisting truths, spinning and even altering our own perception. Climate change is nothing new and yet we're still not frantically ringing the alarm bells. Or is that we're just not listening?
Goodwill towards children is imperative
As we enter the holiday season, we should talk the talk when it comes to extending goodwill toward others, especially children. Most of us would agree there's nothing on this planet as beautiful as the wide-eyed wonderment of kids on Christmas. Priceless.
Food accessibility should be everyone's right
Despite our vast array of accomplishments and our position at the top of the food chain, our world is still burdened by hunger. Haile Selassie once said that we all seek a world in which we are free and free from the burdens of hunger, disease, poverty and ignorance.
We are unique, but are we irreplaceable?
Who am I and what do I mean to you? This was the opening line of a piece of high school prose I wrote several decades ago. It still has meaning today. It's a sort of self-reckoning, and self-evaluation of one's worth or place in the cogs of the massive wheel of life.
Reality sometimes sucks, that's just the way it is
How often have you used the saying "that's just how it is?" It has always been the "sign of the times" for us human beings. The other day my son made a rather unsettling realization; for him anyway. He asked about our adult routines, noting we get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, go to bed, get up and start the process all over again. "Being an adult sucks," he said with some dismay.
Job action, union pressure are nothing new
Like clockwork, at the end of almost every union contract in this province, mayhem ensues. It's mostly sabre rattling and it's mostly a show of strength. Neither side wants to appear weak or a pushover. Both sides want to get their point across.
Watt's books a must-read
Council vote is 'ironic'
More balanced tree bylaw is needed
Cancelling tree program shortsighted
Congratulations to council on new rec. centre
Bill 66 provides much-needed economic boost
ASK lauds Sentinel coverage
Student overwhelmed by King support
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