Chronicles of Songhay Empire's Askyas (Kings) 1493-1599
Timbuktu (Tombouctou, Tin Bukt)
Title
Drums used for specific purposes in battle
Short description
Drums are used in battle to start the army's march, while other drums are recognized as specific to the askia.
Text on source
فامر بلمع صادق رجلا من قومه ان يسالهم احقّ ما تقولون فحلفوا له بذلك فدخل الروعة والخوف والخشية في قلوب جيشه وضرب بلمع صادق الطبل وامر تلك الساعة بالرحلة والركوب الى ملاقاة اسحاق ومحاربته اصحابه اربعماية فارس الذين ارسلهم منذرين به وركب بلمع صادق ومن معه منكسرين قلوبهم واطرا عليهم غاية الفتور والكسل، وساروا الى ان اتوا مكانًا سمعوا فيه اصوات طبول اسكي وعاينوا رهج خيولهم وسمعوا بلغاتهم وراوا شجعان اسكي الذين كان يصطفيهم ويقدّمهم امام الجيش [ص. ١٣٥-١٣٦]
English translation
The Balma'a Ṣādiq asked the cavaliers, through a man from his entourage, if all these things that they had said were true, and they swore to him that they were. It was then that dread, fear, and terror seized the hearts of the soldiers of the Balma'a Ṣādiq. The Balma'a nonetheless ordered the drum [ṭabl] to be beaten and for his men to break camp and to mount their horses to ride and meet Isḥāq, attacking his partisans in spite of the many warnings of the four hundred cavaliers whom the prince had sent. Then the Balma'a Sādiq himself mounted his horse along with his companions, but they were themselves now sick at heart, having reached the far limits of dejection and discouragement. They marched in this way until they came close enough to hear the sound of the drums [ṭubūl] of the askiya. Soon they could even see the dust kicked up by the horses of his army and make out the sound of voices [bi-luġāt-him]. They were then able to recognize the elite warriors that the askiyas customarily chose to place in the first ranks of the army.
Folios/Pages
247-248
Date
1588
Observations on the events description
The author mentions the sound of the drums of the askia as a specific sign from which they knew he was there.
The dots on the map indicate the places where sound and music events were described. They don't represent travel stages.
Participants
Name
Role
Notes
Edit
Delete
al-Ṣādiq, Muḥammad
Viewer
Askia (King)
How to quote
Pintimalli A., "Drums used for specific purposes in battle" (Event description), Echos. Sound Ecosystems in Travelogues. Published 2024 09 13.doi: 10.25430/echos.travels.137
This work is licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0 
