In the course of considerable journeying through Kordofan, I have not seen a single approach to gaiety in any of the villages. Even the little children seem to be constantly weighed down with the gravity of life in this land. There is sufficient evidence that merissa is drunk in considerable quantities, but even drinking seems to be a serious matter, to be begun with solemnity and finished with grave decorum…
-General Report on Kordofan, H.G. Prout, 1877
Yes, those who get drunk on merissa may be solemn and decorous, but if you get so drunk you fall off a camel, Khaali baalik min Zouzou! You’ll never hear the end of the laughing and the teasing. Bilal once fell off and we hooted and hollered for a week. Not quite Cat Ballou- the camel wasn’t drunk too and Bilal had a longer fall. He somehow remounted and we continued on our way. Only 39 more days to Egypt.