The hire of every camel was from ten to twelve ducats, at five shillings sterling per ducat; as this route is through a very mountainous country, and the travelling is very bad, the charges were proportionally high; the weight which every camel carried was between four and five quintals, the camels in this country being strong and very large. [2]
Tafilelt is the place of general meeting of all the merchants who go to Timbuctoo. [3]
The territory of Tafilelt contains no towns, but abounds in fortresses with mud-walls [4], which the natives call El Kassar, and which contain from three to four hundred families; in these fortresses there is a public market (in Arabic, soke) every week, where the inhabitants purchase provisions, &c.
The natives of Tafilelt are descendants of the shereefs [5] or princes of Marocco, and are therefore of the Imperial family.
Footnote 2:[ (return) ] This charge of carriage by the camels from Fas to Tafilelt, is equal to 55s., sterling per camel; to 1-1/2d. per mile for each camel, and to one farthing and one third per quintal of merchandise per mile.
Footnote 3:[ (return) ] That is for all who go from the Emperor of Marocco's dominions, north of the river Morbeya, which is called El Garb, or the North Western Division.
Footnote 4:[ (return) ] These mud walls are made in cases, and the mode of erecting them is called tabia. See Jackson's Account of the Empire of Marocco, &c. &c. 2d or 3d edition, page 298.
Footnote 5:[ (return) ] Hence it is called Bled Shereef, i.e. the Country of Princes.
Shabeeny's next stage was to Draha [6], which he reached in six days. The expense per camel was about six ducats, or thirty shillings sterling. The district of Draha abounds in the small hard date [7], which is very fine; from four to six drahems [8] (equal to two to three shillings sterling) is the price of a camel load of these dates.