[192]Mr. Thomas Betton, of Hoxton-square, a Turkey merchant, by his will, dated in 1724, devised to the Ironmongers Company in trust about 26,000l. one moiety of the interest and profit thereof to be perpetually employed in the redemption of British captives from Moorish slavery. See Maitland’s History of London. See also Mr. Betton’s will proved at Doctor’s Commons 15th June 1725, by his executors, viz by John Cox, and four others of the Ironmongers Company.
[193]This latter is expected by a prince of the first dignity; but I have often passed princes on horseback without being required to alight: on such occasions I uncovered, and bowed in the European manner.
[194]As a further proof of the practicability of establishing an advantageous alliance with the present Emperor, it should be here observed, that his predecessors often obliged the English to send an ambassador, with presents, &c. to solicit the liberation of British seamen; but Muley Soliman gives them up to the British consul, without exacting such kind of remuneration.
CHAPTER XIII.
Commercial Relations of the Empire of Marocco with Timbuctoo, and other Districts of Soudan — Route of the Caravans to and from Soudan — Of the City of Timbuctoo — The Productive Gold Mines in its Vicinage — Of the navigable Intercourse between Jinnie and Timbuctoo; and from the latter to Cairo in Egypt: the whole being collected from the most authentic and corroborating testimonies of the Guides of the Caravans, Itinerant Merchants of Soudan, and other creditable sources of Intelligence.
Timbuctoo,[195] the great emporium of central Africa, has from time immemorial carried on a very extensive and lucrative trade with the various maritime States of North Africa, viz. Marocco, Tunis, Algier, Tripoli, Egypt, &c. by means of (akkabaahs) accumulated caravans, which cross the great Desert of Sahara, generally between the months of September and April inclusive; these akkabaahs consist of several hundred loaded camels, accompanied by the Arabs who let them to the merchants, for the transport of their merchandize to Fas, Marocco, &c. at a very low rate. During their route, they are often exposed to the attacks of the roving Arabs of Sahara, who generally commit their depredations as they approach the confines of the Desert.
Pl. XIII.
Map shewing the Tract as followed by the Caravans from Fas to Timbuctoo by Jas. G. Jackson, 1811.
