[216]Timbuctoo, but more particularly Jinnie, carries on a considerable trade to Darbeyta, a port in the Red Sea, in the country of Senaar, from whence they are transported to Jidda, and other parts of (Yemin) Arabia Felix; among other articles is an immense quantity of the gold trinkets of the manufacture of Jinnie already mentioned.
[217]Seed Abd Allah ben Amgar, the person who was Cadi in 1800, was a principal trader at Mogodor, and son-in-law to the Governor of that place, who being unsuccessful in his commercial affairs, crossed the Desert, and soon obtained the appointment of Cadi; he was a shrewd clever man, about thirty-five years old: he is lately dead.
[218]Some writers have thought that the word Nile is applied to all great rivers; what foundation they may have for this supposition I am not learned enough to ascertain; but I know that among the African Arabs, there are but two streams, which are called Nile, and these have been made two separate rivers by Europeans only, for in Africa there is decidedly but one opinion respecting them, viz. that they are streams which communicate with each other, the Nile El Abeede being the greater, and running through a larger tract of territory than the Nile Cham, or Nile Massar, hence it is called Nile el Kabeer, the greater Nile; the Nile of Egypt, however, is not called the smaller Nile, but always the Nile Cham, or Nile Massar, i.e. the Nile of Egypt, Cham being also an Arabic name for Egypt when united to Syria and other countries.
[219]These boats are thirty days in reaching Jinnie; during the passage the Nile takes a considerable turn to the south, and returns again, forming a semi-circle; this curve is denominated (El Kos Nile) the curve, or bow of the Nile. A large stone is a substitute in these boats for an anchor, which would not hold in the muddy bottom of the river; these are attached to a cable, and thrown overboard at night, during which, watch is kept to prevent the Negroes from approaching, who often swim to, and plunder the boats, when not kept off by fire-arms.
[220]Some tribute is paid by the town of Timbuctoo to this tribe, by way of securing their forbearance from plundering the caravans from the north, which pass through their territory.
[221]I sent a quantity of this coffee to Mr. James Willis, who had formerly the appointment of Consul for Senegambia; but this gentleman informed me, on my arrival in England, that it was of a very inferior quality.
[222]Persons acquainted with the respective value of African produce, will perhaps ask how it happens that the akkabaahs transport Gum Soudan from Timbuctoo to Barbary, which is not so valuable as wax? The reason is evident, the wax is useful, and being consumed by the natives, always commands a price; the gum is not of any use or value to the Africans, but is collected and transported to Barbary only to be sold to the European factors on the coast.
[223]Seven cubits make four yards.
[224]An African manuscript, written by Seedi Mohammed ben Amran Soudanie, who, however, I do not quote as an author of the first respectability, has the following passage, which I have translated for the curious reader. “Respecting the Neele it has been ascertained by various travellers, that it hath (besides many inferior) two principal sources, one of which latter is the larger source, and rises at the foot of the Jibbel Kumri, (i.e. a chain of mountains which extend from east to west across Africa, passing through lat. N. 10°) north of Genowa (Guinea), where it forms a lake or swamp, out of which proceeds another river, which, passing N.W. through Soudan discharges itself near Asenagha (Senegal), in the El Bahar Kabeer (id est, the Western or Atlantic ocean); the larger source proceeds northward, and entering the country of Bambara, takes an eastern direction, and passing through the city of Segoo, Jinnée, and Kabra near Timbuctoo, it continues its course through Wangara; between the two latter cities, it receives from the south two auxiliary streams of considerable magnitude, which increase it so that the whole flat country of Wangara is one immense morass, formed by the overflowing of the waters: one of these auxiliary streams falls into the Neele 10 erhellat (i.e. 10 days journey) east of Timbuctoo; the other at Wangara, and the whole body of accumulated water hence, aptly denominated the Neele El Kabeer (the Great Nile), proceeds eastward till it communicates with the Neele Masser (the Nile of Egypt); the distance between the source of the greater Nile and its junction with the Nile of Egypt, is 99 erhellat of continual travelling.”