An account of the empire of Marocco, and the districts of Suse and Tafilelt; compiled from miscellaneous observations made during a long residence in, and various journies through, these countries. To which is added an account of shipwrecks on the western coast of Africa, and an interesting account of Timbuctoo, the great emporium of Central Africa

by James Grey Jackson

75 lb. small black feathers.
25 lb	⎧ ⎨ ⎩	Zumar.	⎫ ⎬ ⎭	of each one-third.
		Lobar.
		Long black.

N.B. The feathers denominated Zumar, are preferable to Long Black, and these are preferable to Lobar. To this quintal of assorted feathers are added 6 lb. 4 oz. of passable or fine feathers, which are delivered in the following proportions:

No.	1. Surplus face feathers, called Uguh, No. 1.		2	lb.
	2. Fine face feathers, of which three count for two of No. 1. so that 3 lb. of No. 2 being delivered count for		2
	3. Face feathers valued 2 for one surplus face, so that 4 lb count for		2
	4. Basto face 3 lb. count for one		1
		lb. 7	0
	to each quintal	6	4
	Surplus	0	12	oz.

These 12 oz. over the quintal are brought into imaginary pieces, or single feathers; thus 4½ surplus face feathers are equivalent to one ounce, so that 12 oz. will make fifty-four feathers; the contract will therefore stand thus:

100	lb. at 90 drahims per lb. is 9000 drahims, or 900 Mexico dollars.
54	feathers or pieces, at 9 drahims per piece, is	486	drahims.
		9486	drahims,

which sum is equivalent to 948⁶⁄₁₀ Mexico dollars.

4½	surplus face feathers are calculated at	1	oz.
100	ditto ditto ditto	22⅕	oz.

But custom makes 100 feathers count for 22 oz. without the fraction before mentioned.

This explanation may give some idea of the mode of purchasing this article of commerce, which requires much practice and experience, before the purchaser will be free from imposition. There are but two or three persons at Mogodor who perfectly understand it, and the method of passing them at the custom-house.

The price here affixed is the average. The competition among the Jews, and the almost entire monopolization of the Marocco trade by these people, has latterly enhanced the price; for, by contriving to exclude the English, and the Christians in general, as much as possible from commerce, they are too often induced to trade beyond their capital, and by frequently overstocking the market, cause a forced trade, thereby throwing the profits, which before were reaped by the European, into the hands of the natives; the consequence of this is, that the Emperor, displeased at his subjects becoming too suddenly rich, exacts an additional duty on the exportion of the article, whereupon its price in the country immediately falls, and the surplus of profit is, by this policy, thrown into the imperial exchequer.