The people who catch the shebbel give to the Emperor a per centage by way of duty.
There is a very considerable fishery on this coast, managed by the Spaniards from the Canary Islands, which extends from lat. N 20° 30′ to lat. N. 29°, being nearly 600 miles, and abounds in all kinds of excellent fish; as there is at present no town, village, or fixed habitation on the coast, within the district above mentioned, the Spaniards fish unmolested; neither do cruizers ever approach these parts, except by accident, so that the fishermen are secure from capture. In the spring and summer the fish are said to abound on the northern part of this extent of coast; and as the autumn approaches, they go gradually southward. Whilst I was established at Agadeer, I saw many kinds of curious fish which I have never seen in any other part of Africa or Europe.
Whales.—About the coast of Africa, from Agadeer to Arguin, whales are frequently cast on shore,[112] deluded, perhaps, like the unfortunate mariners, who being led away imperceptibly by the impetuosity of a deceitful current, are ashore before they are aware of being even near the land. Whenever the whale is cast ashore, ambergris is found on the shore, and is brought to Agadeer for sale. The Moors being very partial to this perfume, consume all that comes to market; so that none is sent to Europe. It is called in Arabic El Amber, and is supposed to possess highly stimulating qualities, for which purpose it is often infused in tea by the African Arabs, Moors, and others.
FOOTNOTES:
[70]This budra is preserved in earthen pots under ground, many, sometimes 20 or 30 years, as it is said, to improve by age; it is of so subtile and penetrating a nature, that it quickly passes to the capillary vessels of the body, and being rubbed on the inside of the hand, is quickly absorbed through the pores into the blood.
[71]Ida dez el Herka fee el bled wa kan trek harushe el Zirg ce herse el hager eladi fee’h.
[72]A small bird unknown in Europe, similar to a sparrow.
[73]Buffon informs us, that Bruce told him this animal was common in Barbary, where it was called Taleb; but Pennant observes, that Bruce should have given it a more characteristic appellation, for taleb, or thaleb, is no more than the Arabic name for the common fox, which is also frequent in that country. See Eng. Encyclopedia, 1802.
[74]The dubbah and the deeb are so totally different, that I cannot account for the error of Bruce in saying they are the same animal; for, besides various other differences, the dubbah is more than twice as large as the deeb. It is surprising that Mr. Bruce, who appears to have been a great sportsman, did not perceive this. Vide Select Passages of Natural History collected in Travels to discover the Source of the Nile. Title Hyæna, Vol V. p. 110.
[75]M’dubbah, stupified or hyænaized, from the word dubbah.