Know that Chems, chief of the tribe of Darmancours, has told me that he has received a letter from Saleh, son of our Iman and of our Cheyhkh (at Tischit), relating to the christian who went to Gadamès. From this town he went towards Touat, then he proceded towards the tribe of the Cheykh Moctar (chief of the Kountas, to the east of the kingdom of the Dowiches). In consideration of a thousand drachms of gold, the people of this tribe accompanied him to Timbuctoo, where they arrived after a journey which continued seven days; afterwards they left him. This white man remained some days at Timbuctoo; then he quitted it. He was met by the Moors who are called Berabiches. These killed him, stole his money, and left behind the books which he possessed.
Saleh says that, if the christians wish for these books, they have only to send some one to him, and that he will restore them.
The Berabiches are the Moors who inhabit the environs of Timbuctoo and Arawane.
The King of Timbuctoo is named الخاش (el-Khâch).
Narrative of a Moor from Timbuctoo (communicated by the Baron Roger.
St. Louis, September, 1828.
On my way hither from my own country, I passed through Timbuctoo, when I learnt that a white man, who had resided there some days, had been murdered on his way to Ségo; and the circumstances of that unfortunate event, as related to me, in that town, are as follows:
This European, who came from Tripoli, and expressed a desire to proceed to the Senegambia, travelled with a Jew of Barbary, who acted as interpreter; he was attended by four black servants, and possessed nine camels laden with provisions and merchandise. He had arrived within a few days’ journey of Timbuctoo with his caravan, when he was joined by another, composed of Moors of Tuat or Tuaris. They first demanded presents of him, and then invited him to barter. The Englishman (who is supposed to be Major Laing) consented, and trafficked with this tribe: but, during the night, they burst into his tent and attacked him. The white man and his servants defended themselves bravely: though wounded in the arm, the traveller succeeded in escaping on one of his camels: he was rejoined soon after by one of the blacks, who brought back two others; they fortunately reached Timbuctoo and took refuge there. But the Tuaris pursued them, and required of the King to surrender to them the white man who had killed several of their companions. The unfortunate man was obliged to flee from his persecutors: in vain he took a contrary course to deceive his pursuers and escape to Ségo; he was overtaken by the villains and put to death.
I could have easily obtained from the Tuaris the books which belonged to this European; but I durst not, lest I should be suspected of having been concerned in his murder.