126 Moors at Tombuctoo.—Negroes. [Notes 35, S3.
or communicate more satisfactory information on this and
many other interesting subjects. However his lists of the
articles of trade, show that he was not wholly unobservant
in this respect; and we cannot but think it probable that
the “ armed parties of a hundred men or more,” which he
describes at page 39, as going out once a month for slaves,
and returning sometimes in a week and sometimes after a
longer absence, were in reality traders.
Note 36, p. 42.
I was frequently told by Adams, who appeared to take
pleasure in speaking of the circumstance, that the Negroes
behaved to him on all occasions with great humanity, never
insulting or ill treating him on account of his religion, as
the Arabs did. He was never confined at Timbuctoo, but
could go where he pleased. Upon these grounds I entertain
little doubt (and I was confirmed in my opinion ,by
Timbuctoo traders with whom I conversed on the subject)
that had Adams explained his story to the Negroes, and
expressed any unwillingness to accompany the Arabs on
their return, he would have been rescued out of their hands,
and left at liberty. 1 do not recollect whether he told me,
that the idea had ever occurred to him; but, if it did, it
is probable that when he came to consider, his hopeless
Notes 37, 38. J Negro Curiosity.—Crossing the Desert. 127
prospect of reaching the sea coast, if left to himself,
and that the Arabs had promised to take him to Suerra
after their expedition to Soudenny; he would prefer the
chance of ultimate liberation afforded him by accompanying
the Arabs, of whose severe treatment he had then had
but a short experience. D.
Note 37, p- 42.
I do not imagine that the curiosity of the Negroes can
have been excited so much on account of Adams's colour,
as because he was a Christian, and a Christian slave, which
would naturally be to them a source of great astonishment.
The Negroes must have seen, in the caravans from the
Barbary states which annually visit the countries of Soudan,
and Timbuctoo in particular, many Moors, especially
those from Fez, of a complexion quite as light as that of
Adams. D.
Note 38, p. 43.
September and October are the months in which the
caravans from Barbary to Timbuctoo assemble on the
northern confines of the Desert. They commence their
journey as soon as the first rains have cooled the ground,
and arrive again from the Desert about the month of
March. D.