exchange o f commodities, and caused the establishment o f the company o f Fas merchants, at Fas, as well as that o f their facto ry at Timbuctoo, which has continued to increase and flourish ever since. T h e circulating medium at Timbuctoo is (libber) gold dust, which is exchanged for merchandize, thus a plattilia is worth 20 mizans* o f gold : a piece o f Irish linen, o f 25 yards, is worth 30 mizans : and lo af sugar is worth 40 mizans o f gold per quintal. Having in some measure explained the nature o f the trade w ith Timbuctoo, we may now proceed to discuss the extent o f its territory, and although this does not appear to have been very numerous, consisting, for the most part, of blacks brought away from Soudan by Muley Arsheede the year preceding. Muley Ismael also seized this opportunity of establishing his power at Timbuctoo; and he met with no opposition in putting that place under contribution : having sent fresh troops to occupy the Moorish garrison there, the inhabitants were glad to make a contribution in exchange for the protection and power which it afforded ihem, for previous to this, they had been subject to continual depredations from the Arabs of the adjacent country, to whom they had been compelled to pay tribute as a security for their caravans, which were constantly passing the .country of these Arabs, who are of therace of Brabeeshee. In the year 1727, when Muley Ismael died, it is reported that he possessed an immense quantity of gold, of the purity of which, some of his gold coins to be seen at this day, at Timbuctoo, bear testimony ; it is also said that the massive bolts in his different palaces were of pure gold, as well as the utensils of his kitchen. After his decease, however, the tribute was not regularly transmitted, and his successors having no means of exacting it, it was entirely discontinued : thè Moorish garrison too intermarrying with the natives, and dispersing themselves about the vicinage, has given to the latter that tincture of Mooselmin manners which they are known to possess, their descendants forming at this period a considerable portion of the population of Timbuctoo. * Twenty-four nuaih’t make 1 mizan ; 5TV mizan is equal to 1 Spanish ounce, or the weight of a gold dollar, or doubloon. The value of a mizan of gold is about eleven shillings sterling. ascertained, yet it may be said to extend northward to the confines o f Sahara, or the Desert; a j r a c t o f country about ninety miles in breadth ; the western boundary is one hundred and thirty miles west o f the c ity , and the eastern extends to the Bahar Soudan, or the Sea o f Soudan, which is a lake formed b y the Nile El Abeede, whose opposite shore is not discernible; this is the description given o f it b y the Soudanees, who have visited i t ; on its opposite or eastern shore begins the territory o f white people hereafter mentioned, denominated b y the Arabs (N’sarrath) Christians, or followers o f Jesus o f Nazareth: south o f the riv e r is another territory o f immense extent, the boundary o f which extends to Lamlem, or Melli, which latter is reported to be inhabited b y one o f the lost, or missing tribes o f Israel. The city o f T imbuctoo is situated on a plain, surrounded b y sandy eminences, about twe lve miles north o f the N ile E l A b e e d e ,f or Nile o f the Blacks, and three (erhellat) days journey from the confines of Sahara : the c ity is about twelve miles in circumference, but without walls. A ditch or excavation, about four cubits in depth, and the same in breadth, but without water, circumscribes the city. T h e town o f Kabra, situated on the banks o f the river, is its commercial depot, or port. B y means o f a water carriage east and west o f Kabra, great facility is given to the trade o f Timbuctoo, from whence the various articles o f European, as well as Barbary manufactures brought b y the akkabaahs from the north o f Africa, are distributed to the different empires and states o f Soudan, and the south. T h is great mart is resorted to b y a ll nations, whither they bring the * The river Niger. Q Q
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