whom may perhaps be induced to form establishments in those unknown regions, to learn the method o f purchasing ostrich feathers in West and South Barbary. It is as follow s: A quintal, or 100 lbs. weight, is thus distributed according to custom from time immemoria l: 75lb. small black feathers. C Zumar. 25lb .4 Lobar. (L o n g black. N. B. T h e feathers denominated Zumar, are preferable to Long Black, and these are preferable to Lobar. T o this quintal o f assorted feathers are added 6 lb. 4 oz. o f passable or fine feathers, which are delivered in the following proportions; No. l . Surplus face feathers, called Uguh, No. I . 2 lb. 2. Fine face feathers, of which three count for two o f No. 1. so that 3lb. o f No. 2 being delivered count for - - 2 5. Face feathers valued 2 for one surplus face, so that 4lb count for - - ' - ' 2 4. Basto face 3lb. count for one - - l lb. 7 0 to each quintal 6 4 Surplus 0 12 oz. These 12 o z. ove r the quintal are brought into imaginary pieces, o r single feathers; thus 4~ surplus face feathers are equivalent to one ounce, so that 12 oz. w ill make fifty-four feathers; the contract w ill therefore stand th u s : 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 948-^ Mexico dollars. 4-§- Surplus face feathers are calculated at 1 oz. 100 ditto ditto ditto - - - 22-f- oz. But custom makes 100 feathers count for 22 oz. without the fraction before mentioned. Th is explanation may giv e some idea o f the mode o f purchasing this article o f commerce, which requires much practice and experience, before the purchaser w ill be free from imp osition. The re are but two or three persons at Mogodor who perfectly understand it, and the method o f passing them at the custom-house. . T h e price here affixed is the average. T h e competition among the Jews, and the almost entire monopolization o f the Marocco trade b y these people, has la tte rly enhanced the price ; for, b y contriving to exclu de the English, and the Christians in general, as much as possible from commerce, they are too often induced to trade beyond their capital, and b y frequently overstocking the market, cause a forced trade, thereby throwing the profits, which before were reaped by the European, into the hands o f the n ative s; the consequence o f this is, that the Emperor, displeased at his subjects becoming too suddenly rich, exacts an additional d u ty on the exportion o f thé article, whereupon its price in the country immediately falls, and the surplus o f profit is, b y this po licy, thrown into the imperial exchequer.
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