232 Const antitia. 



Again, from the sum of 2,800,000/. the amount of the imports from 

 the Mediterranean shores and those of the ocean to the interior 6f 

 Africa, we must cut off 400,000/. from the imports of European 

 goods to the Senegal, and an equal sum for wages, hire of camels, 

 profits, &c. &c. : we shall then have about 2,000,000/. to answer the 

 Tahie of the 25,000 camels returning, which would allow 80Z. for 

 each camel. At the same time we must remark- that, in the journey 

 to the south, the caravans unload to deposit their merchandise at 

 certain spots, and thence traverse whole leagues without a burden, 

 several times that their camels are less fatigued on their arrival at 

 the end of their much and that they are always ready to start again 

 as promptly as possible. 



The population of Tokrour, Meli, and Ouanquarah, is estimated 

 to be upwards of 10,000,000 of souls; and that of the oases of the 

 desert is supposed to exceed 3,000,000. The trade of those countries 

 is therefore obliged to supply the wants of 13,000,000 of individuals. 

 The commercial transactions of the inhabitants of the oases consist 

 chiefly in camels, and those of Tokrour of horses. 



The oases require constant supplies of corn, millet, Indian corn, 

 barley and flour, dates, dried fruits, and salt meat principally 

 mutton. They moreover require, like the inhabitants of the south, 

 tissues of all kinds, the productions of India, spices, coffee, sugar, 

 tea, cutlery, copper, iron, jewels, gold lace, coral, china-porcelain, 

 paper, weapons, ammunition, glass-ware, &c. &c. 



The objects of barter are indigo, opium, cochineal, saffron, plants 

 for dying, certain kinds of spice, drugs, perfumery, liver-wort, resin, 

 varnish, ivory, ostrich-feathers, &c., which are exported by means 

 of the caravans. The ports of the Senegal trade in gums of all 

 species, palm-oil, rice, mahogany, wax, skins, tallow, the horns and 

 bones of oxen, slaves, &c. 



In our description of the progress and the destinations of the 

 various caravans, we spoke of ihem upon an average and according 

 to ordinary circumstances. But the political situation of Turkish 

 Africa has lately wrought vast changes in the trade between the 

 Mediterranean sea-ports and the south : and it is to avail themselves 

 of those changes that the occupation of Constantina is so important to 

 the French. Of the truth of this statement we will endeavour to 

 convey an adequate idea to the reader. 



The system of monopoly, established by the viceroy of Egypt to the 

 utter ruin of cultivation and agricultural industry, not only now 

 diminishes, but in process of time will totally destroy the trade of 

 Alexandria. Mehemet-Ali,inhisgigantic march towards the civiliza- 

 tion of the Egyptians, has stopped the progress of the trade of Alexan- 

 dria, and has cut off her commerce in those very articles which contri- 

 buted to her wealth and prosperity. Mehemet-Ali requires black 

 slaves for his armies and copper for his arsenals; the merchants of 

 Alexandria are therefore obliged to neglect the import of the other 

 productions of Den-Saleh, and their profits are less considerable than 

 they formerly were. The caravans of Dar-fur, which only now 

 arrive at"Alexandria every eighteen months, experience moreover a 

 variety ot difficulties at the Egyptian custom-houses. 



