1830. ] Ancient and Modern Systems of Slavery. 



in the vicinity of Timbuctoo, apparently in possession of predatory 

 tribes of Soorgoos or Tooaricks. " The slaves at Timbuetoo are well 

 clothed, and fed, and seldom beaten. They are, nevertheless, regarded 

 as merchandize, and are exported to Tripoli, Morocco, and other parts 

 of the coast."* He saw two female slaves, who had arrived in the same 

 boat with him, led about the streets for sale. They were dressed to the 

 best advantage, to make them loo*k young. " When I passed them, they 

 looked at me and smiled. They did not appear in the least mortified 

 at being exhibited in the streets for sale. They thought that things 

 should be so, and that they had come into this world to be bought and 

 sold ! !"t " The slaves are never allowed to go out of the town after 

 sunset, lest they should be carried off by the Tooaricks, who forcibly 

 seize all who fall in their way. The condition of these unhappy beings 

 is then more deplorable than ever. I saw some, in the little canoes, 

 almost naked ; and their masters were constantly threatening to beat 



After remaining a fortnight at Timbuetoo, M. Caillie, on the 4th of 

 May, 1828, joined a caravan, about to cross the desart for Tafilet, in the 

 neighbourhood of Morocco. Our limits will not permit us to recount 

 all the barbarities practised upon the slaves during this journey. 

 Suffice it to say, they were constantly treated with the most incon- 

 siderate cruelty. Between Timbuetoo and El-Arawan, a central city 

 in the desert, much frequented by the caravans, M. Caillie passed the 

 spot where Major Laing was murdered by the Moors of the tribe of 

 Zawat, of which circumstance a detailed account is given. Leaving 

 El Arawan, on the 19th of May, the caravan, consisting of about fourteen 

 hundred camels, with slaves and merchandize, again pursued its way 

 through the desert. " Nobody suffered more intensely from thirst than 

 the poor little slaves, who were crying for water. Exhausted by their 

 sufferings and their lamentations, these unhappy creatures fell on the 

 ground, and seemed to have no power to rise ; but the Moors did not 

 suffer them to continue there long when travelling. Insensible to the 

 sufferings which childhood is so little fitted to support, these barbarians 

 dragged them along with violence, beating them incessantly, till they had 

 overtaken the camels, which were already at a distance." || 



Of the ultimate destination of these unfortunates, M. Caillie leaves us 

 in ignorance. 



Owing to the selfish and unfeeling conduct of his guide, Sidi-Aly, the 

 traveller endured his full share of misery and privation during the 

 journey through the desert; but he finally succeeded in' reaching 

 Morocco, and in placing himself under the protection of the French 

 consulate at Tangier, from whence he was forwarded to his native 

 country, where he has obtained the reward offered for the discovery of 

 the mysterious city of Timbuetoo. 



Let us now return to the African coast, and, again landing there, follow 

 the footsteps of honest Richard Lander, the attendant of our lamented 

 friend, the late Captain Clapperton, and the only European survivor of 

 the unfortunate expedition in which that intrepid traveller and his com- 

 panions, Captain Pearce, and Drs. Dickson and Morrison, perished, 

 keeping in view that our principal object is to shew the state of society, 



* Cailld's Travels through Central Africa, &c. p. 55. 

 t" Ib. p. 63. $ Ib. p. 65. Ib. p. 82. || Ib. p. 114. 



M.M. New Series. VOL. IX, 3 E 



