Proceedings in Egypt and Nubia. 43 



successful, as he found sufficient excuses to plead in proof of 

 -his incapacity to befriend him ; so that he was reduced to the 

 painful alternative of selling his slave, for whom he obtained fifty 

 dollars, although they parted with every mutual reluctance, and 

 the boy with tears. 



This is merely the outline of the interesting narrative with 

 which Ibrahim delighted and amused us by the innumerable 

 anecdotes that his memory furnished him with to enliven the 

 recital. They would occupy days to record, but will not soon 

 be forgotten. 



In such occasional intervals as were devoted to conversation, 

 my inquiries were principally directed to the trade of Nubia 

 and Abyssinia, with a view to ascertain how far there was a 

 probability of being able to draw a portion of it from the inte- 

 Tior to the sea-ports, so that by touching there on a voyage from 

 India to Suez, its productions might form a part of the cargo 

 for Egypt. In answer to such inquiries Ibrahim informed us 

 •that throughout the whole of these countries, camels and slaves 

 were the chief articles of commerce, both in number and value, 

 and these were collected from all the surrounding districts at 

 Shandy on the Nile, to form the caravan for Egypt, which de- 

 parted and returned once in the year only. During his stay at 

 that place, the price of good camels was from ten to twelve 

 dollars, which sold at Cairo for fifty ; and slaves, divided into 

 three classes, according to their age and sex, varied in their 

 price from 10 to 15 dollars, selling abo at Cairo from 80 to 

 120, those of Sennaar and Habesh being preferred to those of 

 Darfoor, who generally went in caravans by another route 

 through the Oasis of Elwah and formed their rendezvous at 

 Siout in Upper Egypt. On camels no duty was exacted in their 

 route, but on slaves taxes are payable at separate districts 

 tlrrough which they have to pass, making the profit on both 

 nearly -equal, and the value of a good camel and a good slave 

 very nearly the same to the dealer. 



By these caravans. Gum Arabic is also sent in large quanti- 

 ties to Cairo, as well as tamarinds, elephants' teeth, gold, either 

 in bars or large giains, but never in the state which is called 



