192 A. D. 1789. 



refpedls belongs fo little to its character, formed themfelves (9"" June 

 1788) into mi a(fociatio7i for promoting the difcovery of the ulterior parts of 

 jifrica by perfons properly qualified. Of the two firfl miffionaries fent out 

 by them, Mr. Ledyard, a man whofe zeal and capacity marked him as 

 born for fuch enterprifes, unfortunately died at Cairo in Egypt, when 

 jufl ready to enter upon the unknown regions to the weftward of that 

 country : the other, Mr. Lucas, was prevented by a war in the country 

 from proceeding to Fezzan, and returned to England. Mindful, how- 

 ever, of the obje6t of his miflion, he had procured confiderable inform- 

 ation from the traders concerning the llate of the feveral countries, and 

 of their commerce. 



Such information will at prefent be at leail amuling : and it may, 

 perhaps, hereafter be really ufeful to know the nature of the trade car-; 

 ried on in the heart of Africa, which Mr. Beaufoy (who drew up the 

 account of the proceedings of the alTociation), fcarcely lefs fanguine than 

 Mr. Vaffa, (lee above, p. 143) confiders as capable of adding a hundred 

 millions of confumers to the trade of this country ; for he thinks, that, 

 where the merchants of Fezzan can make a profit on the file of Europ- 

 ean goods, which they mufi: buy at a very advanced price at Tripoli, 

 Britifli traders may have fuch advantages ' as few commercial adven- 

 ' tures have ever yet been found to yield.' Nor need they doubt of a 

 kind reception, as the Negroes reckon ' the merchant the general friend of 

 ' mankind.'' In confequence of fuch a trade, ' and by means as peace- 

 ' able as the purpofes are juft, the conveniencies of civil life, the bene- 



* fits of the mechanic and manufacturing arts, the attainments of fci- 



* ence, the energies of the cultivated mind, and the elevation of the 

 ' human charader, may in fome degree be imparted to nations hither- 



* to configned to hopelefs barbariim and uniform contempt.' 



Fezzan is a diflrid: lying to the fouthward of Tripoli, inclofed by a 

 circular range of mountains, which feparate it from the furrounding 

 defert. The people, a mixed race of Arabs and Negroes, in whom the 

 Negro blood pi'edominates, are ftrift Mohamedans, and mofi:ly employ- 

 ed in agriculture and pafturage. Their merchants, whofe commercial 

 fpirit no difiance nor difficulties can difcourage, form the bond of con- 

 nedion between all the nations of the north and middle parts of Africa. 

 About the end of October, when the heat begins to moderate, the cara- 

 vans for Tripoli, Bornou, Calhna, and the nations beyond the River 

 Niger, take their departure from Mourzouk,^ the capital of Fezzan. 



The caravans for Tripoli carry trona *, fena, gold duft, and flaves, the 

 produce of their trade to the fouthward : and in return they get cutlery 

 ware ; woolen, linen, and filk, goods ; raw filk ; copper, and brafs ; and 



* Trona is a fpecies of alkali found on the furface, and on the banks, of the fmoking lakes in 

 Fezzan, which is employed in colouring Morocco leather, and in other operations of dying. 



