76 FRENCH DISCOVERIES. 



against these high-born pilferers ; and hence Saugnier com- 

 plains, that though he had at one time eight royal person- 

 ages on board of his vessel as prisoners, he durst not turn 

 them to any account. In this way the adventure was 

 almost as likely to ruin as to enrich the person who under- 

 took it. 



The chief prosperity of the French settlements on the 

 Senegal was derived from the gum-trade, of which Gol- 

 berry has given a lively description. To the north of this 

 river, where its fertile borders pass into the boundless de- 

 serts of the Sahara, grow large forests of that species of 

 acacia from which the gum distils. It is crooked and 

 stunted, resembling rather a bush or shrub than a tree. No 

 incision is necessary ; for imder the influence of the hot 

 winds the bark dries and cracks in various places. The 

 liquor exudes, but by its tenacity remains attached in the 

 form of drops, which are as clear and transparent as the 

 finest rock-crystal. The Moorish tribes, to whom these 

 woods belong, break up about the beginning of December 

 from their desert encampments, and proceed to the gum 

 district in a tumultuous crowd ; the rich mounted on horses 

 and camels, while the poor perform the journey on foot. 

 Six weeks are spent in collecting the material ; after which 

 it is conveyed to the great annual fair held on the banks of 

 the Senegal. The scene of this merchandise is an im- 

 mense plain of white and moving sand, the desolate mono- 

 tony of which is not broken by a single herb or a shrub. 

 Here the French take their stand to await the arrival of the 

 Moors. On the appointed morning they hear at a distance 

 the confused noise of their armies in motion. Towards 

 noon this vast and solitary plain appears covered with men, 

 women, and animals innumerable, enveloped in clouds of 

 dust. The chiefs ride beautiful horses ; while the females 

 of rank are seated on the backs of camels, elegantly capa- 

 risoned, in baskets covered with an awning. An incessant 

 murmur pervades this barbarous assemblage, till, the whole 

 having arrived, the camp is pitched, and a cannon fired as a 

 signal for beginning the fair. The French relate, that 

 every species of artifice and even threats are employed by 

 these rude traffickers to enhance the price of their goods ; 

 yet they themselves, it would appear, have little right to 

 complain, inasmuch as they confess that they have insen- 



