INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 305 
arrangement of the different beads and plates of gold, is the 
great criterion of taste and elegance. When a lady of conse- 
quence is in full dress, her gold ornaments may be worth al- 
together, from fifty to eighty pounds sterling. 
A small quantity of gold is likewise employed by the Slatees, 
in defraying the expences of their journies to and from the 
Coast ; but by far the greater proportion is annually, carried 
away by the Moors in exchange for salt and other merchandize. 
During my stay at Kamalia, the gold collected by the different 
traders at that place, for salt alone, was nearly equal to one 
hundred and ninety-eight pounds sterling ; and as Kamalia 
is but a small town, and not much resorted to by the trading 
Moors, this quantity must hav^ borne a very small proportion 
to the gold collected at Kancaba, Kankaree, and some other 
large towns. The value of salt in this part of Africa is very 
great. One slab, about two feet and a half in length, fourteen 
inches in breadth, and two inches in thickness, will sometimes 
sell for about two pounds ten shillings sterling, and from one 
pound fifteen shillings, to two pounds, may be considered as 
the common price. Four of these slabs are considered as a 
load for an ass, and six for a bullock. The value of European 
merchandize in Manding varies very much, according to the 
supply from the Coast, or the dread of war in the country ; but 
the return for such articles is commonly made in slaves. The 
price of a prime slave when I was at Kamalia, was from nine 
to twelve minkallies, and European commodities had then 
nearly the following value : 
Rr 
