xviii ADDENDA. 
than ill Europe, or in any other part of the world with 
which we are acquainted ; and the practical conclusion to 
be deduced from this fact, is that, in any commercial 
intercourse, which may hereafter take place between this 
country and the interior of Africa, silver, as an article of 
export, would probably be a very lucrative specDlation. 
The difference, comparatively trifling, in the relative va- 
lues of the precious metals, between Europe and China (in 
which latter country, the proportion of gold to silver, was 
for a considerable time, as one to ten, and one to twelve) 
is known to have been the occasion of a long continued 
and very profitable commerce, arising from the transport 
of silver to the East. 
The great variation in the price of the dollar at San- 
sanding, which is stated to be from 6000 to 12 000 cowries, 
is another very remarkable circumstance ; and is doubtless 
occasioned by the great uncertainty in the supply of silver 
from Europe by means of the caravans. Thi« uncertainty 
must be attributed, partly to the very remote situation of 
Sansanding, and partly to there being no constant de- 
mand for silver in the interior of Africa, where it is 
employed merely for the fabrication of ornaments ; and 
indeed the dollars themselves are often worn by the 
women as necklaces, like sequins in some parts of the east. 
Gold, besides, being used for ornamental purposes, is like- 
wise a great article of African commerce. The steadiness 
of the demand for this latter purpose, and the abundance 
of the supply, must necessarily render the price of gold 
much more uniform than that of silver ; which experience 
shews it to be. 
