PRECARIOUS NATURE OF SUPPLIES. 
57 
lation is at times augmented by the Arabs^ who come with 
the caravans^ and remain awhile in the city. In the plain 
several species of grass and thistles afford food for the camels. 
Fire- wood is very scarce, being all brought from the neigh- 
bourhood of Cabra. It is an article of trade, and the women 
sell it in the market-place. It is only burnt by the rich ; 
the poor use camel-dung for fuel. Water is also sold in the 
market-place ; the women give a measure containing about 
half a pint for a cowrie. 
Timbuctoo, though one of the largest cities 1 have seen 
in Africa, possesses no other resources but its trade in salt, 
the soil being totally unfit for cultivation. The inhabitants 
procure from Jenne every thing requisite for the supply of 
their wants, such as millet, rice, vegetable butter, honey, 
cotton, Soudan cloth, preserved provisions, candles, soap, 
allspice, onions, dried fish, pistachios, &c. 
If the vessels from Cabra should chance to be stopped 
by the Tooariks, the inhabitants of Timbuctoo would be 
reduced to famine. To obviate this misfortune, they take 
care to have their warehouses always amply stored with 
every kind of provision. I saw the magazines of Sidi- 
Abdallahi full of great sacks of rice, which keeps better 
than millet. 
For these reasons, the vessels which come down the 
river to Cabra are deterred from making any resistance to 
the Tooariks, notwithstanding the burthen of their ex- 
actions. I was assured that, if the crews dared but to strike 
one of these savages, they would forthwith declare war 
against Timbuctoo, and intercept all communication with 
the port 5 the city could then receive no supplies. 
To the W. S. W. of the town there are large excava- 
tions, from thirty-five to forty feet deep : these are reser- 
voirs, which are supplied by the rains. Hither the slaves 
resort to procure water for drink and cooking. This water 
