COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT SA. 
27 
which I had seen on the banks of the river since we left 
Isaca. Here we joined from thirty to forty large boats, all 
bound for Timbuctoo. Many of these vessels were of about 
eighty tons burthen. Sa is a rendezvous for the vessels 
which navigate in this direction. It is their practice to 
assemble at this port and to proceed on the voyage together, 
to guard against the depredations of a tribe in the neighbour- 
hood of this town, who often board their boats and commit 
acts of violence and robbery. They are called by the natives 
Soorgoos, and by the Moors Tooariks. There were in the 
port of Sa from four to five hundred persons, seamen and in- 
habitants, who gazed at the flotilla. The port was covered 
with bales of merchandise, ready to be shipped on board 
the canoes. The commercial activity appeared astonishing. 
There was something in the appearance of the flotilla far 
more interesting than I could have expected to find in the 
interior of Africa. The bustle on every side almost made 
me fancy myself in a trading port of Europe. The largest 
vessels belong to Moors, who carry on the principal trade 
of the country: they form themselves into companies, and 
employ their canoes in conveying merchandise to Timbuctoo, 
where they are paid their freight in salt or cowries. 
On the 5th of April, at sun-rise, we got under way and 
steered a northerly course until eleven o^clock, when we came 
to a bend in the river, which then flowed towards the N. E. 
On every side we heard the joyous cries of the sailors, who 
also fired muskets, still more strongly to express their 
gladness. We passed the village of Baraconga, which is 
situated on the left bank. About one o'clock we anchored 
before Tantala, a pretty village, where we bought some dry 
fish, milk, and fine mats made of ronnier leaves. They are 
of a long shape and yellow colour; they are used for sleeping 
on, and for making sacks. 
We continued our course to the N. E. until sun-set, 
when we passed a large branch of the river, which runs 
