102 
EL- AR AWAN. 
of Aghd^mus and Tripoli. They bring merchandise of 
European manufacture, such as fire-arms, gunpowder, stuffs, 
and a few productions of their own countries, as tobacco, 
dates, &c. 
KaUf, who was one of the principal merchants of 
El-Arawan, was a native of Taw^t, and he received from his 
country merchandise which he sent to the Dhioliba. The 
caravans which perform this journey are seven days with- 
out procuring water ; after which they reach the banks of 
the river, which I was informed is very wide at that part. 
I supposed it to be the banks of the lake Debo. At a 
short distance from this place which is not inhabited, negro 
villages are met with as far as Sansanding. 
In the rainy season, which occurs at the same time 
as at Timbuctoo, the inhabitants of El-Arawan are visited 
by the Touariks, who come and pitch their tents in the en- 
virons of the city, and collect the duties which they impose 
on traders. These duties are not so exorbitant as at Tim- 
buctoo. The Touariks observe some moderation at El- 
Arawan, on account of its distance from their country. 
The inhabitants of the town are all fanatical Moors; 
they have numerous slaves, which they purchase at San- 
sanding, and, notwithstanding the natural brutality of the 
people, they treat their slaves kindly; they allow them 
plenty of food, consisting of sangleh, which is eaten with a 
sauce made of dried baobab leaves, boiled and seasoned 
with salt or allspice. They also clothe them well. If to 
the misery incidental to this wretched country were added 
the bad treatment which slaves experience in some parts 
of the desert, the poor creatures could not long survive. 
An old Moor named Sidi-Boubacar is the chief of 
El-Arawan ; he acts as judge in all the differences which 
arise among the inhabitants. At his death his son succeeds 
him. The Mahometan chief levies no duties on the people. 
He is himself a merchant and possesses considerable herds 
of camels. In the rainy season, when forage becomes 
