COMMUNICATIONS. 
tute of fait, and none is found in the dominions of the Negros, 
the fole poffeffion of this article might infure to the King of Bor- 
nou aconftant and ample revenue of the beft kind, a revenue 
coliefted from the fubjeds of Foreign States; but fuch is the 
prevalence of antient cuftom over the obvious fuggeftions of 
policy, that the people of Agadez, a Province of the Caflma 
Empire, are annually permitted to load their immenfe caravans 
with the fait of Bornou, and to engrofs the profits of this inva- 
luable trade. The fait is colleQied on the fliores of the feveral 
lakes which produce it, and the only acknowledgement that the 
Merchants of Agadez give in return for the article, is the trif- 
ling price which they pay in brafs and copper (the currency of 
IBornou) to the neighbouring peafants. 
The civet, which forms another article of the export trade of 
Bornou, and the greatell part of which is fent to the Negro 
States who inhabit far to the South, is obtained from a fpecies 
of wild cat that is common in the woods of Bornou and of 
Caflrna. 
This animal is taken alive in a trap prepared for the purpofe, 
is placed in a cage, and is ftrongly irritated till a copious pre- 
paration is produced. Its fvveat^ and elpecially the moifture 
that 
