ut 
Voyage tô sÈNEGAt. 
ïiished the whole consumption of Europe ; but smce tins discd^ 
very the formel has superseded the latter, and the Arabian gum 
is no longer to be seen : the little, however, which does come 
to us is derived from the Levant by the Provencals. They are in 
the habit of boasting of its properties as fsr beyond thos^e of ÛiQ 
Senegal gum ; but several experiments have proved, that one is as 
good as the other, and may be employed for the saîne purposes.- 
Besides the usual application of it in manufactures and medicine, 
we have a way of deprivhig it of its natural faintness ; and, ie 
several towns in France, they make it into excellent preserves. 
The Moors and Negroes are very fond of eating it in its crude 
state. 
The regular consumption of this gum in Europe is estimated 
at 1000 tons of 2000 lbs. each. The India Company formerly 
imported, every year, 1200 Moorish quintals (the quintal is reck- 
oned equal to 9^0 lbs. French.) At present our trade is about 
1,500,000 lbs.; and we might extend it to 2^000,000, without 
the concurrence of the English at Portendick. 
The price of gum is always regulated by the number of pieces 
of Guinea which it costs at first hand, and this price varies every 
year in consequence of the difference in the harvests, but chiefly 
from a combination amongst the purchasers. This combination 
was, a year or two since, carried to such an extent, that the 
ship-owners lost fifty per cent, by the expedition. In my time, 
1785 and 1786, the price of the quantar^ which weighed 2400 lbs. 
was fixed at ten pieces of Guinea : it has since been raised to 
fifty, and even sixty pieces; it will, probably, soon get above an 
hundred : in short, the Moors will ruin the French > if govern- 
ment do not interfere^ and check the effects of their combination. 
According to the relative value of merchandize, the gum, in time 
of peace, ought to cost, on the spot, from fifteen to twenty 
sous per pound> and be worth in France from forty to forty-five 
sous. 
Three races or tribes of Moors, each of whom have their 
chief, frequent the desert which borders on the Senegal, collect 
the gum, and caîry on the trade exclusively. The first is called 
Trarzas^ and occupies all the country comprised between Ar- 
guin, St. John's river, and the Senegal. This country extends 
from the shores of the sea to forty leagues in-land ; and the 
chief of the tribe is a descendant of Alikandora, whose name is 
celebrated in the festivals of the country : his name is Alikouri. 
The state is hereditary ; and the eldest son of the king succeeds 
the father. In default of children^ the crown descends to the near- 
est relation of the reigning family. 
Alikouri being almost always encamped near Portendick, 
causes the gum which is collected by his tribe, to be conveyed 
