498 
Adams's narrative* 
setting sail, often by ten or twenty at a time, for 
slaves and merchandise. 
The hunting of slaves appears to be reduced 
to a regular system. About once a month arm- 
ed men, to the number of a hundred or more, 
and at one time five hundred, marched out for 
this purpose. They were usually absent from a 
week to a month, and sometimes brought in con- 
siderable numbers. He was told, that the slaves 
came chiefly from a place called Bambarra, lying 
to the south and south-west of Tombuctoo. Such 
a kingdom is well known to exist in that direc- 
tion ; but it seems probable, that the slaves would 
be collected rather from the barbarous nations in 
its vicinity than from Bambarra itself. The slaves 
thus procured, along with gold dust, ivory, gum, 
cowries, ostrich feathers, and goat skins, are ex- 
changed with the Moors for tobacco, tar, gun- 
powder, blue nankeens, blankets, earthen jars, 
and some silks. Gunpowder appeared to bear the 
highest value, but only as an article of curiosity ; 
for though the king had several muskets in his 
possession, no use was made of them. The trade 
with Barbary was carried on by parties of Moors, 
who visited Tombuctoo during the rainy season j 
but Adams, who was there through the six dry 
months, saw only one. 
Adams collected no information respecting the 
neighbouring countries. Besides Bambarra, he 
