1803.] 
and the Fort of Podhor, forty leagues 
from ‘the Efeale of the Defert, thirty 
leagues from Portendick, fixty leagues 
from Arguin, and twenty-five leagues trom 
the river St. Jean, which runs into the {fea 
near Cape Mirick, and of whichthe Eng- 
lith retained the property by the treaty of 
peace of 1783. 
We hall now preceed to relate in what 
manner, and at what time, the Moors 
gather the gum of thofe three forefts, and 
fefout to pitch their camps on the right 
banks of the Senegal, for the conveniency 
of fale. 
In the weftern parts of Africa, between 
the roth degree of north latitude, and the 
tropic of Cancer, and between the firft and 
twenty-fifth degree of ealt longitude from 
the. ifle of Ferro, the rainy feafon (it is 
known) does not begin till towards the 
commencement of July. This is al- 
moft-an invariable rule; and it feldom 
happens that in thofe-countries which are 
watered by the Senegal, that feafon’fets in 
before the firft of July, or lafts any lon- 
ger than the beginning of November. 
When the lands have been plentifully 
watered by the continual rains of this  fea- 
fon, when the waters begin to flow off, and 
the fands to get dry, which is towards-the 
middle of November ; then it is that from 
the body and the principal branches of 
the gum-tree, a gummy juice begins to 
ooze, which is at firft of {mall confifttence 
and trickles along the tree ;.but in about 
_a fortnight this juice thickens, and fticks 
to the clefts through which it flows, fome- 
times twifted into a vermicular form, but 
more ufually concreted into drops, glo- 
bular or oblong, white when flowing from 
the white gum-tree, and of an orange- 
yellow, fomewhat reddifh, when they pro- 
ceed from the red gum-tree. 
Thefe drops, when gathered, are fhining 
and tranfparent; and when they have been 
kept afew moments in the mouth, are as 
elear, bright, and limpid, as the fineft of 
rock: cryftal. 
Thefe guinmy juices iffue naturally from 
the gum-tree; no incifion is made, for art 
uled to give them vent. 
This, indeed, would be fuperfluous, as 
_the variations of the atmofphere, during 
the feafon immediately following that of 
the rains; ‘multiply exceedingly the clefts 
inthe gunvtrees ;' which operating like 
incifions,’ procufe a natural and eafy paf- 
fage for the gum to flow. 
About the 16th of November, the eaftern, 
or rather the north-eaftern’ winds begin to 
fet in; they are of an arid and deftructive 
+ 
On the Trade of the Gum of Senegal. | sil 
nature, parching during two-thirds of the 
day, and cold in the night and morning. 
Vhe effect of their blafts upon the thin 
and {mooth bark of the gum-tree, may be 
readily conceived ; the vait increafe of the 
fifures, and the profufe tranfpiration from 
every part of the tree. 
The drops are commonly of the fize of the 
{mall ege of a partridge ; fome are-fmal- 
ler, but fome alfo are larger: feveral are 
five or fix inches and a half in Jength, and 
about four inches in breadth; but. this 
happens rarely. 
In the: beginning of December, the 
Moors belonging to the three tribes quit 
their fettlements-in the vat folitudes of the 
Zaarha, the dwelling-places of their fa- 
milies, where their flocks and cattle, their. 
camels, and all their #tores and riches are 
collected, and where they refide during the 
dreary feafons. Leaving thefe which may 
be confidered as their national feats, each 
of thofe tribes fets. forward on its march, 
towards that foreft of gum-trees, which 
belongs fo it. 
There remain in the fettlements only 
the old and decrepid of both fexes, infant 
children, and young girls, befide thofe 
that are left to take care of the flocks and 
cattle, horfes and camels, and for other 
indifpenfable purpofes, together with the 
black flaves, 
The whole of the remainder is formed 
into an army, moft ftrangely, as well as 
favagely, compofed. It is a confufed af- 
femblage of men, women, youths, asd 
girls, there are even children at the breaft, 
with a great number of camels, oxen and 
goats. 
Their chiefs, and their principal and 
rich individuals, are mounted on horfes 
and camels; others ride upon oxen, and 
others walk a-fcot. 
Alter twelve or fifteendays march, each 
tribe arrives at the foreit belonging to it, 
on the borders of which it fixes on a place 
for encanipment. 
Six weeks are {pent in gathering the 
gum; after collecting it into heaps, and 
all has been duly got together, they prepare 
to break up their camps, and to proceed to 
the banks of the Senegal. 
The gum being packed up, is loaded 
vpon camels or oxen: the ufual load for a 
camel, is four or five hundred weight ; for 
an ox, commonly one hundred and fitty. 
The gum is inciofed in Jarge and ftrong 
facks of leather, made of the tanned {kins 
of oxen. : p 
The whole of the gum that has been 
gathered and packed up, is not) however 
: is Fit Ve ail diretily 
