Siz 
direétly fent off to the places of fale. Only 
the heads of the tribes repair thither, at- 
tended by a certain number of the princi- 
pal people among the Moors, who almoft 
always either are, or pretend to be, related 
to their kings, or to their favourite wives. 
‘This company is attended by a body of 
armed men. 
‘The king and principal people of the 
Trarfhaz treat for their whole nation ; the 
king ahd principals of the Brachnaz and 
Darmankos, treat in like manner for thefe 
two united tribes. 
While the chiefs of thefe tribes are 
thus in parley, to fettle the price of the 
gum to be fold; the Mocrs break up 
their encampments, and proceed - on their 
journey with their loads of gum. They 
halt at two days march from the river ; 
where they wait for the conclufion of the 
arrangements making between their chiefs, 
and the agents of the Senegal faétory, and 
the French traders. 
Thefe preliminaries are accompanied 
with much wrangling, trouble, and lofs 
of time. There are no wiles, no falf- 
hoeds, no deceptions, left unpractifed by, 
the Moors, in order to obtain a larger 
price than that of the foregoing year. 
The king and chiefs invent thoulands 
of lies, and employ every artifice to pro- 
cure prefents ; and to increafe the rate of 
cuftoms, cunning and threats are ufed in 
turns. The moft ridiculous pretences 
and exaggerations are annually repeated 
by thefe fubtle and artful favages,who are 
completely expert in ftarting difficulties, 
and threwing obftacles in the way of thefe 
tranfactions. 
The French agents and merchants con- 
cerned in the gum trade, and who repair 
to Podhor, and other places to purchafe 
it, well know what inconveniences, em- 
barrafiments,and perplexities, muft be en- 
countered in the barbarian fairs. 
The Moors, in the exercife of their 
over-reaching fchemes, are phlegmatic to 
a degree that is infupportable to Euro- 
peans, whofe vivacity is totally difcon- 
eerted by thetr unembarraffed cooinefs. 
While thefe are warm and impatient to 
conclude a bargain, thofe dciignedly 
elude it, with the view of adding to their 
profits, and gaining further prefents. 
Patience and precaution are of courfe 
neceflarily exerted on our fide; we alfo be- 
come difficult and ftubborn. At length, 
atter much bickering, both parties come to 
an agreement. 
When the bufinefs has been fettled on 
both fides, the Moorifh chiefs retuin to 
On the Trade of the Gum of Senegal. 
[May 1, 
their encampment, and inform their coun- 
trymen that the fale is about to com- 
mence. 
Thefe, in confequence, proceed on 
their march, and ina few days pitch their 
camps on the banks of the river. 
It is on that ground which the French 
have denominated the Defert, and which 
is in reality one of the moft barren and 
defolate {pots of the earth, where the gum 
fair is principally held. It is fituated on 
the borders of the river, at an equal dif- 
tance from the ifle of St. Louis, and the 
Fort of Podhor. Thither the Trarfhaz 
carry ail the gum of the foreft of Sahal, 
There the eye difcovers, as far as it can 
reach, an interminable plain of white 
and quick-fands. Not a fingle plant, not 
a fingle fhrub, offers itfelf to view 3; no 
object diverfifies—nothing breaks the fad 
uniformity, the chilling afpect of this 
immente folitude. It has not a drop of 
drinkable water, Sloops filled with cafks 
muft be fent to fetch fome at feveral 
Jeagues diltance, higher up in the land 5 
that of the river near this place of wretch- 
ednefs is mixed with fea-water, the tide 
flowing up the Senegal as far as the Ifle 
of Gick, fituated two leagues above this 
place; and the fand of the defert being fo 
fine, that no well can bedug, the water of 
which is not gabe 
The arriva! of the Moors is announced 
by the confufed noife that accompanies 
their march. Ina few hours, this vatft 
plain, where nothing was to be feen of 
life or vegetation, is covered withan im- 
menile multitude of men, women, horfes, 
camels, oxen, and goats. 
All thefe animals are covered with 
branches of gum-trees, with their leaves 
on, in order to protect them from the 
burning rays of the fun, together with the 
gum they carry. 
A number of them are loaded with | 
the tents and baggage, others with women 
and children. The chiefs are mounted 
upon fine horfes, and their wives are car- 
ried in a fort of bafkets, covered with 
awnings, on the backs of the beft camels, 
well caparifoned. A body of Moors, 
armed with mufkets and fagays, lances 
from eight to ten feet in length, attends 
thefe flying camps, asa guard, and for the 
prefervation of order amid thefe multitudes 
of Barbarians, which, however, they can~ 
not effeét. 
Tt is not eafy to form an adequate idea 
of the diforderly and tumultuous behae 
viour of thefe hordes of unruly favages. 
As foon as they have fixed their encamp- 
ment, 
