$14 
at prefent almoft four times its former 
quantity: from little more than five hun- 
dred pounds, which were-its contents in 
the India Company’ s time, fixty years ago, 
they have now rifen to no lefs than two 
thoufand. 
* The gum is paid for to the Moors 
with pieces of cotton blue cloth, dyed in 
Mmdigo, and manufactured in India. In 
the trade carried on in the wettern parts of 
Africa, they are. known by the name of 
Guinea-pieces. They are feven or eight 
ells long, and half an ell broad. They 
are the chief article in all bargains, and 
the Moors admit of no other in the gum- 
trade. 
They have-tried in France to counter- 
feit them, but in vain. The Moors were 
not to be deceived : they difeovered mere- 
ly by the touch, whether they had been 
manufactured in France or India. Nor 
was it even to their feel or colour to which 
they wholly trufted : they afcertained them 
chiefly by the fmell. Thofe Indian fa- 
brications, and the indigo with which 
they are dyed, have certainly 2 peculiar 
feent, which the French manufacturers 
have not yet been able to imitate. 
The real Guinea-pieces from India con- 
tinue invariably in the higheft requeft, 
Nothing can rival, much lefs put an end. 
to, the “preference given to them. 
From 1780 to 1787, the Moors have 
conftantly fold'a kantar of gum, cz two 
thoufand pounds weight, for fifteen pieces 
of this Guinea-cloth. No more was ever 
paid by the Gum Company, eftablithed in 
Senegal i in 1784, which purchafed at this 
price yearly four hundred kantars, valued 
at eight hundred thoufand weight. 
In 1784, when Mefirs. Derepentigny 
and Durand projected an augmentation of 
the gum-trade, the Moors, Brachnaz 
and Dormankos Moors made aa offer 
fo deliver two hundred kantars at Gua- 
rouf, in the ifle of Bilbas, and as many at 
Galam, making altogeti er eight hundred 
thoufand weight, for only ten Guinea- 
pieces the kantar. 
Let us now. review. what may be the 
total produce of the gum-trade, and the 
benefit refulting from it to our commerce. 
_. Jt appears, that the three forefts of Sa- 
hal, Alfatack, and Elhiebar, yielded 
twelve hundred thoufand weight of gum, 
which fold at the rate of fifteen pieces of 
Guinea cloth for the kantar; and that the 
Mcors have offered to fell eight hundred 
thoufand weight additional from the fo- 
refis of Guerouf and Galam, for only ten 
pieces the kantar; but fuppojing, that, on 
account ef the tranfporting of the gum 
z - 
On the Trade of the Gum of Senegal. 
[May 1, 
from thefe two forefts, and of the pres 
fents to the Brachnaz and Dormonkos, to 
induce them to bring it to the Fort of 
Podhor, this gum fhould alfo coft fifteen 
Guinea-pieces the kantar, the two mil- 
lions weight of gum, produced by the five 
forefts, would then be jold for fifteen thoue 
fand Guinea-pieces. 
The value of thefe pieces has es 
varied. During the war for the indepen- 
dence of North America, they cof fifty 
livres the piece ; they had varied antece- 
dently from nineteen to twenty livres 
French money: in 1787, their mean value 
was twenty-five livres; and we have rea- 
fon to believe, shat fach at prefent is their 
mean price. We may confequently fix the 
mean price of the kantar now purehafed in 
the River Senegal, at 375 livres. This 
brings the pound of gum to three fous, 
ten deniers nearly ;. but we may reckon 
that it never will.exceed four fous. 
During the latter twenty years of the 
la century, the gum of Senegal fold in 
Europe at from thirty and forty fous to 
three livres the pound: this warrants-us 
to believe, that its mean price might be 
two livres, four fous. It were to be wifh- 
ed, that merchants could be prevailed upon 
to fell it for thirty-five fous the pound. 
Thist being a moderate price would encow- 
rage ail the manufactures requiring gum : 
ieveral tradefmen, hatters- for inftance, 
. who have endeavoured to fubdftitute ether 
gums in the ftead of Senegal, cheaper 
indeed, but lefs gummy, would naturally 
return to that of Senegal, were it to be- 
come nicre common, and fold at a rea= 
fonable price. At thirty-five fous the 
pound, the two millions that might be fur- 
nifhed from the Senegal, would ferm a 
branch of, commerce, which weeded pro- 
duce three millicns five hundred thoufand 
livres, and the profits of which would be | 
very confiderable, feeing the imall price 
required in Africa for its materials. 
Were it even to rife fame deniers Hill, after 
deducting the expences attending the. trade 
up the river, and the procuring of the 
commodity, the charges of veflels lying 
at Fort St. Louis, and. the. colts of their 
fitting out and freight, wath all other ex- 
penditures ; even then an immenfe benefit 
would arife from the profecution of this 
commerce. 
While our agents at the Senegal are on 
good terins patiedhe Moors of the Zaarha, 
and withthe heads of the Black tribesdwel= 
ling on the fouth of that river, while they 
a&t with a well-concerted policy, our fac- 
tories will be fupplied with plenty of gum, 
and that trade will be catried on with the 
- greatelt 
