AM'octDi,'iP873RM'S  Collection  of  Gum  Senegal  in  Senegambia.  457 
Moors  and  some  black  tribes,  who  carry  the  product  to  the  various* 
markets  scattered  along  the  banks  of  the  Senegal.  The  trees  also 
grow  spontaneously  in  many  parts  of  Senegambia,  especially  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Senegal  ;  it  is  there  that  the  forests  of  gum  trees 
occur,  if  such  a  term  can  be  applied  to  the  very  thinly  sown  agglom- 
erations of  these  trees. 
The  forests  of  gum  trees  from  which  the  products  are  sent  into 
Senegambia  are  three  in  number  : — (1)  that  of  Alfatak,  or  Afatac, 
which  is  situated  about  fifteen  leagues  from  the  river,  opposite  Podor, 
and  extends  to  Lake  Cayar,  occupying  a  large  portion  of  the  country 
of  the  Brakna ;  (2)  that  of  Liebar,  or  El  Ebiar  ("the  wells"),  situ- 
ated thirty  or  forty  leagues  from  the  river,  in  the  country  of  the 
Darmancour  Moors,  and  containing  many  small  red  gum  trees  (A. 
nilotica)  ;  (3)  that  of  Sahel,  in  the  territory  of  the  Tararza  Moors, 
the  product  of  which  is  carried  to  Gahe.  The  latter  forest  consists 
exclusively  of  white  gum  trees,  and  it  is  the  gum  from  these  trees 
which  is  carried  to  Portcndick  to  supply  the  demands  of  English 
traders. 
The  following  details  are  given  on  the  authority  of  M.  Carriere. 
A  gum  forest  is  looked  upon  as  a  sacred  place,  where  no  stranger 
dares  break  off  a  branch  or  carry  away  the  gum,  under  pain  of  celes- 
tial in  addition  to  terrestrial  punishments.  Each  of  the  members  of 
a  tribe  which  possesses  a  gum  forest  has  the  right  to  collect  gum  in 
it,  and  his  share  depends  upon  his  activity,  he  having  a  right  to  that 
only  which  is  collected  by  himself  or  by  his  slaves.  The  first  collec- 
tion of  gum  commences  in  October,  at  which  time  those  of  the  tribe 
who  intend  collecting  the  gum  establish  themselves  in  huts  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  forest,  and  within  reach  of  the  wells.  The  collec- 
tion of  gum  is  very  laborious,  for  the  forest  abounds  in  climbing  and 
prickly  plants,  so  that  the  trees  are  not  gained  without  infinite  trou- 
ble and  numerous  punctures  and  excoriations  ;  but  the  appetite  for 
gain  overcomes  all  obstacles.  The  master  is  stimulated  by  the  wants 
of  his  family  and  by  pride,  the  slave  is  driven  by  hunger  and  the 
fear  of  beatings  ;  thus  all  labor  with  sustained  ardor,  and  little  by 
little  the  gum  is  collected. 
For  the  removal  of  the  gum  from  the  branches  of  the  acacia  whence 
it  exudes,  the  Moors  arm  themselves  with  long  sticks  crooked  at  the 
end,  by  the  aid  of  which  they  remove  the  tears  of  gum,  which  col- 
lect in  balls  of  varying  size.    When  the  work  to  be  done  lies  within: 
