They take 129 days in travelling
to Tombuctoo from the borders of the desert, but only fifty-four are spent
in actual travelling. There is also another caravan which sets off from
Wedinou, and after collecting salt at West Tagossa, proceeds to Tombuctoo.
This goes as far as the White Mountains, near Cape Blanco, and is occupied
five or six months in its journey. The merchandize carried by these
caravans is German linens, Irish linens, muslins, woollen cloth, coral
beads, pearls, silk, coffee, tea, sugar, shawls, brass nails, &c. &c. In
exchange they bring back chiefly the produce of Soudan, viz. gold dust,
gold rings, bars of gold, elephants' teeth, gum, grains of paradise, and
slaves. There are also several caravans that trade between Cairo and the
interior of Africa, which are solely employed in the traffic of slaves.
There can be no doubt that caravans arrive at Tombuctoo from parts of
Africa very distant from it, and not only inaccessible, but totally
unknown, even by report, to Europeans, and even to the inhabitants of North
Africa.
What a picture does modern commerce present of the boundless desires of
man, and of the advancement he makes in intellect, knowledge, and power,
when stimulated by these desires! Things familiar to use cease to attract
our surprise and investigation; otherwise we should be struck with the
fact, that the lowest and poorest peasant's breakfast-table is supplied
from countries lying in the remotest parts of the world, of which Greece
and Rome, in the plenitude of their power and knowledge, were totally
ignorant.
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