An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa | Page 2

[Footnote a: Confirmed by Sir John Peters.]
[Footnote b: In the year 1795.]
[Footnote c: The haiks are light cotton, woollen, or silk garments, about
five feet wide and four yards long, manufactured at Fas, as are also the
red caps which are generally made of the finest Tedla wool, which is
equal to the Spanish, and is the produce of the province of that name,
(for the situation of which see the map of the empire of Marocco,
facing page 55.) The slippers are also manufactured from leather made
from goat-skins, at Fas and at Mequinas. The cochineal is imported
from Spain, although the opuntia, or the tree that nourishes the
cochineal-fly, abounds in many of the provinces of West Barbary,
particularly in the province of Suse. The saffron abounds in the Atlas
mountains in Lower Suse, and is used in most articles of food by the
Muhamedans.]

[Footnote d: Muls.]
[Footnote e: Gebalia resembles frankincense, or Gum Benjamin, and is
used for fumigations by the Africans.]
[Footnote f: Being idolaters.]
[Footnote g: Shâban is (probably) a tribe of the Howara Arabs, who
possess the beautiful plains and fine country situated between the city
of Terodant and the port of Santa Cruz. There is an emigration of the
Mograffra Arabs, who are in possession of the country between
Terodant and the port of Messa. The encampments of an emigration of
the Woled Abusebah (vulgarly called, in the maps, Labdessebas) Arabs
of Sahara, occupy a considerable district between Tomie, on the coast,
and Terodant. The coast from Messa to Wedinoon is occupied by a
trading race of Arabs and Shelluhs, who have inter-married, called Ait
Bamaran. These people are very anxious to have a port opened in their
country, and some sheiks among them have assured me, that there is a
peninsula on their coast conveniently situated for a port. This
circumstance is well deserving the attention of the maritime and
commercial nations of the world.]
[Footnote h: The youngest son of the Emperor Muley Ismael conducted
the expedition here alluded to, about the year of Christ 1727. For an
account of which see the Appendix, page 523.]
He considers himself now as settled at Tetuan, where he has a wife and
children. He left it about twelve months ago, with three friends, to go to
Hamburg (as before mentioned.) They were confined forty-seven days
at Ostend, were taken the second day of their voyage; the English
captain put them ashore at Dover against their inclination, and
proceeded to Gibraltar with their goods: this was in December, 1789.
THE CONTINENT.
The continent of Africa, the discovery of which has baffled the
enterprise of Europe, (unlike every other part of the habitable world,)
still remains, as it were, a sealed book, at least, if the book has been

opened, we have scarcely got beyond the title-page.
Great merit is due to the enterprise of travellers. The good intention of
the African Association, in promoting scientific researches in this
continent, cannot (by the liberal) be doubted. But something more than
this is necessary to embark successfully in this gigantic undertaking. I
never thought that the system of solitary travellers would produce any
beneficial result. The plan of the expedition of Major Peddie and
Captain Tuckie was still more objectionable than the solitary plan, and
I have reason to think, that no man possessing any personal knowledge
of Africa, ever entertained hopes of the success of those expeditions.
Twenty years ago I declared it as MY decided opinion, that the only
way to obtain a knowledge of this interesting continent, is through the
medium of commercial intercourse. The more our experience of the
successive failure of our African expeditions advances, the more
strongly am I confirmed in this opinion. If we are to succeed in this
great enterprise, we must step out of the beaten path--the road of error,
that leads to disappointment--the road that has been so fatal to all our
ill-concerted enterprises; we must shake off the rust of precedent, and
strike into a new path altogether.
Do we not lack that spirit of union so expedient and necessary to all
great enterprises? Is not the public good sacrificed to
self-aggrandisement and individual interest.--Let the African Institution
unite its funds to those of the African Association, and co-operate with
the efforts of that society! Let the African Company also throw in their
share of intelligence. The separated and sometimes discordant interests
of all these societies, if united, might effect much. The united efforts of
such societies would do more in a year towards the civilization of
Africa, and the abolition of slavery, than they will do in ten,
unconnected as they now are. Concordia parva res crescunt.--When
each looks to particular interests, we cannot expect the result to be the
general good.
It