The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917 | Page 5

sometimes so narrow as only to permit the passage of one
person at a time. We were constantly on the watch in these parts to
prevent being surprised by the Arabs, as our caravan conveyed many
valuable articles, which would have afforded rich plunder to those
robbers. That which we apprehended actually happened on the seventh
day after our departure, namely, on the 13th of Sept. A number of
armed Arabs attacked us between the Cozul mountains and the river
Tegtat; killed four of our slaves and three camels; and, though they lost
several men in the attack, obstinately continued the combat. We
defended ourselves to the utmost of our power, and at length had the

good fortune to repel the whole troop. The victory, however, was not
obtained till two of our merchants and five slaves were wounded,
besides the four that were killed. We preserved all our property and the
burthens of the slain camels were distributed among those that
remained."[7]
An account of the caravan traffic from Timbuktu is given by Jackson,
who says that Timbuktu "has from time immemorial carried on a very
extensive and lucrative trade with the various maritime states of North
Africa, viz., Marocco, Tunis, Algiers, Tripoli, Egypt, etc., by means of
accumulated caravans, which cross the great desert of Sahara, generally
between the months of September and April inclusive; these caravans
consist of several hundred loaded camels, accompanied by the Arabs
who let them to the merchants for the transportation of their
merchandise to Fez, Marocco, etc., and at a very low rate. During their
routes they were often exposed to the attacks of the roving Arabs of
Sahara who generally commit their depredations as they approach the
confines of the desert."[8] The wind sometimes rolls up the sand like
great billows of the ocean, and caravans are often buried under the pile,
and then the wind, shifting, scatters in the air those newly constructed
mounds, and forms, amidst the chaos, dreadful gulfs and yawning
abysses: the traveler, continually deceived by the aspect of the place,
can discover his situation only by the position of the stars.
When the caravans reach Akka, on the northern border of the desert,
the camels and the guides are discharged, and others hired to proceed to
Fez, Marocco, etc. The trip across the desert is made in about 130 days,
including the necessary stops. Caravans go at the rate of three and one
half miles an hour, and travel seven hours a day. The convoys of the
caravan usually consist of two or more Arabs belonging to the tribe
through whose territory the caravan passes. When the convoys reach
the limit of their country, they transfer the caravan to other guides, and
so on till the desert is crossed. The individuals who compose the
caravans are accustomed to few comforts. "Their food, dress and
accommodation are simple and natural: proscribed from the use of wine
and intoxicating liquors by their religion, and exhorted by its principles
to temperance, they were commonly satisfied with a few nourishing

dates and a draft of water; and they will travel for weeks successively
without any other food."[9]
The caravans from Timbuktu were wont to export to the Barbary States
gold dust and gold rings, ivory, spices, and a great number of slaves.
"A young girl of Haussa, of exquisite beauty," remarks Jackson, "was
once sold at Marocco, whilst I was there, for four hundred ducats,
whilst the average price of slaves is about one hundred."[10] As to the
cost of transporting the slaves, Jackson states that "Ten dollars
expended in rice in Wangara is sufficient for a year's consumption for
one person; the wearing apparel is alike economical; a pair of drawers,
and sometimes a vest, forming all the clothing necessary in traversing
the desert."[11]
Gen. Daumas describes a journey he made from Katsena in the Sudan
across the desert about the middle of the nineteenth century. Arriving at
Katsena, he says that his caravan was met by a great and mixed crowd
of Negroes, who crowded around the camels, speaking in the most
animated manner their unknown language. He and his companions
were assigned to a special quarter of the city, and provided with
lodgings. The camels were put in charge of some poor men of the
caravan who led them away every day to the pasture, brought them
back at four or five o'clock in the evening, and placed them in the
enclosure in the city. The caravan leaders paid their respects to the
chief of the city who bade them welcome and promised them protection.
The business proceeded leisurely, as it was customary for the caravans
to remain there two months.
The chief, not having a sufficient supply of slaves on hand to trade,
caused his big drums to