Africa . e settled populationdoes not exceed 13,000, but in the season, from ISTo-vember to January, the number of strangers attending themarket increases it by from 5000 to 10,000. As Tim-buktu produces nothing itself, it is indebted for its veryexistence entirely to the trade carried on at this little field produce is raised by the inhabitants them-selves, most of the supplies and provisions being broughtdown the Niger. The elegant and tasteful leather workand leather embroidery, which are the only articles pro-duced on the spot, are the work of the Tuareg women. 174 COMPENDIUM OF
Africa . e settled populationdoes not exceed 13,000, but in the season, from ISTo-vember to January, the number of strangers attending themarket increases it by from 5000 to 10,000. As Tim-buktu produces nothing itself, it is indebted for its veryexistence entirely to the trade carried on at this little field produce is raised by the inhabitants them-selves, most of the supplies and provisions being broughtdown the Niger. The elegant and tasteful leather workand leather embroidery, which are the only articles pro-duced on the spot, are the work of the Tuareg women. 174 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TRAVEL. Three great liigliways of trade converge at Timbuktu,the two caravan routes crossing the desert from Maroccoand Ghadames in the north, and the upper Xiger itself,bringing the produce of the south-west to this greatemporium. The chief articles of trade are gold and salt,the latter indispensable commodity being nowhere found inthe cultivated regions of Sudan. A considerable traffic is. TIMBrKTL. also done in the guro or kola nuts, fruits of the Sterculiaacuminata and macrocarpa, which supply the place of thecoffee berry, though even this plant seems to be indigenousto many parts of Sudan. The only articles of Europeantrade that find their way to Timbuktu are Manchestercotton goods, red cloth, looking-glasses, cutlery, and tea, towhich the Arabs are very paitial. THE SONEHAY. 175 6. The Sonrhay. East of Massina and Timbuktu, and stretching thenceacross the northern bend of the Niger to as far as theborders of Air or Asben, live the Sonrhay people, thedescendants of the inhabitants of the vast empire whicliflourished during the fifteenth and sixteenth number is still estimated at upwards of two city of Gao, or Gagho, situated on the left bank ofthe Niger, where the sandy downs of the desert mergeinto arable lands and rice and tobacco fields, and for sixcenturies the most flourishing place in all Negroland andthe capital of the Son
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