ROUTE TO TIMBUCTOO. 3

Shabeeny's next stage was to Draha ', which

he reached in six days. The expense per camel

was about six ducats, or thirty sliillings sterUng. The district of Draha abounds in the small

hard date^, which is very fine ; from four to six

drahems ^ (equal to two to three shillings sterUng)

is the price of a camel load of these dates.

The province of Draha is larger than that of

Tafilelt, its circumference being about four or

five days' journey. The natives ' of Draha are

^ A province at the foot of the mountains of Atlas, south

of Marocco, for which see the Map of West Barbary, in

Jackson's Account of the Empire of Marocco, &c. &c. p. 1.

s This date is called by the natives bouskree : it contains

a larger quantity of saccharine juice than an}'^ other date.

This province also produces a date called butuhe, which is

the best that grows, and is called sultan de timmary i. e. the

king of dates. It is not used as an article of commerce,

but is sent as presents to the great, and costs nearly double

the price of those of any other quality : the quality mostly

used for foreign commerce, is the Tafilelt date, called timmar adamoh, which is sold by the grocers in London.

This species is, however, considered very unwholesome

food, and accordingly is never eaten by the Filellies, or in-

habitants of Tafilelt, but is food for the camels. The district

of Tafilelt abounds in dates of all kinds : there are not less

than thirty different kinds ; and the plantations of dates be-

longing to the princes of Tafilelt are very extensive, inso- much that the annual produce of one plantation is often sold

for a thousand dollars, or 2201. sterling. Half a dollar, or

five drahems per camel load of three quintals.

^ A drahem is a silver coin, ten of which are equal to a Mexico dollar.

' Their colour is darker than new copper, but not black.

It may be compared to the colour of old mahogany, with a black hue. The natives of Draha are proverbially stupid.

B f2 ^