ROUTE TO TIMBUCTOO. 7

of this water you meet with a light sand. Some-

times the water is sweetish, frequently brackish, and generally warm. This last desert is about twenty days' journey, and is a vast plain without any mountains. They meet with no Arabs in

this part, but the country on the right and left of their route, at the distance of from three to

eight days' journey, is inhabited by Arabs, who

are governed by their own (^sheiks) chiefs, and

are perfectly independent.

From Akka to Timbuctoo, a journey of forty-

three days, they meet with no trees,' except the

sederah, no rivers, towns, or huts. From Draha, which is a country abounding in camels, to Timbuctoo, the charge per camel is from sixteen

to twenty-one ducats. ' That so long a journey

is performed at so small ' an expense, is owing

to the abundance of camels in Draha. The caravan generally contains from 300 to 400 men, of whom a great part prefer walking to

the uneasy motion of the camels.

' From Fas to Tafilelt, 20 days, for 11 ducats per camel.

Tafilelt to Draha, 6 do. 6 do. do. Draha to Timbuctoo, 4<3 do. 18| do. do.

69 days, for 35 1 ducats per camel

load, which is about the rate of one farthing per quintal per

nyle. This does not include the expense of camels for the conveyance of merchants, servants, &c. or of provisions or

water, but merely of those carrying goods. A full account of these caravans, and their mode of crossing the Sahara,

will be found in Jackson's Marocco, ch. 13.

• The expense is now (A. C. 1818) smaller, as the ducat, by a coinage which is depreciated, has fallen to 3s. 6d»

terling.

B 4