tiMBUCTOO. 21 'of which are convex, set in gilt paper frames. They carry neither swords, muskets, nor knives, except such as are wanted in the caravan. At the entrance of the desert they buy rock-salt * of tlie Arabs, who bring it to them in loads ready packed, which they carry as an article of trade.

In their caravan there were about 500 camels, of which about 150 or 200 were laden Avith salt. The camels carry less of salt than of any other article, because (being rock-salt) it wears their sides. They pay these Arabs from twenty to fifteen ounces ' of Barbary money per load. An ounce of Barbary is worth about 6d,, and a ducat is worth about 5s, sterling. They sell this salt at Timbuctoo upon an average at 50 per cent, profit ; it is more profitable than linen. They take no oil from Barbary to Timbuctoo as they are supplied from other places with fish-oil used for lamps but not for food ; they make soap with the oil. The returns are made in gold-dust, slaves, ivory, and pepper ; gold-dust is preferred and is brought to Timbuctoo from Housa in small leather bags. He bought one of these bags of gold-dust and pieces of rings for 90 Mexican dollars, and sold it at Fas for 150. The merchants bring their gold from Timbuctoo in the saddle-bags, in small purses of different sizes This salt is bought at Tishet, at Shangareen, and at Arawan, in the south part of Sahara; for which see the Map of Northern and Central Africa, in the new Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Article AfrictL, ' Okia is the Arabic name for this piece of money.

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