BERBER AND BLACK 91 Ghana, and was ruled, as Sidjilmessa had once been, by a black prince.

El Bekri has preserved an interesting description of both towns as they were known to the travellers and merchants of Mohammedan Spain.

Before reaching Audoghast, he tells us, the pure desert of drifting sand gave way to sandy but wooded uplands, where a succession of wells furnished an ample water supply. Amongst these woods a rubber or gum tree was plentiful, of which the produce was exported to Spain, and much used in the manufacture of silk. From these wooded uplands the road led down to Audoghast, which was a large and thickly populated town, built in a sandy plain and surrounded by gardens and date-groves. Its pastures were well stocked with sheep and cattle, and meat was very plentiful, but wheat was cultivated as a garden crop. The rich alone indulged themselves in the use of it. The common grain used by the people was dourra. Fields of henna bore heavy crops. The town had several mosques and other fine public buildings, and the houses generally were ** very elegant." The people were rich and lived in great comfort. There was a large and extremely busy market, where, notwithstanding the distance, wheat, fruit, sugar, and dried raisins from the Mohammedan countries were regularly sent. Honey, which was very plentiful, came from Negroland. Luxuries of all kinds were to be obtained for gold dust, which was the medium of exchange. There was no proper currency. Amongst the trade imports El Bekri mentions worked copper and dress stuffs, and amongst the exports amber and refined gold run into the form of gold wire. The refined gold of Audoghast had the reputation of being purer than that of any other country in the world. The population of Audoghast was very mixed, but was mainly Berber, consisting of natives from the Barbary coasts and members of the surrounding Berber tribes. There were also to be seen. El Bekri says, but in smaller numbers, people from all the great Mussulman towns of Spain, and