THE TRADE OF GHANA loi fesslon of commerce in the countries where they settled, deriving no small share of influence and riches from it. They furrowed the sands of the desert in all directions ; they dug wells and facilitated travelling in the Sahara, thus affording security to merchants and travellers. They took a drum, and marching always preceded by a banner, they headed the numerous caravans which from time to time penetrated into the country of the blacks. . . ." A certain Abdurrahman, one of the family, having died and left behind him five sons, ** they determined upon forming a partnership, carrying on the trade conjointly, and dividing between themselves the profits of their mercantile speculations." They accordingly threw together in a ** common fund all their father's inheritance, and having held a consultation together as to the means of carrying on the trade to the greatest advantage," it was *' agreed" that two should remain and establish themselves at Telem9an, at this time a principal port upon the Mediterranean for European trade ; that one should fix his residence at Sidjilmessa ; and lastly, that two should go to Aiwalatin in the desert.

** It was done as agreed between them. Each reached his place of destination, settled there, married and had a family, and they began to conduct their trade in the following manner : those in Telemgan sent to their partners in the desert such goods and commodities as were wanted in those districts, while these supplied them in return with skins, ivory, and kola-nuts. In the meanwhile the one stationed at Sidjilmessa was like the tongue of the balance between the two, since, being placed at a convenient distance between Teleman and the desert, he took care to acquaint the respective parties with the fluctuations of trade, the amount of losses sustained by traders, the overstock of the markets, or the great demand for certain articles ; " and, in short, to inform them of the ''secret designs of other merchants engaged in the same trade, as well as of the political events which might in any way influence it. By these means they were