76 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY rubies. There was also an outside leather case, which was solidly worked and decorated with fillets of gold. Next after the book there came upon the list five hundred thoroughbred horses, of which the saddles were embroidered in gold and silver, and of which the bridles and bits were some of them of pure gold and some of them plated. Also there were five hundred loads of objects made in Morocco — or Maghreb, as the portion of Africa now known to us as Morocco was then called. There were arms, and beautiful woollen stuffs ; cloaks, robes, burnooses ; turbans, striped and plain stuffs of silk and wool ; silks plain and in colours, embroidered and brocaded with gold. Also shields brought from the countries of the desert, made of the skin of the lamt, and '' covered with that famous varnish which renders them so hard." Also many pieces of furniture *' which is made in Maghreb and much sought after in the East." A country which can count all these objects amongst its manufactures is evidently in a very fairly high condition of industrial prosperity. A monarch who can transcribe a copy of the Koran in his own hand in such a manner as to render it worthy of being placed in so precious a binding at the head of a present of this value must evidently have at least some appreciation of the charms of literature. It is said of Abou el Hagen that he performed the feat of transcribing the Koran with his own hand three times.

After this conquest of Telemgan intercourse between Morocco and Negroland appears to have increased, which is not unnatural, as already a very considerable trade existed between Telem9an, which was one of the principal ports of embarkation for Spain, and the countries of the Negro belt. The king of Melle was at that time the greatest of the black sovereigns, and Abou el Ha9en, desiring to cultivate pleasant relations with him, sent him an embassy with handsome presents, a compliment which in 1360 the reigning king of Melle returned to Abou el Ha9en's successor. Unfortunately the details of this present are not recorded. It is only stated that Mansa