This will be the most effectual way of putting a stop
to that frightful system by which all the Central Provinces of Africa
are depopulated, and all the littoral regions demoralized. When the
negro races begin to make great profits by exporting the natural
products of their country, they will then, and perhaps then only, cease
to export their brethren as slaves. On this account, therefore, I take
great interest in whatever has reference to caravan trade.
There are now four general routes followed by the trading caravans from
the Barbary coast, leading to four different points of that great belt
of populous country that stretches across Central Africa,--viz. to
Wadai, Bornou, Soudan, and Timbuctoo.
Wadai sends to the coast at Bengazi a biennial caravan, accompanied by a
large number of slaves. The chief articles of legitimate traffic are
elephants' teeth and ostrich feathers. This route is a modern
ramification of interior trade, and was opened only during the last
century. It is calculated that the exports of Bengazi form one-third of
the whole of those of Tripoli.
Bornou sends to the coast by way of Fezzan, I am sorry to say, chiefly
slaves; but a quantity of ivory is now likewise forwarded by this route.
Soudan exports slaves, senna, ivory, wax, indigo, skins, &c. &c. Nearly
half of the commerce with this important country consists of legitimate
articles of trade and barter.
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