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Richardson, James, 1806-1851

"Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government"


" Fakramah One day.
" K[=a]w[=a]r One day.
" Boulouma One day.
The mediate time occupied is said to be between eight and fourteen days.
The three stations mentioned between Tintalous and Bilma have wells of
water. There is also an abundance of herbage all along the route for
camels. The direction of the route is always east, over a flat country
(probably through wadys); although, my informant adds, there are no
mountains. The salt is found in small lakes. The people amass it with
the water, and make of it round cakes; the water runs away, and the
cakes become hard and dry. It is then packed up in camel-loads. A large
camel-load pays to the Tibboos half a metagal, or about ninepence
English money. It is thus evident that the Tibboos do derive a revenue
from their salt, contrary to what was stated by them to Major Denham.
Since his time, however, this people have found themselves in a better
condition to enforce this impost on the Kailouee salt-merchants than
they were formerly.
The caravan of Ghat Tuaricks brought here the news, a few days ago, that
no less than four hundred people, fractions of the tribes of the Azgher,
consisting of men, women, and children, followed us as far as Tajetterat
to see what they could get from the Christians. When they arrived at the
wells, to their great disappointment we were gone.


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