When strangers arrive they deposit their merchandise in large
warehouses called fondacs; and hire as many rooms as they choose,
11 having stables for their camels, &c. in the same place. These
fondacs[23] are private property, and are called either by the
owner's name, or by that of the person who built them. The fondac,
in which Shabeeny and his father lived, had forty apartments for
men, exclusive of stables; twenty below and twenty above, the place
having two stories. The staircase was within the inclosure, and was
composed of rough boards; while he staid, the rooms were constantly
occupied by natives and strangers; they hired rooms for three
months, for which they paid thirty okiat, or fifteen shillings
sterling per month. These fondacs are called Woal[24] by the
negroes. The money was paid to the owner's agent, who always lives
in the fondac for this purpose, and to accommodate strangers with
provisions, &c. At their arrival, porters assisted them and
procured every thing they wanted; but when they were settled they
hired a man and a woman slave to cook and to clean their rooms, and
to do every menial office. Slaves are to be bought at all hours:
the slave-merchants keep a great number ready for sale.
[Footnote 23: It is probable that Adams, the American sailor,
(if he ever was at Timbuctoo,) saw one of these fondacs that
belonged to the king, and mistook it for his palace.]
[Footnote 24: Ten okiat, or drahems, make a Mexico dollar. The
name of the king of Timbuctoo, in 1800 A.C. was Woolo. Many of
the fondacs are rented of him.]