COMMERCE.
The monopoly enjoyed by the Egyptian government in this province
totally impedes trade in general. The chief articles of commerce
are not only all bought by the authorities, who are, moreover,
protected by a law prohibiting any private person from bringing them
into the market; but the immense duties levied on the goods render
it impossible to transport them to Egypt; this rule especially
applies to ivory. Every one is, therefore, forced to sell to the
government,—the most arbitrary species of monopoly, or rather
worse, inasmuch as the individual suffers an outlay in capital,
freight, and duty. The country might produce indigo, opium, sugar,
and many other articles, which would yield an immense profit,
both to private persons and to the administration, for the soil
requires but little cultivation, and brings forth every plant in
great luxuriance; but the onus placed upon the province by the
despotic government discourages the individual from attempting more
than trusting entirely to nature. The whole population live in fear,
and are not one day sure of their property; thus every one looks
only to the moment, and troubles himself very little about his
successor. All the produce met with in commerce is in its natural
state, and few manufactured goods are ever seen beyond some solitary
cottons, and objects in leather.
The articles of export are: gum, hides, senna-leaves, ivory,
rhinoceros’-horns, cattle, tamarinds, ostrich-feathers,
ostrich-eggs, gold in rings and in grain, water-bags, salt, tobacco,
sim-sim, cisme, and slaves. The first three articles named are
the most lucrative in a commercial point of view, and monopolized,
of course, by the government. The gum Arabic is collected in the
forests a few months after the expiration of the rainy season,
and we may say by force; for the government pays the cantaro of
forty-four oock’ckahs, equivalent to one hundred and ten pounds,
with fifteen piasters (four shillings and fourpence) only. They might
greatly increase their profits if they were to remunerate the labour
better, and to pay more attention to this branch of trade, although
it must be allowed to a certain extent to rest under the influence of
the weather, for if much rain fall, the trees are the more prolific;
but the collection itself is performed with the utmost carelessness,
as the people employed are driven to this work by force, and receive
but small wages. Add to this, that whole forests are being annually
hewn down, and converted into arable land, whilst no one dreams of
replanting trees, a provision considered a work of supererogation,
and left entirely to nature.
If the export of gum and ivory to Europe should ever become a
free-trade, merely subjected to duty, these two articles will yield
a very considerable profit to those who may have the good fortune to
benefit first by this alteration, and who take the trouble to repair
to the spot. The gathering takes place, as I have before-mentioned,
at the close of the rainy season, in the months of November,
December, and January; the gum obtained is of the finest quality,
and is erroneously named gum Arabic. Kordofan yields, in average
years, from three thousand five hundred to four thousand loads of
this product, or from ten to fourteen thousand hundred-weight, at
forty-four oock’ckahs. I have been assured by many persons that
an addition of six thousand hundred-weight might be made to this
quantity, if the labour of the persons employed in the collection
were but better remunerated. Before the introduction of the monopoly,
it was sold in the following manner, a plan which will be again
pursued as soon as the present statutes are repealed. A number of
men, women, and children, gather the raw gum in the forest into
baskets, capable of containing twelve rottoli (the rottolo about
three quarters of a pound). Forty of these baskets constitute
a camel-load, which weighs four hundred and eighty rottoli, and
reckoning the tare of the cases at five hundred rottoli; the cost
of this quantity would vary from five and a half to six Spanish
dollars. These five hundred rottoli[70] cannot be transported by
camel across the desert to Debba, on the Nile, because the load
would be too heavy; for three to four contari, at one hundred
rottoli, form the average load of each camel. Another expedient,
which might be turned to very good account, would be to pack the
gum in ox-hides instead of cases; for the government buys dry hides
at three piasters (ten pence halfpenny), and at Alexandria they are
sold at thirty piasters (six shillings and sixpence). It would be
imperatively necessary to employ the natives in the purchase of gum,
sending them out in all directions into the various villages; but
I would advise every one to be on his guard against the Dongolavi,
and it should be a rule in general not to trust any native with
much money, for it would stand a very good chance of being totally
lost. Those who are furnished with articles in consumption in the
country may effect one-third of their outlay in goods, and will
thus realize an average profit of fifty per cent.
The place best adapted for the purchase of gum would be Bara, and
I adjoin a list of the expenses of freightage and duties thence to
Cairo, as defrayed before the introduction of the monopoly:—
£. _s._ _d._
To outlay for four hundred and eighty rottoli
(about three and a half hundred-weight), at
forty-four oock’ckahs 1 0 0
Freight to Dongola 1 0 0
„ from Dongola to Wady Chalfa 0 14 0
„ per boat to Cairo 0 4 8
Duty in Kordofan 0 8 9
„ Darawi 0 11 0
„ Cairo 0 5 0
----------------
4 3 5
As the export duty is, according to the existing laws, only twelve
shillings, _ad valorem_, the customs would amount only to sixteen
shillings per hundred-weight to Alexandria.
In the countries bordering on Kordofan, as Nuba, Takele, Kodero,
etc., the gum rots every year, because Mehemed Ali makes no use of
it, but is too avaricious to allow any other person to derive benefit
from it. The purchase might in those places be effected by barter.
IVORY.—Many of the merchants at Trieste, Marseilles, and Livorno,
are even at the present day of the opinion that the ivory imported,
_viâ_ the Cape of Good Hope, is found in the East Indies, and
have, therefore, given it the name of Asiatic ivory; that, on the
other hand, brought by way of Tripoli and Alexandria, they have
termed African ivory; whereas I can assure them, that more than
one-third, if not the half of the former, is, properly speaking,
African. During nineteen months of my travels in the interior of
Africa, I endeavoured to collect accurate information concerning
this article of commerce, and I think that my experience will prove
of sufficient interest to entitle me to give it at length. Mehemed
Ali monopolizes the trade in ivory, and thinks that he receives all
the ivory imported into his states from the centre of Africa; but he
is very much mistaken in this respect, for only that brought by the
caravans from Darfour, which usually reach Siut, in Upper Egypt, in
the months of February and March, is sold to the Viceroy, and this
merely from necessity, in order to enable the vendor to purchase
other articles with the net proceeds. In Kordofan, the very centre
of the ivory trade, he has thrown the trade open, but at the same
time very cunningly calculated that it must eventually come into his
hands, for, after the djelabi (merchants) have bought the ivory in
Kordofan, and defrayed all the expenses of its transport to Cairo,
he is the first to make them an offer for their stock, and, indeed,
at so low a price that they can hardly gain a small interest on
the capital laid out; hence very little ivory is brought to him
now-a-days through that source. Darfour, which receives ivory from
its tributary provinces, Runga, Kulla, Shala, Binga, Gimir, Sachana,
Yambusa, Dama, etc., as contribution, sells it in the country to the
merchants of Kobbe and El-Fasher. That which is collected at Pergu,
Bachermi, Kugo, and Niro, is annually forwarded to Tripoli. The
market price at Kobbe and El-Fasher, where large stores are always
kept, is 3_l._ 2_s._ 6_d._ the cantaro of 12 rottoli (= 88 lbs). The
purchase is likewise effected by barter against cottons from Dongola,
or articles of trade from Germany, viz., double-edged swords, red
cloth, amber, glass-beads, spikenard, wire, etc. From Darfour the
ivory is brought to Lobeid, the capital of Kordofan, and to Bara,
a commercial town in the same province, but the greater quantity
passes through the country to the shores of the Red Sea. In Kordofan,
the cantaro costs already 10_l._ 18_s._, including the duty. A great
deal is brought from Shabun and the Shilluk country to Kordofan,
where the djelabi of Lobeid and Bara become the possessors of it by
barter; the Bakkara (a nomadic tribe) also trade in ivory, and barter
it away to the djelabi above mentioned; to the Shilluks they give,
at the most, cottons from Dongola, glass beads, salt, and tobacco,
in exchange for it. All the ivory which passes through Kordofan,
whether directly or indirectly obtained, is forwarded to Suakim,
a sea-port on the Red Sea, under the 19° of northern latitude,
where it is received by Englishmen who have been quietly awaiting
its arrival, and have cast their net over sixteen hundred or two
thousand miles of the interior of Africa. The Englishman pays well
and promptly, hence he commands the market without any trouble;
whilst for Mehemed Ali remains only that which, for want of time, or
owing to some other circumstance, was not forwarded to Suakim. The
English have done all in their power, for a long time, to keep
secret the sources, whence they derive so large a quantity of this
commodity; thus they remained perfectly quiet at Suakim, where this
article of commerce was brought to them, avoiding the necessity
of exposing themselves to the unhealthy climate of the interior of
Africa, or rather of Kordofan. They have appointed agents at Suakim,
Indians by birth, who manage the business for two, or at the most
three, English houses established in India. In the year 1840,
an Englishman was stationed there transacting business, and he
was by no means pleased at finding the secret, which had stood the
test of so many years, at last discovered. The cantaro costs from
10_l._ to 12_l._, and scarcely a fourth part of it pays duty at
the customhouse in Suakim. Small coasting vessels act as lighters
to convey the cargo to the larger Arabian and Indian ships lying
off in readiness to receive it, which then sail for India directly.
At a distance of half a league from the shore of Abyssinia,
and two leagues from Arkiko, is an island in the possession of
the Viceroy of Egypt, named Massauwa, which forms, as it were,
the key of Abyssinia; for all the ivory brought from Abyssinia,
the Galla country, and the south-west and southern parts of Africa,
must pass through this island. The cargoes from Shoa (in southern
Abyssinia) and the neighbouring states, are discharged at Berbera
and Zeila, a town on the African coast. From these few remarks, it
may be easily deduced that the ivory passing from Africa to India,
and by the Cape, is not all Asiatic, although a large share of it
is certainly obtained in India. In conclusion, I must observe that,
when Mehemed Ali throws the trade open, the first buyers in Kordofan
will realize a very handsome profit; but they should rather pay the
cantaro of one hundred and fourteen rottoli, with seven hundred
and fifty piasters at Lobeid, than venture into the country of
the Shilluks, or to Shabun, Runga, or Darfour, where they might
certainly purchase it at half the price, but would incur a risk
which would decidedly overbalance the advantage. It would be no
less hazardous to send a native of Kordofan into these countries
to effect the purchase, for they are such infamous liars, more
especially the Dongolavi, that they will rather allow themselves
to be murdered than speak one word of truth: the goods, moreover,
or the money with which they might be intrusted, would be certainly
lost, as they will leave their wives and children for so favourable
an opportunity of cheating.
The djelabi, would, in like manner, raise the price of the ivory
considerably, as soon as they had an idea that the demand for this
commodity increased; hence it would probably be the most judicious
plan to come to an understanding with a Turkish officer quartered in
Kordofan, and to effect the acquisition in his name; the officers
would willingly lend themselves to this undertaking, without any
pretensions to a share in the profits, if they were only treated
to a few bottles of wine or good brandy; many honourable men are,
moreover, to be met with among the Turks, to whom the business might
fearlessly be intrusted. There would be no difficulty in entering
into Darfour or in reaching Kobbe, which is not the capital, but
merely the chief commercial town in the kingdom; nor would it be
impracticable to obtain ivory by purchase or barter there, or,
indeed, at El-Fasher, the capital, where large stores are kept;
but no one could answer for his return as long as Sultan Mohammed
Fadels is on the throne. Should the government ever devolve upon
his brother, Abumedina, Europeans would then have free ingress and
egress to the country, for he is favourably disposed towards the
Franks, and would willingly serve them. For this assertion I can
vouch, as I received the most unequivocal proofs of the kindness of
his disposition, at a time when my life was at stake. The further
expenses contingent upon this undertaking would be as follows:—
Piasters. Day’s journey.
To freight of one camel-load
of three to three and a half
cantari of one hundred rottoli,
from Lobeid to Debba on the Nile 60 16
To boat-hire thence to New
Dongola for one boat 30-60 4-6
To freight from New Dongola,
across the desert to Wady Chalfa 30-50 14-16
To freight from Wady Chalfa to the
Isle of Phylae on the first cataract 60-150 8-10
To freight to Assuan (the ancient
Syene), a distance of one and a half
hour’s march., per camel 3-4
To freight per boat from Assuan
to Cairo 400-1000 20-30
To freight, per boat, from Cairo
to Atfe 150-400 4-8
To freight, per boat, from Atfe
on the canal of Mahmudie 30-80 1
It must be mentioned in giving this estimate, that the boat-hire
would vary according to the size of the vessel employed, nor can
the time of the journey by water be accurately calculated, as
it depends in a great measure on the wind and the height of the
water of the Nile. As a general rule three months and a half may
be reckoned as the time required to reach Alexandria from Lobeid
in travelling with goods.
Tamarinds are an article to which the government attaches no value,
it consequently permits the export. In the years 1837, 1838,
and 1839, when, from some cause unknown to me, the inflorescence
dropped off and no pods were formed, the rottolo cost on the
spot three-quarters of a penny; and this was at a time when the
natives were compelled to import tamarinds from Darfour, as the
soil did not produce the necessary quantity for the consumption of
the country. In other years, taking an average harvest, a camel
load of three cantari will sell at one pound, The duty on this
article is trifling. I found the flowers taken in the form of tea,
a very excellent remedy, and am only astonished that this wholesome
beverage is not in more general use in Europe. Ostrich feathers may
be reckoned among the most profitable articles of commerce, when in
demand in Europe. The inhabitants of Caccie, a town on the borders of
Darfour, and of Haraza, and many other villages, occupy themselves
with the capture of these birds. An ostrich’s skin yields usually
about three rottoli of black feathers, and half a rottolo of white
plumes. Several sorts are parted off for sale, _e. g._: two-thirds
blacks, one-third whites, at 10_s_ 6_d_ to 13_s_ 6_d_ the rottolo;
greys at 5_s_ 3_d_; blacks at 2½ to 3 piasters; white plumes,
not of the best quality, from 2_l_ 2_s_ to 2_l_ 12_s_. The duty
on the feathers is one pound on the value in Kordofan, Darauve,
and Cairo. They are made up into small packages enclosed in the
skin of the bird; but great attention is required in the packing,
for it is almost incredible how the moth attacks these goods, it is,
therefore, indispensably necessary to air the feathers occasionally,
and to pepper them in the packing.
The government purchases all the oxhides and consigns them to Egypt;
it pays three piasters for each hide. There are no calf-skins in
commerce, as it is contrary to the koran to slaughter calves. Sheep
and goat skins for water-bags (Ckirbeh) constitute an article
of export trade; these water-bags are also manufactured from ox
leather, two of them generally form a camel load. Salt and tobacco
are articles of export to the Shilluks and Yaenky, and are considered
favourable objects for barter.
Sim-sim, whence an oil is expressed, is exported to Sennaar;
Cisme,[71] which grows in Kordofan, although that of a superior
quality comes from Takele, is exported to Egypt and the Levant. The
price is very low; about twenty paras (two-pence) the rottolo,
the same quantity is, however, paid in Cairo with four piasters
(one shilling). It is used as a remedy in diseases of the eye,
but great caution is necessary in purchasing this article; and it
should indeed be always subjected to close examination, for there
are several varieties in commerce, the fine grained specimens being
the best, and the coarse grained the inferior varieties.
Gold is a very important article of export, but not very profitable
at present, since the price has risen considerably. I am told
that the oock’ckah was sold at two hundred piasters before the
Turks entered the country; whereas the same quantity now costs three
hundred and seventy or four hundred piasters; at this price, from ten
to fifteen per cent. may be realized; the oock’ckah of Kordofan is
rather heavier than that of Sennaar. Gold is met with in commerce,
in rings varying in size, and also in grains; the latter variety
is enclosed in the quills of large birds of prey, and is generally
preferred to that in rings, which the natives have already began
to adulterate. The greatest quantity of this metal is brought from
the neighbourhood of Shabun, and from other southern provinces.
Horned cattle forms one of the chief exports, and is transported by
the government to Egypt in large droves, of which more than the half
perish on the road from want of proper care. Private individuals
cannot engage in this speculation, for it would be injudicious to
transport large herds, like those of the government, because attended
with enormous expense, as it would require magazines to be erected
at each day’s march between Debba and Cairo. Smaller droves are
forwarded to Sennaar and Dongola by private parties. The government
have even given up their large transports to Cairo. Camels are also
exported to Cairo, because the price of these animals is very low
in Kordofan.
The chief trade, before all the articles enumerated, is,
unfortunately, in slaves. The government and the Djelabi emulate
each other in doing all in their power to gain possession of
these unhappy beings by every possible method. The former, who
are wholesale dealers, resort to the most cruel practices to
seize upon slaves in large bodies;[72] whilst the Djelabi imitate
them on a smaller scale, and consider every species of cunning and
deception fair, where the object is to gain possession of these poor
wretches. The slaves of the Djelabi, however, are always treated
with more forbearance than those of the government, who are not
very particular about losing several hundred of their unfortunate
victims by positive ill-treatment, or no less blameable neglect;
whereas the Djelabi are compelled to use them more leniently, as the
death of each slave entails the loss of a small capital. Lobeid is
the centre of the slave trade, and market is, consequently, held
there daily. To this place slaves are brought, not only from the
neighbouring countries, but even from Kulla, Banda, Wuanga, Bachermi,
Bergu, Pegu, and more distant states, but not in such large numbers
as from the borders. It is absolutely revolting to hear how these
poor creatures have oftentimes fallen into captivity, and it would
be, indeed, incredible were not the opportunity for conviction
of the truth of so frequent occurrence. The Djelabi proceed into
the neighbouring countries with goods, which they barter away for
slaves who have become prisoners of war or captives by stealth. They
stand in connexion with a species of kidnappers, who think very
little of stealing the children of their own countrymen for a
trifle, and bringing them to a preconcerted spot for barter. The
greater part of those bought up by the Djelabi are thus collected
by the marauding Bakkara. The price of these unhappy beings varies
according to their age, health, and beauty, as also according to the
country they may call their fatherland. Children born in Kordofan of
captive parents are generally of the highest price, because already
accustomed to some species of work and more especially because
acquainted with the Arabic language, for the owner of a married
slave, or of a girl who brings a child into the world, is at the
same time proprietor of the latter, and is permitted to sell it;
masters even who have children by their female slaves may dispose
of their offspring, and examples of this unnatural proceeding are
by no means uncommon. In short whatever is considered most cruel
and revolting by all civilized nations, is treated with the utmost
levity in this country, so that it is, indeed, impossible to find
words to give full vent to your feelings of indignation and horror.
The human being, deprived of his liberty, is here regarded as a
commodity, or ready money, passes from hand to hand as in circulation
or in commerce, and must think himself fortunate if he ultimately
chance to become the denizen of a house where he may find rest for
the sole of his foot, or may reckon on the treatment due to him as a
portion of humanity. No single house is to be found among the more
opulent part of the community which is not provided at least with
one slave, either male or female, for the performance of the menial
offices, for it is, as it were, _comme il faut_ to fill the house
with captives, and to keep a separate slave appropriated to each
separate office. The greater number, however, is hence exported,
in larger or smaller convoys, to Egypt and the Levant.
_Senna-leaves_ are found in many parts of Kordofan in abundance,
but the government makes no use of them, and others are prevented
from turning them to advantage by the existing monopoly. They are
equal in quality to those of Dongola, which the administration
thence imports and sells under the denomination of Alexandrian or
Egyptian Senna. Not the fiftieth part of these leaves, however,
are natives of Egypt, for they are first met with at Assuan, and
are erroneously called Egyptian leaves; their true native country
is the province of Dongola. The government draws its entire supply
from that province. The inhabitants of the deserts in those parts
collect them, and receive from two hundred to four hundred piasters,
according to the state of the market, for the camel-load of three
cantari, at forty-four oock’ckahs, delivered in New Dongola. As the
government would have to pay an addition of sixty to eighty piasters
on the freight of each camel-load they might draw from Kordofan,
they naturally do not obtain any leaves from that province, and
they are left to rot unused.
These are then the chief articles produced in the country, or
received transito from the bordering states.
The importation of articles for home consumption, or for trade
with other countries, is effected by caravans, the majority of
which arrive from Cairo, a far less number comes from Sennaar, and
yet less from Suakim; they return laden with a few inconsiderable
objects from Araby and India to Lobeid and Bara. Commerce is carried
on in a very dilatory manner, and the return of profits is attended
with a considerable loss of time. In the month of Ramadan, the great
Turkish fast, the most home-business is transacted. During the rainy
season all communication with other countries is cut off, and it is
a rare occurrence if a small caravan ever arrive during that period,
for every merchant is justly under the apprehension of a loss, by
the damage his goods might sustain from the heavy showers; and the
streams are, moreover, so overflowing that frequently many days
transpire before a caravan can cross them. The immense journey
of three or four months duration, and the freightage by camel
and boat, render the price of all imported articles very high in
Kordofan. This outlay would, however, be but of slight importance
in a commercial point of view, were it not for the exorbitant duty,
which so materially augments the price of the goods; such absurdity
and despotism could, in fact, only exist under the government of
Mehemed Ali; even if his realms were to extend to the assumed range
of mountains of the moon, the merchandize would have to pay customs
in each province it might pass through before reaching the place
of its destination. All goods on their arrival at Alexandria are
subjected to a moderate import duty, which, however, only franks
them to Cairo. The same goods shipped in Old Cairo to be conveyed
up the Nile must again pay as follows: in Old Cairo on an average
twelve shillings, in Dongola thirty piasters per camel-load, in
Lobeid three hundred piasters for a load of cottons, whether fine or
of inferior quality, without distinction. A camel-load of rice pays
one hundred and fifty piasters, wine one hundred piasters, brandy,
rosoglio, and rum fifty shillings ad valorem. The states of Austria
furnish the greater quantity of articles for Kordofan, the majority
of which are again exported into the negro states. England yields
only white calicos; common Bohemian linen was formerly imported,
but the more reasonable prices of cottons have quite ousted it
from the market. The following are the articles of import trade
to Kordofan: cloves, pepper, sugar, coffee, sulphur, rice, soap,
chintz and cotton prints, red and blue sackcloth, linen from Cairo
(named here _shouter melanie_), ready-made clothes for Turks, red
shoes, wine, brandy, rosoglio, vinegar, oil, green olives, cheese,
amber from Prussia (Nos. 3 to 6), opaque coral, and a few other
inconsiderable objects. The imports from the Austrian dominions
are the following: spikenard,[73] shot, dogas,[74] razors,[75]
double-edged swords,[76] camel-bells, antimony,[77] arsenic,[78]
iron and brass wire,[79] lucifers, Bohemian products, ordinary
cloths,[80] looking-glasses in paper cases, finger-rings set with
stones, glass beads of every colour,[81]—that of lapis lazuli,
is the most fashionable in Kordofan,—card-counters.[82] The sale
of glass will increase considerably in time, the whole sum expended
in this commodity at Cairo does not at present amount to more than
twenty-five pounds at the utmost. The Levantine articles are in chief
request, such as narghilé,[83] brick,[84] mastrapà,[85] syringes,
and common tumblers. From Venice the natives obtain glass beads,
and paper dressed in the Turkish fashion. Austrian manufactures
finding so ready a market in a large portion of Africa and Asia,
and Cairo being the most suitable depot, it is very astonishing
that only two Austrian commercial houses should be established
in that town: the one is a Bohemian house for the sale of glass
beads and looking-glasses, the other a Venetian for the sale of
Venetian beads. The Austrian trade thus suffers a great loss, for
the Asiatic and African merchant is forced to purchase the imperial
produce after it has passed through many hands, and as each agent
must make at least a small profit, it is evident that the price of
the articles is in this manner considerably raised.
All these goods pass through Cairo, but few of them by way of Suakim
and Sennaar. I was the first Austrian subject who made an attempt
to traffic with this country, I had not the idea of establishing
myself, for my capital was too inconsiderable for that purpose,
and, in fact, only intended to defray the expenses of my journey,
but I believe that the experience I made may be of great service
to others. I caution every one, however, who may intend visiting
this country with goods to be on his guard against the white ants,
and never to neglect placing his cases on stones, for I have
myself unfortunately been a sufferer by the ubiquity of these
destructive beasts. During my illness I was incapable of looking
after my luggage, and as a consequence found, on my recovery, all
my cottons in a perfectly unsaleable state, and this when on my
flight at a time when I had moneys to reclaim. The Termites became
the cause why I was compelled to return without a servant, and to
march during two days on foot through the Desert of Krusko. The
prices of goods vary with the seasons; thus, during the rains,
when no caravan can arrive from Egypt, and goods are consequently
scarce, the prices increase by fifty shillings of their usual cost.
_Coffee_ is imported from Abyssinia, and the ordinary price of the
rottolo is three piasters; but in the year 1838, it rose to eighteen
piasters (5_s._ 1_d._). During the rainy season sugar stood at
nine piasters per rottolo (1lb. English); rice at twelve piasters
per oock’ckah; vinegar at fifteen piasters the bottle: soap at
nine piasters the rottolo; pepper at twelve piasters; the prices
of all goods, however fall with the arrival of fresh supplies. Many
of the articles of importation are bought up by Djelabi, who trade
with the interior of the country, and barter them away for slaves
and other commodity. The commerce with the interior even requires
some experience, _e. g._ in respect to glass-beads; for, on some
of the hills, the white specimens are in request; on others the
red or blue beads are preferred, and the same rule applies to many
other articles. A great deal of salt and tobacco is imported into
the country of the Shilluks. The Djelabi, in whose hands the entire
trade may be said to rest, might turn it to far better advantage,
if they had more talent for business, and were less careless in
its transaction. Thus they pay no attention to the demands of
the market, but purchase, year after year, the same articles, sit
themselves down in a sook, and will not quit that spot in quest of
fresh supplies until they have sold the very last article, be it
ever so trifling. The value of time is totally unknown to them, and
as for leaving the remainder of their unsold goods with an agent on
commission, a son would not trust his own father, but rather lose
the most valuable time for travelling for two or three pounds of
soap, and a few trumpery glass-beads. These Djelabi are Dongolavi,
and have remained true to the character of their original parents
in Dongola. They will rather allow their goods to spoil than part
with them below their standard; they sell one article at the same
rate as one hundred articles, and make very little difference in
price as regards quality; for common or damaged cottons, rusty
or intact wire, are all sold at the same price. The merchandize
which is not damaged on the road is spoiled in the market-place,
where everything is thrown down on the sand in one large heap, and
no one troubles himself whether a person in the crowd walk over his
goods with dirty feet, or a shower drench them thoroughly. He who
first comes selects the best articles, and he who is forced to wait
until the greater part is disposed of, takes whatever he may happen
to lay his hands on, pays the same price, or sometimes even more,
considering the scarcity, but walks away equally contented.
I have convinced myself that the very commonest goods only should
be brought to this market, for every man may form an opinion of
the manner of transacting business, and of the mode in which the
merchandize is treated. I am certain that an European, accustomed
to the climate at an early age, and acquainted with the demands
of the country, who might establish a commercial-house at Lobeid,
and carry on his business with moderate caution, would realize a
handsome fortune. But, as I have before said, an European would
meet with difficulties, and irksome trials in this undertaking,
unknown to the natives. The time for engaging in a speculation of
this description is now at hand, for Mehemed Ali is about to throw
the trade open.
The currency of the country is that of Egypt, a piaster being
equal to three-pence-halfpenny English. The Maria Theresia dollar,
column-dollars, and five franc pieces, of which there are three
varieties, are taken at an estimate of twenty piasters each,
although they virtually differ in value. The dollars, however,
when in request for purchases in Darfour, are paid with twenty-two,
twenty-three, and even twenty-four piasters; in examining them, the
natives do not look to the seven points in the clasp, or the nine
points in the diadem, nor to the letters “S. F.” as is the case
in Abyssinia. No copper circulates, and very few silver piasters,
so that, indeed, in purchasing single piasters, one piaster, _agio_,
is paid for nine pieces. In addition to this coin, there is a small
coin of iron, named _hashias_, in circulation, struck during the
reign of the sultan of Darfûr, which has continued in currency since
that period: it is a small piece of iron, from two to three inches
in length, and of the form of an obtuse bibrachial anchor. 150 of
these pieces were formerly considered equivalent to one dollar;
they subsequently fell in value to 250, and their present currency
is 800 to the dollar, or one _para_ each. The weight is the same
as in Egypt, viz. 1 cantaro, equal to 100, or to 112 rottoli, or to
forty-four oock’ckah’s. The rottolo is = 144 oz., the oock’ckah
equal to 400 dir’hems. Forty-four oock’ckahs constitute about
one hundred weight. The measure for corn is the ardeb of twenty-four
_mith_, two ardebs are equivalent to three stajo of Trieste.
Common cottons will pass from hand to hand as currency, and in small
dealings half a gourd of dockn, or two handfulls may be substituted
for cash. The yard-measure in use among the natives, is the distance
from the elbow to the index-finger, adding four finger breadths.