The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-03-26

plies were as abundant as in the best towns
of Morocco and the table and domestic
service were equal to that found in Fez
As DIR. LEM and his comrades had plenty
of coffee, tea and tobacco of their own. they
lacked for nothing in Timbuctoo to make
them comfortable
After the long journey across the desert
the abundance of animal life at Timbuctoo
was pleasing sight There were large
herds of humpbacked cattle grazing between
the town and the river Thousands of
goats and woolless sheep were scattered
here and there over the plain, and there
were big troops of camels and asses, and
horses, too, besides large numbers of tame
ostriches, robbed of their plumage, and
anything but attractive objects in their
despoiled condition. Most of the ostrich
feathers, however, are obtained from the
wild birds, which are hunted on horses
The plumage of the wild birds is more
beautiful and costly than that of the os-
triches in captivity. Cattle, as well as
camels, are used in the local transport ser
vice, but, of course, the cattle are not fitted
for travel in the desert The horses are a
small race, but have endurance and speed
The chief authority of the townis vested
in the Kahia, Muhamed Er-Rami, whose
family is recognized as the ruling family.
He is a descendant of an Andalusian Arab,
who, after his people We're driven out of
Spain, finally made his way across the des
ert to Timbuctoo Through marriage with
negro women the members of this family
have become very dark in color, and the
present Kahia has the aspect of negro
There is cunning in his face, but he is
good-natured withal, laughs heartily, and
is greatly interested in all new things. DIR.
LEM says there is nothing fanatical about
him, and that if he should ever take severe
measures against the Christian in Timbuc-
too, it would be because he was compelled
to do so by the powerful influence he could
not control. He has little influence in ex-
ternai politics, as, for instance, in the never
ending feuds between the Tuarees and the
Fulbes.
Almost daily the Kahia, in company with
some of the learned men of the town, visited
DR.. LEM for discussion, chiefly upon re-
ligious matters. Some of these scholars
were almost white, like many Moors in
Morocco. Their fathers, like themselves.
had married only pure-blooded Arab women.
Most Of the women in Timbuctco are of
negro descent.
The time was when morocco welded enor-
nous influence in Timbuctoo, and carried
ON large trade with that town El-Kal, a
former sultan Of Morocco marked out with
wooden posts a caravan route clear across
the desert of Timbuctoo. Morocco now,
] however, has absolutely no influence in
| the town. and the Moroccan trade is COM
paratively small. The Sultan of Morocco
is known as a great scherif, but the people
care nothing about him. Times have
changed since his soldiers knocked at the
very doors of the Southern town and many
/ trading caravans annually made the jour
ney between the Mediterranean State and
I Timbuctoo
For a century the Tuaregs of the desert
and the Fulbe Of the Soudan have been
usually on hostile terms, and Timbuctoo,
open ON every side, mas naturally suffered.
/ In fact, the town has often been the prize
Of war, and as these people compose a con
siderable part of tho population of the Town,
their differences have been the main feature
of the political strife. The Tuaregs do
not live south of Timbuctoo. The country
surrounding the town is thickly peopled
particularly towards the east, with natives
living in tents.
DIR. LEM believes that if France gains
the ascandency for which she is striving on
the middle Niger and firmly establishes
herself at Timbuctoo, she can make that
place the center of enormous influence for
the spread of her trade If France expects
to enlist any part of the native population
in her work, she must keep her eye chiefly
upon the Fulbe, whose influence in the
Western and Central Soudan does not yet
appear to have reached its highest point :,
Since DIR. Lena's visit, the French, de-
scending the Niger in a gunboat, have
twice reached the environs of the town.
Lying on the boundary, between the Sou
dan and the Sahara, Timbuctoo has a most
favorable situation, and when France
achieves her ambition and possesses the
place, she will be On the high road to COM
plete ascendency in that part of Africa
S-S%