The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-03-26
SCENES IN TIMBUcToo.
1t is IL Place Rarely Seen by the Ont
side World.

From the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.
Africa and Asia have each a city which
is famous for its inhospilality to the white
race. Lhasa, the chief town of Thibet, and
Timbuctoo, the best known city of the
Western Soudan, have the reputation of
being the most inaccessible towns in the
world, and to this fact is due half of their
fame.
For twenty-seven years after Barth spent
some time in Timbuetoo, no European en-
tered the city until Dr. Oskar LEM visited
the place in 1880. He has published in
German the story of that remarkable jour
ney and an account of some things he saw
in the forbidden city is here condensed
from his narrative.
Barth, one of the greatest scientific trav-
elers of all time, entered Timbuctooin 1853,
and spent over seven months in and around
that town. He collected an astonishing
amount of minute information about the
country, town and people. After his visit
no European or Christian saw Timbuctoo
until July /, 1880, when Dr. LEM, in the
garb of Mohammedan traveller, first saw
the city. We can imagine his Joyful and
yet anxious feelings as his little party,
trayel-stained from their long journey across
the northern wastes approached the forbid
den city He remained there only three
weeks, and part of the time he was i'll Of
fever; but he collected great deal of in
formation, and devotes over fifty pages of
his book to the city.
Timbuctoo lies nine miles north of the
Niger River, and about 500 feet above the
sea. Its geographical position has not been
calculated to a nicety, for the suspicious of
the natives have made astronomical obser-
vations difficult, The city contains neither
public squares nor gardens. The oul ly ver-
dure is four or five sickly little trees. The
town is not healthfpl. Numerous pools Of
stagnant water between the city and the
Niger breed fevers The town has grown
since Barths time, but its growth is very
slow. Lenz estimates the population at
10000. The only public buildings are the
mosques, and no European has ever entered
them except Caille. Schools are connected
with the mosques, and here are collections
Of manuscripts, many of them doubtless of
much historical Importance, though Barth
translated and published the most valuable
of them. Most of the inhabitants can read
and write, and know a large part of the
Koran by heart. Some of the men are re-
nowned for their learning. LEM says that
if he could have spared the money he might
have purchased some very interesting man
useripts It was pity that he had to hus-
band his resources for his further Journey.
The population is composed Of various
elements. Moroccan Arabs are the most
substantial and important element. Most
of them are very dark in color on account
of the large admixture of negro blood in
their veins Light-eolored women are very
rarely seen. There is in Timbuctoo a great
mixture of people from all over the West
ern Soudan and the negro countries south
Of it, the Western Sahara, and the Mediter-
ranean States. Timbuctoo is big market,
a meeting place Of traders where the pro-
ducts of the south are exchanged for those
of the north. 1t was never the chief town
of a large country. 1t is not Joined in in
terest and political bonds with the regions
around it. 1t is a market-place, an impor-
tant one, to be sure, but still it has no
prospect apparently of developing into a
large city like some of the capitals of the
Soudanese States unless European inf1u-
ences finally fasten upon it.
DIR, Lenzs little party excited the great
est curiosity, and his house was usually
crowded with visitors Among the throng
were rich traders from Rhadames in the
Sahara, blue cloth hiding all of their faces
except the eyes; Moorish merchants from
Morocco, and big, splendidly developed
Fulbe, great fanatics aud distrustful of for
eigners.
The Kahia, or mayor of the town, sent
to the doctor, who was supposed to be
person of great consequence travelling
through the country, good dinner on the
day of his arrival The feast included
roast beef, roast chicken, vegetables and
fresh wheat bread of excellent quality.
There was nothing to drink except water.
No other beverage is permitted in Timbuc-
too. During his three weeks residence in
the city, DIR. LEM did not find it necessary
to buy any provisions. He was looked
upon as the city's guest, and he and his
party were amply supplied with all they
needed by the Kahia. Curiously enough,
though many fish are taken from the Niger
river, they form no part of the food of the
well-to-do. Fish are reserved for negro
slaves and the poorer people. Food sup