s this letter gh;
which demonstrates, that his knowledge of the Arabic was only
scholastic, not practical. It has no resemblance or affinity to
gh, and would be unintelligible if so pronounced to an Arab.]

Page 193. The government of Jinnee appears to be Moorish; because
_Malai Smaera_, which should be written _Mulai Smaera_, signifies
in the Arabic language, the _Prince Smaera_: the term does not
belong to Negroes, but exclusively to Muhamedans. _Malai Bacharoo_
is a Negro corruption of the word; it should be _Mulai_, or _Muley
Bukaree_; i.e. the _Abeed Mulai Bukaree_, or _Abeed Seedi Bukaree_.
They are well known among the Negroes of Sudan; the Negroes of this
race form the present body-guard of the Emperor of Maroceo's
troops, consisting of 5000 horse. They are dexterous in the
management of the horse, are well-disciplined troops, and are the
only military in the Emperor's army that can cope with the
Berebbers of the Atlas.

Note, p. 194. Dapper's description of Africa is here quoted in
confirmation of the decay of Timbuctoo; and Jackson is accused of
extravagance. The latter I shall pass over, it being an assertion
unsupported by any substantial testimony; but immediately
afterwards is the following passage.

"The three last kings before Billa (_i.e. Billabahada_) were
Osamana, (_i.e._ Osaman; Osamana being the feminine gender,)
Dawoloo, and Abass. Mr. Jackson says there was a King Woolo
reigning in 1800; and a Moor who had come from Timbuctoo to
Comassee ten years ago (viz. about 1807, or ten years before Mr.
482 Bowdich visited Ashantee), did not know King Woolo was dead, as he
was reigning at the time he left Timbuctoo."

With regard to Dapper's assertion, it should be remembered, that if
Timbuctoo was decaying in his time, that is about the period that
Muley Ismael ascended the throne of Marocco, viz. in 1672; it
revived very soon after, that is before the close of the 17th
century. This powerful and warlike prince had the address to
establish and to maintain a very strong garrison at Timbuctoo; and
accordingly, during his long reign of fifty-five years, viz. from
1672 to 1727, Timbuctoo carried on a constant, extensive, and
lucrative trade with Marocco, Tafilelt, and Fas, in gold dust,
gum-sudan, ostrich-feathers, iv