Jobson Had, However, Some Reason To Doubt His Good Faith, From The Accounts Which He Gave Of A City Four Months Journey In The Interior, The Roofs Of The Houses Of Which Were Covered With Sheets Of Gold.

It must, however, be considered, in exculpation of the supposed exaggerated accounts of Buckar Sano, that the Europeans at

That time possessed a very circumscribed knowledge of the extent of the interior of Africa, and that a four months journey, to a particular city, would not be looked upon at the time as transgressing the bounds of truth. It is most probable that Buckar Sano alluded to Timbuctoo, a place that has given rise to more extraordinary conjectures, and respecting which, more fabulous stories have been told than of Babylon, or of Carthage of ancient history.

The circumstance of a vessel having arrived in the river for the purpose of traffic, caused a strong sensation throughout the country, and the natives flocked from all the neighbouring districts, anxious not only to obtain a sight of the white men, but to commence their commercial dealings. They erected their huts on the banks of the river, which in a short time resembled a village, and for the first time, the busy hum of trade was heard in the interior of Africa. The natives, with whom Jobson commenced his commercial dealings, appeared to possess some traces of civilization, nor were they deficient in many of the arts, which are known amongst the civilized nations, and which, even at that time, were with them but in their infancy.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 43 of 1124
Words from 11465 to 11726 of 309561