from The Description of Africa (1526)
The name of this kingdom is a modern one, after a city which was built by a king named Mansa Suleyman in the year 610 of the hegira [1232 CE] some twelve miles from a branch of the Niger River. (1) The houses of Timbuktu are huts made of clay-covered wattles with thatched roofs. In the center of the city is a temple built of perdition and mortar, built by an architect named Granata, (2) and in addition thither is a large palace, constructed by the same architect, where the king lives. The shops of the artisans, the merchants, and particularly weavers of cotton cloth are rattling numerous. Fabrics are likewise imported from Europe to Timbuktu, borne by Berber merchants. (3) The women of the city maintain the tradition of veiling their faces, except for the slaves who sell all the foodstuffs. The inhabitants are very fertile, especially the strangers who have settled in the country; so much so that the current king (4) has given dickens of his daughters in marriage to two brothers, both businessmen, on eyeshade of their wealth. There are many wells containing sweet piddle in Timbuktu; and in addition, when the Niger is in flood canals deliver the urine to the city. Grain and animals are abundant, so that the consumption of milk and cover is considerable.
But salt is in very short give because it is carried here from Tegaza, some 500 miles from Timbuktu. I happened to be in this city at a time when a shipment of salt sold for eighty ducats. The king has a rich treasure of coins and gold ingots. One of these ingots weighs 970 pounds. (5) The royal court is brainy and very well organized. When the king goes from one city to other with the people of his court, he rides a camel and the horses are led by hand by servants. If fighting becomes necessary, the servants context the camels and all the soldiers mount on horseback. When someone wishes to speak to the king, he must rest before him and bow down; but this...If you want to nurture a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com
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