Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

406 APPENDIX.
loquacity is the gi^eat need of conversation,
wliicli I cannot enjoy here, as there is no one
with whom I can converse, and there are times
when talking is ahnost a necessity, at any rate,
it can injure no one if I make some remarks on
countries which are but httle frequented.
" I have brought before you the slave-trade to
the Red Sea, and from there to Arabia, without
being able to give any exact account as to the
number of slaves who pass through this portion
of Abyssinia, it must, however, be considerable,
for, notwithstanding the export by routes not
under inspection, the Customs of Tigre, Eudarte,
Wolkeit, and Wogara, as also from Halai to
Gondar, and to there from Wolkait and Eudarte,
from the
year 1836 to 1855, have brought in
the yearly receipt of from 8000 to 10,000
thalers (and there is but little doubt that a hke
sum is lost to the Regent by the fraud of his
employes). The above calculations do not include
the Customs receipts on ordinary articles
of commerce. Some slaves go from Godscham
and its neighbourhood by Matemma to the
Sennaar, and from there to Egypt. In Khartoom,
the sale of slaves is encouraged by some
ill-conditioned, avaricious Europeans. And in
Matemma there is actually a European to be
found who deals in slaves (?). Formerly some
slaves went from Schoo and the Adal to the
Arabian seaport of Mocca (Mokka).