Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855Barth, Heinrich
History
Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855
Barth, Heinrich
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel
What the revenue of the sultan may at present amount to, it is difficult
to say. His means and income consist chiefly in the presents which he
receives on his accession to authority, in a contribution of one
bullock’s hide or kulábu (being about the value of half a Spanish
dollar) from each family, in a more considerable but rather uncertain
tribute levied upon the Imghád, in the tax of ten mithkáls or four
Spanish dollars which he levies on each camel-load of foreign
merchandise which enters the town of Ágades[188] (articles of food being
exempt from charge), in a small tribute derived from the salt brought
from Bílma, and in the fines levied on lawless people and marauders, and
often on whole tribes. Thus it is very probable that the expedition
which ʿAbd el Káder undertook immediately after his accession, against
the tribes who had plundered us, enriched him considerably. As for the
inhabitants of Ágades themselves, I was assured that they do not pay him
any tribute at all, but are obliged only to accompany him on his
expeditions. Of course in earlier times, when the commerce of the town
was infinitely greater than at present, and when the Imghád (who had to
provide him with cattle, corn, fruit, and vegetables) were strictly
obedient, his income far exceeded that of the present day. When taken
altogether it is certainly considerably under twenty thousand dollars.
His title is Amanókal, or Amanókal Imakóren, in Temáshight, Kókoy[189]
bére in the Emgédesi, and Babá-n-Serkí, in the Háusa language.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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