To the north-east of Masina is situated the kingdom of Timbuctoo,
the great object of European research--the capital of this kingdom
being one of the principal marts for that extensive commerce which
the Moors carry on with the negroes. The hopes of acquiring wealth
in this pursuit, and zeal for propagating their religion, have
filled this extensive city with Moors and Mohammedan converts. The
king himself and all the chief officers of state are Moors; and they
are said to be more severe and intolerant in their principles than
any other of the Moorish tribes in this part of Africa. I was
informed by a venerable old negro, that when he first visited
Timbuctoo, he took up his lodging at a sort of public inn, the
landlord of which, when he conducted him into his hut, spread a mat
on the floor, and laid a rope upon it, saying, "If you are a
Mussulman, you are my friend--sit down; but if you are a kafir, you
are my slave, and with this rope I will lead you to market." The
present king of Timbuctoo is named Abu Abrahima. He is reported to
possess immense riches. His wives and concubines are said to be
clothed in silk, and the chief officers of state live in
considerable splendour. The whole expense of his government is
defrayed, as I was told, by a tax upon merchandise, which is
collected at the gates of the city.

The city of Houssa (the capital of a large kingdom of the same name,
situated to the eastward of Timbuctoo), is another great mart for
Moorish commerce. I conversed with many merchants who had visited
that city, and they all agreed that it is larger--and more populous
than Timbuctoo. The trade, police, and government are nearly the
same in both; but in Houssa the negroes are in greater proportion to
the Moors, and have some share in the government.