Leo Africanus Describes Timbuktu to a European Audience

Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan al-Fasi (ca. 1494–1554), better known as Leo Africanus, was born in Granada to a wealthy and important Muslim family. His family left Spain and moved to the northern African city of Fez sometime in the mid-1490s, and it was there that Leo Africanus grew up. As a young man, he attended university and entered the diplomatic service of the Sultan of Fez. In this capacity he traveled the length and breadth of the Muslim world. In 1520, while on a diplomatic mission, he was captured by Spanish pirates in the Mediterranean and taken to Rome, where he was presented to Pope Leo X. Leo freed him, had him baptized, and commissioned him to write a detailed account of Africa based on his extensive travels. In the passage from his History and Description of Africa included here, Leo Africanus described the famous Ghanaian city of Timbuktu. As you read the selection, think about the aspects of the city that Leo Africanus chose to emphasize. How might his account have been influenced by the fact that it was written for a European audience?

This name was in our times (as some thinke) imposed upon this kingdome from the name of a certain towne so called, which (they say) king Mense Suleiman founded in the yeere of the Hegeira 610, and it is situate within twelve miles of a certaine branch of Niger, all the houses whereof are now changed into cottages built of chalke, and covered with thatch. Howbeit there is a most stately temple to be seene, the wals whereof are made of stone and lime; and a princely palace also built by a most excellent workeman of Granada. Here are many shops of artificers, and merchants, and especially of such as weave linnen and cotton cloth. And hither do the Barbarie-merchants bring cloth of Europe. All the women of this region except maid-servants go with their faces covered, and sell all necessarie victuals. The inhabitants, & especially strangers there residing, are exceeding rich, insomuch, that the king that now is, married both his daughters unto two rich merchants. Here are many wels, containing most sweete water; and so often as the river Niger overfloweth, they conveigh the water thereof by certaine sluces into the towne. Corne, cattle, milke, and butter this region yeeldeth in great abundance: but salt is verie scarce heere; for it is brought hither by land from Tegaza, which is five hundred miles distant. When I my selfe was here, I saw one camels loade of salt sold for 80 ducates. The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and scepters of gold, some whereof weigh 1300 poundes: and he keepes a magnificent and well furnished court. When he travelleth any whither he rideth upon a camell, which is lead by some of his noblemen; and so he doth likewise when hee goeth to warfar, and all his souldiers ride upon horses. Whosoever will speake unto this king must first fall downe before his feete, & then taking up earth must sprinkle it upon his owne head & shoulders: which custom is ordinarily observed by them that never saluted the king before, or come as ambassadors from other princes. He hath alwaies three thousand horsemen, and a great number of footmen that shoot poysoned arrowes, attending upon him. They have often skirmishes with those that refuse to pay tribute, and so many as they take, they sell unto the merchants of Tombuto. Here are verie few horses bred, and the merchants and courtiers keepe certaine little nags which they use to travell upon: but their best horses are brought out of Barbarie. And the king so soone as he heareth that any merchants are come to towne with horses, he commandeth a certaine number to be brought before him, and chusing the best horse for himselfe, he payeth a most liberall price for him. He so deadly hateth all Jewes, that he will not admit any into his citie: and whatsoever Barbarie merchants he understandeth have any dealings with the Jewes, he presently causeth their goods to be confiscate. Here are great store of doctors, judges, priests, and other learned men, that are bountifully maintained at the kings cost and charges. And hither are brought divers manuscripts or written bookes out of Barbarie, which are sold for more money than any other merchandize. The coine of Tombuto is of gold without any stampe or superscription: but in matters of smal value they use certaine shels brought hither out of the kingdome of Persia, fouer hundred of which shels are worth a ducate: and sixe peeces of their golden coine with two third parts weigh an ounce. The inhabitants are people of a gentle and chereful disposition, and spend a great part of the night in singing and dancing through all the streets of the citie: they keep great store of men and women slaves, and their towne is much in danger of fire: at my second being there halfe the town almost was burnt in five houers space. Without the suburbs there are no gardens nor orchards at all.

This large towne built without walles in manner of a village, standeth about twelve miles from Tombuto upon the river Niger: and here such merchants as travel unto the kingdomes of Ghinea and Melli embarke themselves. Neither are the people or buildings of this towne any whit inferiour to the people and buildings of Tombuto; and hither the Negros resort in great numbers by water. In this towne the king of Tombuto appointeth a judge to decide all controversies; for it were tedious to goe thither so oft as need should require. I my selfe am acquainted with Abu Bacr, sirnamed Pargama, the kings brother, who is blacke in colour, but most beautifull in minde and conditions. Here breed many diseases which exceedingly diminish the people; and that by reason of the fond and loathsome mixture of their meats; for they mingle fish, milke, butter, and flesh altogither. And this is the ordinarie food also in Tombuto.

The great towne of Gago being unwalled also, is distant southward from Tombuto almost fouer hundred miles, and enclineth somewhat to the southeast. The houses thereof are but meane, except those wherein the king and his courtiers remaine. Here are exceeding rich merchants: and hither continually resort great store of Negros which buy cloth here brought out of Barbarie and Europe. This towne aboundeth with corne and flesh, but is much destitute of wine, trees, and fruits. Howbeit here is plentie of melons, citrons, and rice: here are many welles also containing most sweete and holesome water. Here is likewise a certaine place where slaves are to be sold, especially upon such daies as the merchants use to assemble; and a yoong slave of fifteene yeeres age is sold for sixe ducates, and so are children sold also. The king of this region hath a certaine private palace wherein he maintaineth a great number of concubines and slaves, which are kept by eunuches: and for the guard of his owne person he keepeth a sufficient troupe of horsemen and footmen. Betweene the first gate of the palace and the inner part thereof, there is a place walled round about wherein the king himselfe decideth all his subjects controversies: and albeit the king be in this function most diligent, and performeth all things thereto appertayning, yet hath he about him his counsellors & other officers, as namely his secretaries, treasurers, factors, and auditors. It is a woonder to see what plentie of Merchandize is dayly brought hither, and how costly and sumptuous all things be. Horses bought in Europe for ten ducates, are here sold againe for fortie and sometimes for fiftie ducates a piece. There is not any cloth of Europe so course, which will not here be sold for fouer ducates an elle, and if it be anything fine they will give fifteene ducates for an ell: and an ell of the scarlet of Venice or of Turkie-cloath is here worth thirtie ducates. A sword is here valued at three or fouer crownes, and so likewise are spurs, bridles, with other like commodities, and spices also are sold at an high rate: but of al other commodities salt is most extremelie deere. The residue of this kingdome containeth nought but villages and hamlets inhabited by husbandmen and shepherds, who in winter cover their bodies with beasts skins; but in sommer they goe all naked save their privie members; and sometimes they weare upon their feet certaine shooes made of camels leather. They are ignorant and rude people, and you shall scarce finde one learned man in the space of an hundred miles. They are continually burthened with grievous exactions, so that they have scarce any thing remaining to live upon.

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