Traders of the Sahara Desert

In the 16th century, trade across the Sahara Desert provided a link between the manufactured goods, sugar and horse of Europe and North Africa and the salt, gold, ivory, perfume and slaves of the southern Africa.

The Berber merchants of the Sahara depended upon camels for transport. A caravan of 6000 camels, each of which could carry a load of 1500 pounds, could move as much goods as half a dozen ships.

Each merchant might have four camels - three for merchandise and one for provisions.

Camels were also used for ransom and as brides' dowries.

When a caravan moved, the atmosphere was that of a religious as well as a commercial enterprise, with pilgrims accompanying caravans moving north.

A leader, known as the Khabir, led the hundreds of merchants and thousands of camels that made the journey.

The Khabir was like the captain of a ship. He needed complete knowledge of the desert routes and the location of oases. He had to be able to use the suns and stars to navigate. The Khabir had to know how to avoid and deal with dangers including scorpions, sandstorms and extremes in temperature.

The Khabir was assisted by guides and officials. These included a scribe, who kept accounts and handled matters such as the property of those who died on wrote. An Imam led prayers and buried the dead.