In Gao, he had still other opportunities for shopping. In the past, several centuries ago, a large native empire had existed in this part of the French Sudan. Today, the natives dig among the ruins and emerge with necklace beads usually of semi-precious stones, little statuettes, and sometimes articles of gold or silver. These are available in profusion in the local marketplace. From Gao we caught a river barge up to Timbuktu and there Gerry had a field day. The native women here make jewelry of what is called "Timbuktu gold." It is actually beeswax as a base and covered with straw which has been dyed a bright golden yellow. Bracelets, necklaces and earrings of this strange material are worn by all the native women and can be purchased from them for a few pennies per item. Gerry laid in a stock. We also went through the markets buying Taureg (desert warrior) weapons and taboo pouches in which the Tauregs keep their good luck charms. Each Taureg wears several of these and some will be burdened down with as many as twenty. Made of leather, they are extremely picturesque. Gerry laid in a stock. From Timbuktu we caught the river steamer Gallieni to Mopti at a cost of 4,166 francs. The price was so high because the Mississippi steamboat type vessel was packed except for first class, but this still came to only $9 or so and we were aboard for several days, eating like kings (even wine came free with the meals) and living in luxurious quarters. Hippopotami and crocodiles were among the river life we saw daily. Mopti is another big native center and once again Gerry hustled around the markets, buying an item here, an item there. I noticed he bought only the cheaper native handicrafts. Never gold work, and seldom silver. From Mopti we hitched a ride on a bus (bribed a ride would be better since we had to pay the driver) to Bamako, capital of French Sudan and from here we were able to catch the bush train to Dakar on the Atlantic coast. We had to wait a week or so in Dakar before getting passage on the Lyautey, which took us to Casablanca after a stop at the Canary Islands. From Casa a bus took us back to Tangier where we both had left most of our things. Dakar had proven another fertile field for Gerry's buying campaign. The natives have a jungle rather than a desert culture and
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