The Moors Gathering Gums
This image depicts gum production in the Senegambia region. Durand described the gum tree and how the sap is harvested. He noted that "gum from Senegal has become more important in Europe than gum from Arabia; and besides the usual application of it in manufactures and medicine. . . in several towns in France, they make it into an excellent preserve. The Moors and Negroes are very fond of eating it in its crude state" (p. 141-142). This image is one of several fanciful engravings created by the publisher for this volume and not based on an eye-witness sketch. Jean-Baptiste-Léonard Durand (1742-1812) was a French director for the Compagnie du Sénégal in 1785 and 1786. The first edition in French does not contain any images.
Image Title
The Moors Gathering Gums
RegID
SI-OB-576
Date
1806
Title
The Moors Gathering Gums
Source
Jean Baptiste Durand, A voyage to Senegal . . . translated from the French, & embellished with numerous engravings (London, 1806), between pp. 140-141.
Language
English
Item sets
Pre-Colonial Africa: Society, Polity, Culture
Spatial Coverage
Africa--Western Savanna
Reproduced In
Jean Baptiste Durand, A voyage to Senegal . . . translated from the French, & embellished with numerous engravings (London, 1806), between pp. 140-141.
Researchers
Handler, Jerome; Tuite, Michael; Randall Ericson; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May
Identifier
durand5