Journal Entries
Entry #1: On the road to Kumbi
Right now we are headed to Kumbi. We have the cross the Sahara desert, so we are camels to transport our salt. Camels can be quite efficient when crossing the Sahara. It's extremely hot, and dangerous. The sand here can shift a lot, and if were not careful our food could spoil. Good thing we have salt to preserve it. Were going to stop in Kumbi to trade some salt to water and food. We'll probably trade for a little gold as well. We'll probably have to pay a tax though for trading our goods. That's part of the way Ghana rules the trade. It's alright though, because we really need this gold and were willing to pay a price to have it. In fact, our main motive is to trade salt for gold in Wangara. They have awesome gold mines there where we can trade for big amounts of gold, and it's all silent! I have to say I'm pretty excited.
Entry #2: In Kumbi
We finally arrived in Kumbi. It's nice to have a break from the hot Sahara. Sense we are no longer in the Sahara, we are using Donkeys to transport our salt. Were also using porters as well. They help a lot. There's a lot of people here actually, and it's pretty busy. It's still pretty warm outside though. We traded some salt for food and water like I thought we would. It's nice to take a break once and a while. We had to pay a tax though, as required. Were almost to Wangara, and I'm happy we are.
Entry #3: In Wangara
We are now in Wangara. We mostly have porters to carry our salt as we head to the trading site by the river. This whole trading system is silent, so all we have to do is leave the salt by the river and beat a drum telling the people were ready to trade. No talking needed. After we lay out the salt and beat the drum, we go into hiding till they bring the gold to trade for it. After they set down the gold, they'll beat a drum and we'll come collect it. This is good for them because they do not have to tell us their secret gold mines. After we heard the drum we collected the gold and headed back. The river was located in a forest that was actually quite beautiful. The temperature wasn't to hot. We are very lucky to have this trading system because without gold, our home would have no power or a way to take care of it's people.
Entry #4: Back in Kumbi
So we made it back to Kumbi. After that long trip we decided to rest and trade some of the gold we got for some good food and a place to stay. We used porters and Donkeys to carry our stuff back. I can't wait to show off the gold we collected. We made a good success. All of these taxes we pay go straight to our king and Ghana, but that's okay because it lets us trade for the things we need. I believe it's good for our trading businesses. I'm not very excited to make the trip across the Sahara again though. It was still busy in Kumbi. I could still hear all the people chatting and trading as we left the next day. It was a successful trip though.
Right now we are headed to Kumbi. We have the cross the Sahara desert, so we are camels to transport our salt. Camels can be quite efficient when crossing the Sahara. It's extremely hot, and dangerous. The sand here can shift a lot, and if were not careful our food could spoil. Good thing we have salt to preserve it. Were going to stop in Kumbi to trade some salt to water and food. We'll probably trade for a little gold as well. We'll probably have to pay a tax though for trading our goods. That's part of the way Ghana rules the trade. It's alright though, because we really need this gold and were willing to pay a price to have it. In fact, our main motive is to trade salt for gold in Wangara. They have awesome gold mines there where we can trade for big amounts of gold, and it's all silent! I have to say I'm pretty excited.
Entry #2: In Kumbi
We finally arrived in Kumbi. It's nice to have a break from the hot Sahara. Sense we are no longer in the Sahara, we are using Donkeys to transport our salt. Were also using porters as well. They help a lot. There's a lot of people here actually, and it's pretty busy. It's still pretty warm outside though. We traded some salt for food and water like I thought we would. It's nice to take a break once and a while. We had to pay a tax though, as required. Were almost to Wangara, and I'm happy we are.
Entry #3: In Wangara
We are now in Wangara. We mostly have porters to carry our salt as we head to the trading site by the river. This whole trading system is silent, so all we have to do is leave the salt by the river and beat a drum telling the people were ready to trade. No talking needed. After we lay out the salt and beat the drum, we go into hiding till they bring the gold to trade for it. After they set down the gold, they'll beat a drum and we'll come collect it. This is good for them because they do not have to tell us their secret gold mines. After we heard the drum we collected the gold and headed back. The river was located in a forest that was actually quite beautiful. The temperature wasn't to hot. We are very lucky to have this trading system because without gold, our home would have no power or a way to take care of it's people.
Entry #4: Back in Kumbi
So we made it back to Kumbi. After that long trip we decided to rest and trade some of the gold we got for some good food and a place to stay. We used porters and Donkeys to carry our stuff back. I can't wait to show off the gold we collected. We made a good success. All of these taxes we pay go straight to our king and Ghana, but that's okay because it lets us trade for the things we need. I believe it's good for our trading businesses. I'm not very excited to make the trip across the Sahara again though. It was still busy in Kumbi. I could still hear all the people chatting and trading as we left the next day. It was a successful trip though.