VIIᵉ siècle – XVIᵉ siècle
Western Sudanese goldfields
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The “silent trade” was a form of barter in which northern traders placed goods on a riverbank, withdrew, and awaited the arrival of local gold producers. The local participants deposited gold beside the goods and retreated, allowing the traders to accept the amount or wait for more. Although the pages caution that the practice may not have been as widespread as repeated accounts suggest, it became a prominent description of the guarded commercial relations surrounding western Sudanese goldfields.
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Le récit
The “silent trade” is presented as a peculiar form of barter used where gold producers were reluctant to meet local or foreign traders directly. Traders from the north placed their goods on the bank of a river and withdrew. People from the gold-producing country then brought gold, placed part of it against each pile of goods, and retreated again.
The exchange proceeded through repeated withdrawals and inspections. When signaled, the traders returned and took the gold if they considered the amount sufficient; otherwise, they withdrew and waited for the local people to add more. Once the traders disappeared with the gold, the local buyers collected the goods they had acquired through this procedure.
The pages warn that the practice was probably not as general as repeated Arab and European accounts implied. Nevertheless, its secrecy encouraged speculation about why gold producers avoided direct contact. Explanations ranged from European fantasies about the appearance of the goldfield populations to the report that local people regarded white men as monsters.
VIIᵉ siècle – XVIᵉ siècle
Western Sudanese goldfields
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The “silent trade” was a form of barter in which northern traders placed goods on a riverbank, withdrew, and awaited the arrival of local gold producers. The local participants deposited gold beside the goods and retreated, allowing the traders to accept the amount or wait for more. Although the pages caution that the practice may not have been as widespread as repeated accounts suggest, it became a prominent description of the guarded commercial relations surrounding western Sudanese goldfields.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The “silent trade” is presented as a peculiar form of barter used where gold producers were reluctant to meet local or foreign traders directly. Traders from the north placed their goods on the bank of a river and withdrew. People from the gold-producing country then brought gold, placed part of it against each pile of goods, and retreated again.
The exchange proceeded through repeated withdrawals and inspections. When signaled, the traders returned and took the gold if they considered the amount sufficient; otherwise, they withdrew and waited for the local people to add more. Once the traders disappeared with the gold, the local buyers collected the goods they had acquired through this procedure.
The pages warn that the practice was probably not as general as repeated Arab and European accounts implied. Nevertheless, its secrecy encouraged speculation about why gold producers avoided direct contact. Explanations ranged from European fantasies about the appearance of the goldfield populations to the report that local people regarded white men as monsters.
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