| Original Message: Au Sahara II. Arts et Symboles |
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by Jean Gabus (1958). It was a rare book here in the US and I had to get it on inter-library loan. I think there is a German translation. Gabus visited Niger, Sudan, and Nigeria in 1942, then in 1946-7. In 1950-1 he was in Niger, Sudan, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, and Mauritania. In 1952-53 he visited Algeria, Niger and Mali. There is only one short paragraph in the entire book that relates to amber, so I'll quote it: Lambre: Lambre, limit la Mauritanie, a des valeurs prophylactiques. Depuis longtemps dj, dastucieux marchands syriens ont parcouru les marchs sahariens, les camps importants pour changer les boules dambre authentique des Maures meyyal contre des imitations bien rondes et polies en matire synthtique. Ces fausses perles sintgrent dans les coiffures fminines et s'associent des perles de verre et dagathe dans de nombreux colliers. My translation (French speakers, please correct if needed!) Amber: Amber, limited to Mauritania, has prophylactic values. For a long time already, astute Syrian merchants traveled Saharan markets and major camps to exchange genuine amber balls of Mauritanian "meyyal" for well rounded and polished imitation plastic. These fake beads are integrated in the women's hairstyles and combine with glass beads and agate in many necklaces. It makes sense that Syrian traders were working in the French Sahara countries since Syria was under French control from about the end of WWI to 1946, which includes the period of control by Vichy France (German-controlled). All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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