200 APPENDIX No. I.
near to the rock Gouvins. His account is supported by
the fact, that Bammakoo is at the commencement of the
Mandingo Nations; but the representation of the river
above it, according to our maps, gives no idea of the
further voyage which he speaks of. Mr. Park does not
notice the existence of the falls of Sootasoo, but from his
description of the rapids at Bammakoo, there is every
reason to believe that they are the same* He tells us,
that at th a tf season (21st August) the river was navigable
over the rapids. AYe are consequently to understand, that
at other seasons it is not navigable over them even downwards
; and that, although he avoided the principal falls,
where, as he says, the water breaks with considerable noise
in the middle of the river, and paddled down one of the
branches near the shore j still the velocity was such, as to
make him sigh 4
Major Rennell, who appears to have obtained from Mr.
Park information upon geographical matters, far beyond
Matins, and have ascertained by Mr. Park’s discoveries, that the river does not
actually approach the rock Gouvinu; but it should be observed that the rock
was the only point in that part of Africa to which the interpreter could refer as
known to the person to whom his communication was addressed. The Man-
dingo nations commence to the eastward at about Bammakoo, and extend
some distance to the north-west, and to the west almost to the sea coast. Prom
this circumstance therefore, as well as from the mention of the rock Gouvina,
it is evident that the country spoken of must be to the west of Bammakoo.
* The country in which Bammakoo is situated, and a very extensive tract
to the westward, is stated by D’AnviUe to be be inhabited by a people called
Soosos.
f Last Mission, page 257. $ Idem, page 258.
that which is to be collected by the mere perusal of his
first Journey, states, that* the Niger first becomes navigable
at Bammakoo, or perhaps, that it is only navigable upwards
to that point in a continuous course from Tombuctoo. His
latter supposition is most probably correct, as it does not
militate against the existence of a navigation, not continuous,
beyond Bammakoo, nor against the fact proved by Mr.
Park in his second mission, that at particular seasons the
rapids may be passed downwards. It is also clear from
Park, that there is, at least to a certain distance, above
Bammakoo, a populous and trading country ; as it was at
Kancaba (called in the maps Kaniaba)-f~ that Karfa Taura
bought his slaves before proceeding to the coast. It is
called a large town on the banks of the Niger, and a great
slave market; and is placed by Major Rennell, (doubtless
on the authority of Park) above Bammakoo.J Most of the
slaves, Mr. Park savs, who are sold at Kancaba, come
from Bambarra: for Mansong, to avoid the expense and
danger of keeping all his prisoners at Sego, commonly
sends them in small parties to be sold at the different
trading towns; and as Kancaba is much resorted to by
merchants, it is always well supplied with slaves, which are
sent thither up the Niger in canoes. It cannot be supposed
that this resort of merchants, is from places down the river;
that they leave the great markets of Sego and Sansanding,
to labour over the rapids to Kancaba; or that the slaves
would be sent there to be bought by merchants who could;
* First Journey, Appendix, xliy. t Idem. p. 275,
| Idem, Major Rennctl’s Maps.
D d