depend altogether upon the correctness of the assumed
point of departure from which it is traced; and it will
probably be remarked, that as the fact of the shipwreck
proves the master to have been mistaken in his estimate of
longitude, we may fairly presume that he was at least
equally mistaken in his latitude; since the known direction
of the currents which prevail on this part of the African
eoast (by which he was probably misled) would doubtless;
carry the ship at least as far to the southward of her reckoning,
as the fact of the wreck proves that she was carried to
the eastward*
Admitting the force- o f this consideration, we may
observe, that in the degree in which it tends to invalidate
the accuracy of the master’s estimate,: it corroborates the
precision of Adams’s recollections—his line of journey (as
now traced from the master’s position of the shipwreck),,
lying actually a little further to the north than is requisite
to bring him to the supposed situation of Tombuctoo-
There is not, however, any sufficient ground for believing
that Captain Harrison’s estimates, after the loss of his ship;
did not include all the allowances for the effect of the
currents, which we are now contemplating, and which that
misfortune was calculated to suggest ;• and we are, consequently,
not at liberty to deviate from his opinion merely
to fit the circumstances to Adams’s story. Nevertheless,
this opinion (which may be erroneous) must be taken, in
conjunction with Adams’s description of the place where
they were cast away ; and the only certain conclusion thus
deducible from the Narrative appears to be,— that the
“ Charles” was wrecked on a ledge of low rocks, projecting
from a level sandy coast, not far from the latitude
of Cape Blanco.
With respect to other positions in the Map, we have only
to explain,—that the latitude of Park’s lines of journey from
the Gambia to Silla is adjusted from the data afforded by
his last Mission; but that Major Rennell’s situation of
Tombuctoo has been retained.
A conjectural junction has been suggested between
Adams’s river La Mar Zarali and the Niger; and a suppositious
course has also been assigned to the -latter river,
above the point to which Park’s personal observation
extended, in order to illustrate the question discussed in the
Appendix, No. I.
' In a publication professedly intended to promote, in
however trifling a degree, our acquaintance with the interior
of Africa, it has not appeared improper to advert to the
question of the termination of the Niger; and the outline
of the Map has accordingly been extended to the Zaire