The mountains near Timbuctoo, between which, Adams
describes the river to flow, have also been mentioned to
me by the traders from Barbary. D.
It is certain that Adams spoke with apparently less
confidence of the direction of the stream of the La Mar
Zarah, than of any other point of his Narrative. Nevertheless,
although he was repeatedly questioned upon the
subject, and might easily perceive that the fact of a stream
flowing in that direction, in that place, was considered
extremely improbable, he invariably stated his preponderating
belief that it did flow to the south-west.
We shall reserve for our concluding Note, a few further
remarks on this point of the Narrative; and shall only add
in this place (to Mr. Dupuis’ very probable conjecture on
the subject) that the Spanish geographer Marmol, who
describes himself to have spent twenty years of warfare and
slavery in Africa, about the middle of the 16th century,
mentions the river Lahamar as a branch of the Niger;
having muddy and unpalateable waters. By the same
authority the Niger itself is called Ypa or Issa at Tombuc-
to o ; a name which D’Anville has adopted in his maps of
Africa.
Note 14, p. 25.
The description which Adams gives of the vessels or
canoes at Timbuctoo, is,, as far as it goes, consistent with
what I recollect of his statement to me at Mogadore. But
I think he described them to me as being more numerous ;
adding, that he had seen them navigate the river in fleets of
from ten to twenty canoes together ;. that he had been
informed that they were absent occasionally a month or
more, and that frequently they returned to Timbuctoo,
laden with slaves and merchandize. He also mentioned
Jinnie to me, as a place to which, as he understood, the
inhabitants of Timbuctoo resorted for trade; and that the
communication between the two cities was by water.
I ought to observe, moreover, that these particulars correspond
in substance with the information which I have
obtained from Arab and Moorish traders respecting Timbuctoo,
and the Nile-Abide. The same persons have told
me that Jinnie lay fifteen days journey to the south-west
of Timbuctoo. D.
Note 15, p. 26.
I do not recollect to have heard dates or pine apples
mentioned by any of the natives of Barbary who have
visited Timbuctoo; but I have heard that both Jigs and