The same must be understood of the river of the Antelopes, or
Wad-el-Gazel, which is marked by Mr. Browne, (p. 465,) at two
journies to the NW of the lake Fittré; and by Mr. Beaufoy at the
distance of one journey from die capital of Bournu. Mr. Horneman
indeed was told, that the Wad-el-Gazel was not a river, but a fruitful
and well inhabited valley, It is probably both : that is, a fertile
valley, with a river running through it. Hence we must suppose
the Wad-el-Gazel to be another river that falls into the lake Fittré,
from the north ; and consequently, the lake itself, to be the receptacle'of
the eastern waters of the interior of North Africa.
Edrisi places Semegonda at ten journies to the westward or SW
of Kauga, (our Fittré,) and within theeountry of Wangara, which
is entirely surrounded by the branches of the Niger, and periodically
inundated by its waters 1 and it is clear that he believed, that there
was a water communication between Wangara and Kauga; because
he says, (p. 7.) that salt was conveyed all along the Niger, eastward
to that point. It may be remarked, that- Horneman says, that the
people of Fittré (Kauga) have no salt, but what they obtain from
vegetable substances.*
* It should be observed, that Edrisi, (p. 13,) reckons Kauga to the country of
Wangara ; although some, says he, reckon it to belong to Kanem.
It is proper in this place to restate and correct the line of distance between Gann
and Dmgolfl! which will be found in the Proceed. Afr. Assoc, for 1.798, p. IÍJ2.
There it appears, that Kauga is-given by Edrisi, at 3© journies, equal on his scale,
to 570 G . miles from Dongdla; and it is found by Mr. Browne’s statement, to Tall
at 578. Again, Mr. Horneman says, that Fittré, (or Kauga,) iis 40 journies to the
-eastward o f Kgshna, (See above, p. 1.38.) This interval of distance, taking Kashna
as it is placed in the Map of 1798, is 653 G . miles ; equal to 16 f per day ; and is
perfectly satisfactory. Edrisi allows 36 journies between Gana and Kauga ; so -that
by this account, Gan» ought to be nearer to Kauga, by four journies, than Kashni
is. In the Map o f 1798, Gana.is placed eight miles too far to the east. (See the
If there be, as Edrisi says, ( page 7,) a water communication .between
Kauga and Wangara) (no matter which way the water runs),
the fact of a common level; would, of course, be proved; and then
it must be admitted to be highly improbable, that any part of the
course of the White River, southward of Darfoor, should be on a
lower level, than the lake of. Fittré. But, perhaps, some may doubt
the authority of Edrisi; in this- point; and possibly, the more.so,
since he says, that the Niger runs to the west.
But placing this circumstance out of the question, and leaving
the facts, set forth by Mr. Browne and Mr. Horneman, to speak for
themselves, it may be asked,
Próóeeá. p. 121 ) This doffectéd, Gana will be 82 from!Kashna ;" which, however,
is, still too much for four journies, and agrees bettef to five.1;:
Th e interval thus corrected, between Gana and Kauga, ds 575^0. miles, ip direct
distance ; which allows no more than 15 ! per day, for Edrisi’ s 3.6 days ; whilst his
ordinary scale is 19. I f therefore, the repm^f-Edrisi is right, Qana must either lie
more to the west, or the course of the Niger, along Which His route leads, to within
ten jotirnies of Kauga, must form a very deep curvé to'the' áoüth^kftéí passing the
xJohuriións of Hoüssaj (of which Gana makes a part.)*' Th a t it doés-decliné to the
south., - Mr.' Hornepian was repeatedly informed, as may he seen ahoye, pages 115»
1 17, but whether in a degree sufficient to occasion the. difference above-mentioned,
is not ascertained.
M. D ’Anville falso had an idea, and so describes it, in his M^p of. A frica, 1749>
(possibly from actual information), that the Niger-declined to'* the .spilth beyond
Gana ; so. that the termination of it, in the lake of .Semegonda, was 3 i degrees of
latitude to the south o f Gana ; and whicn, by the b.ye, would place' thp lake, of Semegonda,
about the same parallel with the Bahr. Hemad of Mr. IjSrowne., At present,
however, we must be content lyith proportioning, the distance t between Gana and
Kauga; which, admitting a curvature to the south, allows,a rate of or i6 f ; or
that of ordinary caravan travelling. It has. been shewn .that Horneman’s report of
the distance .between Kashna and Filtre, is very consistent: and. there can be no
question, that, o f thé two, we ought to prefer Horneman*s report, from its being less
subject to error than the other, which has passed through 50 many hands, in its
way to us. z