which is to be found in L a b a t’s co llection, published in 1 7 2 8 ; although the detail differs in some points. H e says, V o l. ii. p. t6 x , e t seq. that the M a n - d i n g a merchants rep or t that the N ig e r (by which he always means the Senegal riv er) springs from the la k e Maberia, whose situation could not be ascertained. T h a t the Gamb ia riv e r was a branch o f the N ig e r ; separating from it at B a ra co ta (a position also unknown) and that it passed through a marshy lake , in its wa y to B a ra c on d a ; where the English and Portuguese had settlements. T h a t the N ig e r , at a point b e low Baracota, sent forth another branch, namely, the F a lem e r iv e r ; which encompassed the country o f Bambouk, and afterwards jo in ed the N ig e r in the country o f Gallam. A n d finally, that the same N ig e r , b y its separation into two branches, formed a v e ry considerable island ab ov e Ka s son . I t may b e remarked, that a b e lie f o f these circumstances, manifests a gross state o f ignorance respecting the interior o f the co u n try ; since such derivations from rivers, are found on ly in a llu v ia l trac ts : and it happens, that sca rcely any levels v a r y more than those, through which the rivers in question p ass; as will appear in the sequel. T h e y likewise repor t (p. 16 3 .) that on the east o f the lake M ab e r ia lies the kingdom o f Guinbala-, within which, is the river o f Guien, which passes near the city o f T om b u c to o . A g a in (V o l. iii. p. 361 to 364) it is said that T om b u c to o is n o t situated on the bank o f the N ig e r , but at ab out six leagues inland from i t : and that in passing to it, from Gallam (which is reported to be a jo u rn e y o f thirty-two days only), they g o through T im b i, five journ ie s short o f T om b u c to o ; where they lea v e the bank o f the fiv e r , to a v o id too grea t a detour. L a b a t does n o t state in p os itive terms that the N ig e r o r r iv e r o f Senegal affords a continuous navigation, from the falls o f G o v in e a (ab ov e Galiam) to T om b u c to o : but that he believed it, is strongly implied, b y what appears afterwards, in p. 3 6 7 , 3 6 8 ; that is, a p ro je c t o f a trade to T om b u c to o ; “ b y keeping an establishment o f v essels ab ove the falls; which vessels might ascend the N ig e r to a point opposite to T om b u c to o , thereb y saving the great expence and fatigue o f a land jo u rn e y .” H e r e then, we trace the idea o f the la k e o f Maberia, the supposed head o f the N ig e r ; and the river o f T om b u c to o , under the name o f G u ie n ; and moreover, (although these are not expressly said to communicate) a continued navigation from G allam to T om b u c to o . B u t it must surely h av e struck those on the spot, to inquire.whetber any boats ever descended from T om b u c to o to the falls o f G o v in e a ? I t is certain that Delisle, (as well as D ’A n v ille , whose general ideas are much the same in this p articular* ) regards the r iv e r G u ien , as having no communication with the la k e Mab e r ia , but makes it flow from a different lake , at no great distance to the northward: so that these geographers so far understood the matter r igh t; and denied the practicability o f a continuous navigation to T om b u c to o : but then, they erred v e ry grea tly in placing the head o f the Senegal, either so remotely, o r in the eastern q u a r te r ; since it rises in the south-east. W e must regard the geography o f M . D 'A n v ille , as the most p e rfe ct o f all, previous to the inquiries made b y the A f r i c a n A s s oc i a t i o n . T h e researches made under the direction o f this Asso ciation , have already established on re co rd, from the reports o f M a jo r H ou ghton, and o f M r . Ma gra, although in a v ague w a y , the general position o f the sources o f the lolrb.i, o r N iger, in o r near the country o f M a h d in g ; as well as its easterly, o r north-easterly course, towards T om b u c to o ; the position o f Bammako o, situated near the highest navigahle point o f its course; o f Sego , and J en n e , along its banks; the separation o f its waters, into two channels, in the quarter o f T om b u c to o ; together with a v a gu e idea o f the position o f that city itself. I t will be shewn, in the sequel, that M r . P a rk ’ s observations do Bot contradict, but establish these p o s itions ; drawing them o u t o f the o b scurity in which, b y the v e ry nature o f the information, they were necessarily in v o lv e d ; and fixing, in some degree o f ju s t relative position and proportion, those particulars which before remained at large, considered in a geographical sense. Concerning the e rro rs o f former geographers, they are more easily detected than the causes o f them. T h e y must, however, be ascribed, partly • D’ Anville differs from Delisle in extending very greatly, the distance between Gallam and Tombuctoo; and by representing the Maberia lake, as one source alone, and that the least distant, o f those of the river Senegal, b
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