western border approaches within sigm of the sea-coast, and
there forms the celebrated Sierra of the same name, From
that Sierra a great chain of mountains runs towards the north
intersected transversely by vast ravines, through which the
Gambia and other rivers descend. to take their course
through the low countries, and dischargé their waters into
the Atlantic. The Gambia traverses this chain, and forms
the cataracts of Barraeonda, after receiving the waters of the
Nerico, and it then enters into the wide plains of Pisania*
The Rio Grande penetrates the same barrier a league to the
northward of that route which was followed by Watt and
Winterbottom, in their journey from Sierra Leone to the high
plains of Timbu; it forms a cataract one hundred and-twenty
feet in breadth. Five other navigable rivers between the Rio
Grande and the Sierra take their rise from the western declivity
of the same elevated country.
The line formed by this bordering chaiii of mountains separates
the table-land of Senegambia from the low plain near the
sea-coast. Above it, but still on the western side, i's;the high
terrass or mountain-plain of Timbu, the abode of the principal
body of the widely-dispersed race of Fulahs. The most elevated
part óf this .region, has never been traversed; towards the southeast
it is supposed to be continuous with the ehain of the
Kong, and by it tp be connected with the high central mountains
of Africa. Beyond and above the Ftilahs are the desert
countries of the Jallonka, termed Jallonkadu. The Fulahs
themselves occupy the western margin or high lateral region
of the table-land of Senegambia which faces the Atlantic, and
the MandingoB inhabit the northern border, which is turned
towards the desert of Sahara.
The high region occupied by the Mandingos is better known
than that of the Fulahs, The information furnished by Mr.
Park, and by Mollien and Durand, together with a few notices
obtained from other sources, has enabled Professor
Ritter to point out the situation and probable limits of a
long tract of hill-country of two or three different levels,
which occupy the northern slope or border of the table-land
* Park’s Travels; Durand’s Voy. au Sénégal, tom. i. p. 116, &c. ; Ritter, Erdkunde.
+ Ritter, Erdkunde. Durand, t. i.p . 242.
above described; The boundaries of the highest of these
levels are more or less distinctly indicated in Mr. Park’s account
of his return^» As he advanced towards the west, from
the interior-.,©f Africa, whiles-still in the broad valley of the
Niger he perceived, on arriving-at Taffara and Jabbi, the
first chains of, hills belonging to the mountainous region.
It iis here that the language of the Mandingoswas first heard;
the people to the eastward of Jabbi speak the Kaliim-Sudan;
the idiom of western Shdan and Tombuktu; Further to the
westward, at Bammakoo,? the Niger- issues from the lowest
border of the mountainous country which gives it birth, pre-
'©ipitating its mighty waters over a rocky basin, and hastening
-to traverse the vast plain of Lower ff#dan. Thence the. defile
of Kamalia leads upwards and westwards into the country of
the. Mandingwi who cultivateLthd. high tract'of fertile land
reaching as far towards the weskas Worombana,-between the
"high waters pf the Niger and the Senegal. This, afccording
historical tradition, is the proper and immemorial abode of
|;h;e Mandingo race. Above them, towards the south and the
gjpst, rise, the mountains of Jallonkadh, traversed by numerous
riyers, which descend from the heights through valleys
and ravines, taking a parallel direction from south to north.
5. t The desert of the Jallonka has been described by Park.
It reacheSijwestward to the river Faleme and to ,the defiles by
which the Gambia makes its-descent into the lower plains.
This -high region, of Jallonkadu gives origin" to the' great
rivers of Senegambia near the lb? and 11° of northern latitude.
The northern slope of Senegambia, if it were prolonged
eastward, would fall, as Ritter has observed, nearly in a line
with the northern border of Higher Abyssinia.
Another tract of lower elevatiomthan that above^ described
as the primitive country of the Mandingos, but still high
above the low plains pf Africa, and consisting: of hilly countries
which surround the alpine tracts,, fothas the intermediate
level of Park and his commentator, Major Rennell. It begins
in the west, with the Negro states of Neola and Tende,
comprehends Satadou and Bondou, Bambouk, Kajaaga, and
Kasson, descending north-eastward into the more even countries
of Kaarta and Bambarra. From Woollih, near the