Page 198. Two large lakes were described close to the northward of Houssa; one called Balahar Sudan, and the other Girrigi Maragasee; the first of these names is a Negro corruption, or an European corruption of the term Bahar Sudan [287]; the other is a Negro name of another, if not of the same lake or sea. The situation of the Bahar Sudan is described by me in the 13th chapter, in my account of Marocco, to be fifteen journeys east of Timbuctoo, and the Neel El Abeed passes through it. I had this information from no less than seven Moorish merchants of intelligence and veracity; the same is confirmed by Ali Bey [288], the Shereef Imhammed, Park, and Dr. Seitzen; all these authorities must therefore fall to the ground if Mr. Bowdich's report is to overturn these testimonies, which has placed it three degrees of latitude north of the Neel El Abeed, or [289]Neel Assudan, and in the Sahara [290], unconnected with any river! I doubt if any, but a very ignorant Pagan Negro (for the Muhamedan Negroes are more intelligent), would have given the Sea of Sudan this novel situation.
Footnote 287:[ (return) ] See Jackson's Marocco, chap. xiii.
Footnote 288:[ (return) ] For an elucidation of these opinions, see my Letter on the Interior of Africa, in the European Magazine, Feb. 1818, page 113.
Footnote 289:[ (return) ] Neel Sudan and Neel Assudan are synonymous, the as being the article.
Footnote 290:[ (return) ] See Mr. Bowdich's Map, in his Account of a Mission to Ashantee.
Page 200. The Quolla appears to be the Negro pronunciation of the Arabic name Kulla; i.e. the Bahar Kulla, to which the Neel Assudan is said to flow. Bahar Kulla is an Arabic word signifying the sea altogether, or an alluvial country. The Neel Assudan here joins the waters of a river that proceed westward from the Abysinian Nile, and hence is formed the water communication between Cairo [291] and Timbuctoo.
Footnote 291:[ (return) ] See Jackson's Account of Marocco, enlarged edition, p. 313. See also his Letter to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine for March, 1817. p. 125.
Page 201. Quolla Raba, or Kulla Raba, signifies the Kulla forest, as the Negroes express it; the Arabs call it Raba Kulla, i.e. the forest of Kulla, If any further proof of the accuracy of this interpretation be necessary, it maybe added, that the position agrees exactly with Major Rennell's kingdom of Kulla, for which see the Major's map in proceedings of the African Association, vol. i. page 209, lat. N. 9°, long. W. 10°.
Page 203. The lake Fittri is a lake, the waters of which are said to be filtered through the earth, as the name implies. The Nile is here said to run under ground. The Arabs and Moors have a tradition, that the waters of Noah's flood rested here, and were absorbed and filtered through the earth, leaving only this large lake. I never understood this sea to be identified with the Bahar Heimed [292]; i.e. the Hot or Warm Sea. The Hot Sea and the Filtered Sea are distinct waters; the former lies about mid-way, in a right line between Lake Fittri and Lake Dwi. (See Laurie and Whittle's Map of Africa, published in 1813.) This is another inaccuracy of Mr. Hutchison; who appears, indeed, to have collected information from natives, without considering what title they had to credibility. Another error is added to the note in page 203 and 204, viz. what he calls sweet beans are unquestionably dates, which have not the least affinity in taste, shape, growth, or quality, to beans. The Arabic name correctly converted into European letters, is timmer, not tummer. The Arabic words designating sweet beans, is Elfool El Hellue. The passage signed William Hutchison here alluded to, is this: "The Arabs eat black rice, corn, and sweet beans called tummer."
Footnote 292:[ (return) ] Heimed is an Arabic term, signifying that degree of heat which milk has when coming from the cow or goat.