Tombuctou, is placed on the following authorities: First, Mr. Matra, the British Consul in the dominions of Morocco, says, on the authority of the natives, that Tombuctou is fifty days caravan travelling from Tattah, a place situated on the common frontiers of Morocco, Drah, and Zenhaga; and in the route from Morocco, and Suz, to Tombuctou. Tattah is ascertained in position, by a route of Ben Alli’s. He found it to be nine days and half from Morocco, and one day short of a station on the Wad-drah (or Drah River) which station was four days, or sixty-six miles lower down than Tinjuleen, a place in D’Anville’s and Delisle’s Maps of Africa. It was also twelve days journey from the City of Nun or Non, which city by Ben Alli’s account, is two days from the sea coast; and well known to be opposite to the Cape of the same name. These authorities enable us to place Tattah one hundred and seventy miles South South East from Morocco. Then, fifty days from Tattah to Tombuctou, at thirteen each day, produces six hundred and fifty miles. By Ben Alli’s report, Tombuctou is forty-eight days from the capital of Sultan Fullan, lying within the district of Gallam, on the River Senegal. The position of this place is not known to me; but by circumstances it must be near the river: and in using materials of so coarse a kind, trifles must not be regarded. Forty-eight days at thirteen each day, produce six hundred and twenty miles; and this line of distance meets that from Tattah, in latitude 19°. 40′. and nearly midway between Gallam and Cashna. In this position, it falls only twenty-eight miles to the North West of D’Anville’s Tombuctou.
It appears that most of the road from Tattah to Tombuctou, lies across the vast Desart, commonly known by the name of Zahara, or properly, The Desart. Geography is at present, very bare of particulars, in this quarter. Ben Alli went from Tombuctou, direct to Fezzan, skirting the South East border of this great Desart. He reckoned only sixty-four days between Tombuctou and Fezzan, which at twelve miles and half per day, produce only eight hundred miles. The interval on the Map is nine hundred and seventy. Reason, however, points out, that the distance from the nearest place, Gallam, ought to be preferred. And as it is understood, that Agadez and Tombuctou are about fifty-five days asunder, it appears yet more probable that the interval between Fezzan and Tombuctou, ought not to be reduced. It must be recollected, that Ben Alli’s Communications were given from memory, after an interval of twenty years.
The point of the next importance, is Bornou, the capital of an extensive kingdom situated on the South East of Fezzan, and between the two Neels or Niles; that of Egypt, and that of the Negros.
Bornou, is given by the Shereef, at about fifty days from Mourzouk (or Fezzan) which may be taken at six hundred and fifty miles. He also reports that it is twenty-five days journey from the course of the Nile, where it passes the country of Sennar; or in distance about three hundred and sixty miles. This would place Bornou in a direction of South East, somewhat southwardly, from Mourzouk; and about the parallel of 19° 40′. It is not probable that Bornou has a more westerly position. Edrisi’s account would place it more easterly; for he says, that Matthan, a city of Kanem, lies thirty-one days from Nuabia (on the Nile) through Tegua. Geog. Nub. p. 15. Edrisi’s day’s journey is equal to eighteen Arabic miles, or nearly nineteen geographic ones: consequently the thirty-one days give five hundred and eighty-seven miles. Matthan is not reported in the Itinerary; but Kanem is, both as Province and a capital City: and the position of the latter according to my construction, is seven hundred miles from Nuabia. Whether the error lies on the side of Edrisi, or the Shereef; or arises from the faulty position of Nuabia in D’Anville, cannot easily be discovered.
Ben Alli travelled the road between Bornou and Alexandria; but was too much indisposed to make any observations, otherwise than that the Kingdom of Bornou extends fifteen days journey, or about two hundred and thirty miles, in that direction. This was particularly unfortunate; for whichsoever route he went, he must have crossed some one or more of the Oases; and of course some important matter would have been added to the Map.
The only route of importance that remains to be discussed, is that from Fezzan or Mourzouk, to Cairo, leading to Mecca; for, at Mourzouk the Mahomedans from the southern and western parts of Africa, who intend to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, assemble at the proper season, as at a common point of departure. The route to Cairo, which requires fifty-three days to atchieve, appears on the Map to be seven hundred and seventy miles; being equal to fourteen and half for each day: and is on the whole, seventy more than I should have expected that number of days to produce. To what degree of accuracy the difference of longitude between Mesurata and Cairo, is ascertained, I am ignorant: as also whether the bearing of Mourzouk from Mesurata, be right. Fourteen miles and half of horizontal distance for each day, on so long a line of distance, and on so rugged a way as the Itinerary describes, is too great a proportion; and we may suspect an error somewhere.
A circumstance occurs in the Itinerary, which would determine how near this route approaches to the Coast of the Mediterranean Sea; if we might depend on the accuracy of the Itinerist. The dates produced in the Plain of Gegabib, are gathered by the people of Duna, who inhabit the sea coast, eight days journey off; or about one hundred and thirty miles. No such place as Duna appears in the modern maps; but Derna (antiently Darnis) does: and it is situated within the confines of Tripoli, as Duna is said to be. But the distance must be faulty; because Augela is the nearest point in this route, to Derna, though ten days from it: and Gegabib, is seven days from Augela, in a direction that still increases the distance.
Augela is found in Herodotus, Book IV. under the name of Ægila; and in Ptolemy and Pliny it is written Augila. In Ptolemy, Africa Tab. III. it is placed about 197 miles from the sea coast, and about a degree of longitude to the eastward of Darnis. Its longitudinal position from Mourzouk and Cairo, agrees very well: and considering the extent of Ptolemy’s local knowledge in this quarter, we may suppose him well acquainted with its distance from the coast. Allowance must be made for an excess of distance given by Ptolemy’s scale, in this Map; and it being in the proportion of twenty-seven to twenty-three, the one hundred and ninety-seven miles should be reduced to one hundred and sixty-eight: and according to this, Augela ought to stand in latitude 29° 20′; and nearly midway between Mourzouk and Cairo.
Gegabib, as has been said before, is seven days journey from Augela, towards Cairo; and as I have a particular pleasure in producing any authority that serves to prove the veracity of such an Author as Herodotus, I shall just mention, that (in B. IV.) he says, that the Nasamones in the Summer season, leave their cattle on the coast, and go to the plains of Ægila, to gather the fruit of the Palm trees, which abound in that place. The portion of this coast, is marked by its lying on the West of Teuchira,[36] a sea-port that lay within the district of Cyrene, now better known by the names of Curin and Barca.
Ptolemy’s Nasamones, occupy, in respect of Augila, the very spot where the dates are now gathered in the plain of Gegabib: and therefore we may conclude that the Nasamones’ Territories extended at least from that plain, to the Eastern Coast of the Great Syrtis. It may, perhaps, in future, be known where the Port or Coast of Duna is; whether it be Derna, the antient Darnis, or some place on the Syrtis.