“I spoke to a man who had seen Mr. Browne in Darfoor: he gave me some information respecting the countries he travelled through, and told me, that the communication of the Niger with the Nile, was not to be doubted, but that this communication before the rainy season, was very little; in those parts, the Niger being at the dry period reposing, or non fluens.”
If the authority is to be depended on, it proves two facts: first, that the Niger and Nile, (that is the western branch, or White River), are by no means one and the same river; but, on the contrary, that their fountains are perfectly distinct: for, it is agreed on all hands, that the White River is a very large stream, at all seasons; whereas, we are here told that the Niger discharges into the Nile, during the dry season, only a very small portion of its waters: consequently, the waters of the Nile must come from some other quarter than the Niger.
The other fact is, that during the dry season, the waters of the Niger are generally evaporated in the inland country: a fact disbelieved by many, from their not being well informed respecting the powers of evaporation.
The communication above alluded to, may probably turn out to be that, between the lakes of Wangara and Fittré; which is described by Edrisi as a part of the track of the salt trade along the Niger. It may be proper to repeat, that the Misselâd of the map, answers to the upper part of Edrisi’s Niger.
ERRATA IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR.
- Page 130 line the last, for whole, read given.
- — 148 — last but one, for and, read to.
- — 171, 172 for Metho, read Metko.
FOOTNOTES:
[14]The Reader is referred to the [Map of Mr. Horneman’s Route,] page 29, and to the [General Map of Africa,] opposite Chapter III.
[15]Mr. Horneman had the misfortune to lose his papers at Schiacha, three days beyond Siwah; so that he must have written down the time, previous to that accident, from recollection only. Between Cairo and Siwah, his time is given, as follows:
| Hours. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cairo to Wady-el-Latron, or the Natron Valley,about | 19 | |
| To | a sand hill, (supposed to be the ridge between the NatronValley and the bed of the Bahr-bela-ma) | 4 |
| To | Muhabag | 13 |
| Mogara | 4½ | |
| Biljoradeck | 16 | |
| To | a station on the hills of Ummesogeir: said to be 40 hours,or more, say | 41½ |
| To | Ummesogeir | 5 |
| Siwah | 20 | |
| Total | 123 | |