The physical conformation of the various races, and the colour of their complexion, are most frequently noticed by our traveller. This is one means of clearing up some questions still enveloped in great obscurity, for example, the origin of the Fellatas, as they are called by the latest English travellers. What relation do they bear to the great nation of Foulahs? We learn from M. Caillié that the Touariks are established much farther towards the south than has hitherto been supposed; their camps are seated upon the Dhioliba, considerably above Timbuctoo. He has also taught us that they bear a second name, that of Sorgous; above all, he has given us some very valuable information respecting the tyranny exercised by this wandering and predatory tribe against the peaceful natives; the portrait he has drawn of them bears visible marks of truth.
With regard to idioms, it is vexatious that M. Caillié, although he visited so many tribes, has been able to collect only two vocabularies. That of Timbuctoo consists of only a hundred and twenty words. We must regret that it is not more extensive. I have already said that the words in Denham’s relation agree with him, but not those of Adams and of Bowdich.
The particulars respecting commerce have been collected with care. M. Caillié has scarcely ever omitted to point out the native or foreign commodities which he saw at every market, their price, and the kind of coin. He confirms the fact that European merchandise reaches central Africa; goods of English manufacture were to be seen at Djenné as well as at Saccatou. Upon the commerce of Bouré in gold the traveller gives us some information which appears to be equally new and certain, and fit, probably, to direct the calculations of speculators, or the efforts of the European governments. We have yet but a vague knowledge of the actual degree of the riches of the mines of Bouré, and the quantity of gold now circulating in commerce; but there can be no doubt that it abounds in this part of Africa. We know for certain that this rich country is a hundred and twenty or a hundred and forty leagues in a straight line from the establishments of the Gambia and the Senegal. If we could, at some future day, open a direct communication, we should avoid the journey from Bouré to Ségo, from Ségo to Djenné, thence to Timbuctoo, and afterwards to Morocco, across the great desert; not only should we thus shorten the road by at least four hundred leagues in a direct line[124], but we should escape the cupidity of the Moors and the Jews, who appropriate the largest part of the profits, and also the ferocity of the predatory Arabs of the desert. At a trifling sacrifice, and in a short time this result might be obtained, if but a small part of those efforts were consecrated to it, which are absolutely wasted upon less useful objects. But, whatever the consequence may be, geography and the genius of discovery will have had the merit of pointing out a source of wealth to ancient Europe, overcharged with debts and population, and ready to sink under this double burden, if some new outlets are not speedily opened to her industry.
If it were possible to doubt the veracity of the traveller; if it could be supposed that all which has been hitherto said has still left any uncertainty in the minds of those who, in the first instance, manifested some incredulity, the results which I have just recapitulated would remain equally doubtful: it is their importance which induces me to neglect nothing here which may dispel doubts, if they still exist. I shall first cite, as a sure testimony of this veracity, an Arabic manuscript which Lander received two years ago from the hands of his master Captain Clapperton, and which M. Salamé translated in London, at the very time that M. Caillié was completing his enterprise: it is a description of part of the Soudan. One may read a portion of the African text, with the new map in one’s hand, for the countries common to this description and to the itinerary, that is to say, as far as Timbuctoo. I will even add that it would have been completely unintelligible to me, without the assistance of this map[125]. The alteration in the names of places does not prevent their being recognized; for many of the differences, it appears evident to me, arise only from carelessness in copying. I have made an extract from this curious document, which was accompanied by a map of the Kouara, traced by the hand of the secretary or amanuensis of the Sultan Bello. I place, according to geographical order, the different parts of the description, extracted as I have said above.
“The route from Sakkatou to Masera crosses first a tributary to the Kouara, and afterwards that river itself.
“The Touara flows from south to north, thence to the east, and afterwards returns to the south.
“It is formed of two arms, the one, called Balio, the black river, coming from the Fouta-Djalo; the other, called Raniou, the white river, coming from Ségo[126].
“At their junction it takes the name of Couarra, according to the secretary.
“Upon the first is a large island containing the town of Djeri.