POSTSCRIPT.

Whenthe above Memoir was printed, I was ignorant that the following passage occurred, in Mr. Horneman’s Letter of the 6th April, from Mourzouk.

“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 periodreposing, ornon fluens.”

If the authority is to be depended on, it proves two facts: first, that theNigerandNile, (that is thewesternbranch, orWhiteRiver), 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 theMisselâdof the map, answers to the upper part of Edrisi’sNiger.

ERRATA IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR.

Page 130 line the last, forwhole, readgiven.— 148 — last but one, forand, readto.— 171, 172 forMetho, readMetko.

FOOTNOTES:[14]The Reader is referred to theMap of Mr. Horneman’s Route,page 29, and to theGeneral 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,about19Toa sand hill, (supposed to be the ridge between the Natron Valley and the bed of the Bahr-bela-ma)4ToMuhabag13Mogara4½Biljoradeck16Toa station on the hills of Ummesogeir: said to be 40 hours,or more, say41½ToUmmesogeir5Siwah20Total123[16]The ordinary caravan day of 8 hours, appears to be about 20Britishmiles,by the road; and indirectdistance across deserts, about 16¼ or 16½Geographicmiles.[17]Siwah to the Valley ofSchiacha23hours.To Torfaue6½Across the Desert to a watering-place on the border of Augila49To Augila9Total87½[18]Abulfeda and Ptolemy describe it to be so; and Ledyard was told the same at Cairo.[19]This is the computation:Hours.From Augila to the Mountains ofMoraije26To the Plain of Sultin18Across the Plain or Desert of Sultin, &c. to a woody tract, 3 journies; but no account in hours, say34To the entrance of the black Harutsch, about 1 day, say10To a watering-place in the Harutsch4To the end of the black Harutsch, 3½ days; say40Through the white Harutsch, 1½ day; say15To a watering-place on the borders of Fezzan4ToTemissa9Zuila6¾Hamarra7Tragan10¾Sidi Bisher8Mourzouk3195½The road distance, at 2¼ British miles per hour, gives 488¾, which, at ¹⁄₂₀ part for windings, as before, would give 463½; or in G. miles about 409. I have deducted 14 for the extraordinary windings and roughness of the paths, in the black Harutsch.Remains G. miles 395, for the direct distance between Augila and Mourzouk.[20]Herodotus has a line of distance from Thebes, westward, in intervals of 10 days each, but very inaccurate.[21]The former statement of the distance, (in the Geog. Herod. p. 167.) is 861. The difference is occasioned by the different modes of projection of the maps; that in Herodotus, being on a spherical projection, the present one being rectilinear.[22]See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1790, chap. iv.[23]The road by Sockna, seems to be theshortroad toPhazania, mentioned by Pliny, lib. v. c. 5.[24]There are several places of the name ofWadan, in this Geography; the name designing the conflux of two water-courses, or torrents. Another Wadan is found in the road from Mesurata to Fezzan; and a third, between Fezzan and Bournu.[25]Mr. Horneman came, on the day before he entered the black Harutsch, to a small wood ofgreentrees. This situation accords with that of Zala, being just midway between Augila and Zuila. No town is known to exist there, at present.[26]M. D’Anville reckons the distance between Tripoly and Mourzouk 240 G. miles, only: M. Delisle about 280, or less: and Sanuto, who wrote on the African Geography, (A. D. 1588,) 255. Thus, the 289 allowed above, from Mesurata, go beyond the highest calculation hitherto made, from Tripoly, which is yet farther from Mourzouk, than Mesurata is.[27]Mr. Browne, who didnotsee the Bahr-bela-ma, wastoldthat it lay a day’s journey to the west of the Natron Lakes; but unless it takes a turn to the west, beyond the point where General A. saw it, he must have been misinformed. See an account of the Bahr-bela-ma in the province of Faiume, in the Geog. Herod. p. 503.The description of these valleys is to be found in theMémoires sur l’Egypte, p. 212.[28]This (I am given to understand) is the idea conveyed in the original Journal.[29]The hills over the valley of Mogara, answer to the hills ofLe Magra, (perhaps corrupted fromEl Mogara,) of Mr. Beaufoy; Afr. Assoc. 1790, ch. x. and also to the M.Ogdamusof Ptolemy, Afr. Tab. III.[30]See above,p. 8.[31]In the Geogr. of Herod. p. 504.[32]Ibid.[33]This is explained in the observations on the alluvions of rivers, in the same book, Section xviii.[34]My friend, Mr. Morton Pitt, M. P. has proved, by the enumeration of the inhabitants of a country parish in Dorsetshire, that the men of an agecapableof bearing arms areone-fourthof the whole community. Mr. Horneman, if I understand him rightly, states the number ofactualwarriors to be 1500; so that we ought, perhaps, to multiply that number by 5, to get nearer to the total amount of the population.[35]Edrisi places it at seven journies from Cairo; probably through Faiume.[36]Geography of Herodot. p. 560, 561.[37]Most of the modern authors, who have mentioned this Oasis, speak ofruinsexisting in it. In particular Mr. Browne, p. 133.[38](See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, ch. x.) The sea coast is truly about eight journies from Gegabib: but I know of no place of the name ofDuna. Derna is twice that distance.[39]See above,page 108.[40]Abulfeda speaks both of its dates and its fountains: and Ben Ali informed Mr. Beaufoy, that it was famous for the “abundanceandflavour” of its dates. Proceed. Afr. Assoc. ch. x.[41]Mr. Horneman speaks of three towns in Augila, and Ben Ali adds a fourth town, or village,Guizara, situated at one journey to the east of the capital. Hence it agrees with the watering-place to which Mr. Horneman came at nine hours short of Augila. It seems to be also theSaragmaof Ptolemy. (Tab. III. Africæ.)[42]Mr. Horneman saw some remains, which ought to be referred to the time of Mahomedanism.[43]There are considerable remains of structures, at this day. See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, chap. iv.[44]Gadamis, it would appear, ought to be placed more to the eastward than it appears in the Map of 1798; which will increase the direct distance of Teghery from Tunis, on the Map, by straightening the line of the road.Gadamis was pointed out to Mr. Magrah, to bear from Tunis, S 4° E; the distance 23 caravan days. Of these, the first 10 were to Kabes, situated in the Map of D’Anville at 163½ G. miles, in a direction of S a very little W from Tunis. If the other 13 days (at the same rate of 16,35) equal to 212½ G. miles, be laid off on the line of S 4 E from Tunis, Gadamis will fall in latitude 30° 29′ 30″, longitude 11° east.Mr. Magrah was told that it bore SW from Tripoly, but no distance is given. Pliny says, thatCydamuslies opposite toSabrata(Sabart, or old Tripoly). In one copy of Pliny, it is reckoned 12 journies from the Greater Syrtis. In this position it is somewhat more than 240 G. miles from it; agreeing to 12 journies of the rate oflighttravelling, described above,page 126.Thesedatamay be of use in the future corrections of the geography, as Gadamis may, from its position, be a useful point of outset.[45]That Map has been corrected accordingly; and is placed opposite.[46]Mr. Bruce describes a chain of mountains, extending westward from the Abyssynian branch of the Nile, between the 11nth and 12th degree of north latitude; and having to the northDyreandTegla. As these places are recognised in Browne’s routes, p. 463, under the names ofDeirandTuggala, situated in a mountainous region, I have described the ridge above-mentioned, to run to the WNW instead of west. These places, as well as Harraza and Lebeit, (meant for Ibeit,) are placed very much too far to the west of Sennaar, in the map of Mr. Bruce, Vol. V.[47]See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1790, chap. ii.[48]Euterpe, c. 32.[49]Ptolemy, Afr. Tab. IV. Edrisi, p. 15,et seq.Abulfeda,Prologom.Article Rivers.Komri, orKumri, meanslunar.[50]I think I perceive in Mr. Browne’s description of Darkulla, the traces of an alluvial country; that is, one whose soil is formed from the deposition of rivers; intersected by their branches; and periodically inundated. Mr. Browne says of the natives, “they are very cleanly, to which theabundance of waterin their country, contributes. They have ferry-boats on the river, which are impelled by poles, partly by a double oar, like our canoes. The trees are so large, from the quantity of water and deep clay, that canoes are hollowed out of them, sufficiently capacious to contain ten persons.” Travels, p. 308, 309.[51]So says Leo, p. 254.[52]See the General Map of North Africa, at page 178.[53]For Edrisi, page 13, places this lake (Kauga,) at ten journies eastward of Semegonda in Wangara.[54]Here we have a proof that the Eastern people callFittréby the name ofKauga, (orCooka,) as Horneman says.Darhas been explained by Mr. Browne to meancountry; asDar-Fûr, the country of Fûr, or Foor.[55]This lake is said by Mr. Horneman,page 118, to be from four to eight journies in circuit; varying its dimensions with the dry or the rainy season; thus increasing threefold with the rains, and leaving, in the dry season, an enriched soil to the husbandman.[56]This seems to be the river mentioned by Ibn al Wardi, (in Hartman’s Edrisi, p. 62,) as coming from the east, and passing by Ghama (read Begama, or Begarmé,) into theNile; meaning the Nile of the Negroes, (our Niger.)[57]It should be observed, that Edrisi, (p. 13,) reckons Kauga to the country of Wangara; although some, says he, reckon it to belong toKanem.It is proper in this place to restate and correct the line of distance betweenGanaandDongola; which will be found in the Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1798, p. 122. There it appears, that Kauga is given by Edrisi, at 30 journies, equal on his scale, to 570 G. miles from Dongola; and it is found by Mr. Browne’s statement, to fall at 578. Again, Mr. Horneman says, that Fittré, (or Kauga,) is 40 journies to the eastward of Kashna, (See above,p. 138.) This interval of distance, taking Kashna as it is placed in the Map of 1798, is 653 G. miles; equal to 16⅓ per day; and is perfectly satisfactory. Edrisi allows 36 journies between Gana and Kauga; so that by this account, Gana ought to be nearer to Kauga, by four journies, than Kashna is. In the Map of 1798, Gana is placed eight miles too far to the east. (See the Proceed, p. 121.) This corrected, Gana will be 82 from Kashna; which, however, is still too much for four journies, and agrees better to five.The interval thus corrected, between Gana and Kauga, is 575 G. miles indirect distance; which allows no more than 15½ per day, for Edrisi’s 36 days; whilst his ordinary scale is 19. If therefore, the report of Edrisi is right, Gana must either lie more to the west, or the course of the Niger, along which his route leads, to within ten journies of Kauga, must form a very deep curve to the south, after passing the dominions of Houssa, (of which Gana makes a part.) That it does decline to the south, Mr. Horneman was repeatedly informed, as may be seen above, pages115,117,but whether in a degree sufficient to occasion the difference above-mentioned, is not ascertained.M. D’Anville also had an idea, and so describes it in his Map of Africa, 1749, (possibly from actual information), that the Niger declined to the south beyond Gana; so that the termination of it, in the lake of Semegonda, was 3½ degrees of latitude to the south of Gana; and which, by the bye, would place the lake of Semegonda, about the same parallel with theBahr Hemadof Mr. Browne. At present, however, we must be content with proportioning the distance between Gana and Kauga; which, admitting a curvature to the south, allows a rate of 16⅓ or 16½; or that of ordinary caravan travelling. It has been shewn that Horneman’s report of the distance between Kashna and Fittré, is very consistent: and there can be no question, that, of the two, we ought to prefer Horneman’s report, from its being less subject to error than the other, which has passed through so many hands, in its way to us.[58]The Thames, between Maidenhead Bridge and Mortlake, (about 41 B. miles in a straight line,) has a fall of rather more than one foot eight inches in each mile. But this is asmoothpart of its course: for although the Thames does not, by any means, spring from very elevated lands, it cannot be supposed to fall less than four feet in each mile, taken on its whole course. On this idea, the Niger should have a fall of more than 8000 feet, in its supposed course to the White River. But even if two feet and a half (which appears very moderate indeed) be allowed, the fall would be no less than 5625 feet, or 115 yards more than an English mile. Is it to be credited, that the bed of the White River, on the south of Darfoor, and at a point not very remote from its source, is a mile lower than the springs of the Joliba, or Niger?[59]Browne’s Travels, page 473.[60]Edrisi says, “Ab urbe Ghana ad primos limites terræ Vancáræ est iter octo dierum (orientem versus)—Atque hæc eadem est insula longitudinis trecentorum milliarium, centum et quinquaginta latitudinis, quam Nilus undequaque circundat toto anni tempore. Adveniente verò mense Augusto, et æstu gravescente, Niloque inundante, insula ista vel certè major pars illius aquis obruitur, manetque sepulta aquis quamdiu Nilus terram inundare consuevit.” (Sionita, p. 11 and 12. See also Hartmann’s Edrisi, article Vankara, p. 47et seq.[61]Ebn Haukal, an Arabian geographer, of the tenth century, (lately translated by Sir William Ouseley,) gives the following account of the riverHeermend, p. 205.“The most considerable river ofSejestanis theHeermend, which comes from Ghaur to the city ofBost, and from that runs toSejestan, to the lakeZareh. This lake is very small when the waters of the river are not copious; when the river is full, the lake increases accordingly. The length of this lake is about 30 farsangs, (about 110 B. miles,) and in breadth about onemerhilch. (Day’s journey, or 24 B. miles.) Its waters are sweet, wholesome, &c.”It is well known, that there is nooutletfrom the lake Zareh.[62]Begama of Edrisi.[63]Mr. Browne, (page 473,) states the distance betweenDonga, and the (southern) limit of Bornu, to be 20 journies.[64]Mr. Horneman’s informant called itUngara; and it appears that the Arabs name itBelad-el-Tebr, or the country of gold. (Herbelot and Bakui.) Mr. Browne was told, in Darfoor, that gold was not found in any quantity, to the west. But Wangara, a country of gold, at least in former times, lies to the west of Darfoor![65]There is a town namedTaboo, a considerable way to the SW of Fezzan. D’Anville writes itTibedou. It seems to be theTabidiumof Pliny, one of the towns conquered by the Romans, under Balbus. (Pliny, lib. v. c. 4 and 5.) Pliny says, c. 8. that “the Romans possessed the country, even to the river Niger, which separatesAfricafromEthiopia;” and gives a long list of provinces and towns subject to them. It may be conceived, that besides Fezzan, Gadamis, Taboo, &c. they possessed the fertile tract, in the line from thence to the Niger; that is, Agadez, Kashna, and perhaps Gana.It may be remarked that Pliny (c. 8) speaks oftwoEthiopias; and quotes Homer, as having divided them intoEasternandWestern. One may conceive that the division between them, was the fertile tract in question, extending from Fezzan, in the line towards the Niger.[66]Levataof Leo, page 245.[67]From Mourzouk to Gatron, (or Kattron,) south 54 miles; understood to be of British standard, and to include the windings of the road. Thence to Tegerhie, SSW 33 miles. To Abo 7 days; and thence to Tibesty, 3 days in an easterly direction. Finally, to Burgu, 18 days; each of which 28 days are reckoned 18 B. milesby the road. See above,page 107.It has been calculated inpage 155,that Teghery, by the general result of the authorities, should be placed S 26 W, 68 G. miles from Mourzouk.From thence, the 10 days to Tibesty, in an easterly direction, may be taken at about 140 G. miles; which meeting the line of 7 days, equal to 98 G. miles from Temissa, (See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, chap. iv.) places Tibesty at 133 miles SE by E. from Mourzouk.[68]TheTroglodytæwere found in every place where nature or art had prepared recesses for them; and are always gifted with superior swiftness of foot. In particular, in Pliny, lib. vii. c. 2. and in Hanno’s Voyage, &c.Considering thatFezzan, under the name ofGaramanta, was one of the earliest known inland countries of Africa, to the Greeks, it is not altogether improbable that the first idea of the characteristic swiftness of theEthiopian Troglodytæ, was derived from thence. And considering also the false idea entertained by the Greeks, of the bearing of the western side of Africa, Hanno might have supposed the source of the riverLixus, the reported seat ofhisTroglodytæ, to have been situated in the centre of Africa.[69]Horneman was told by the Augilans, that the Tibbo of Febabo, or Burgu, (it is not clear which) spoke a language that resembled thewhistlingof birds. He also takes occasion to remark, what Herodotus says concerning the language of the Ethiopians, hunted by theGaramantes; but probably without referring these last to the country of Fezzan.[70]It appears inpage 176,(note) that Burgu is 18 journies from Tibesty; which, at 14 G. miles each, (as they are of 18 B. miles by the road,) produce 252 miles. Burgu is said,page 119,to be situated to the south,some daysdistant from Febabo. On the construction the line of 252 miles passes to the eastward of Febabo, (placed at 10 days to SSW from Augila, seepage 108,)so far, as to place Burgu to thesouth-eastward, instead ofsouth, from Febabo. It may be, that Febabo does not bear so far to the west, as SSW from Augila; as less than 14 miles per day cannot well be allowed, from Tibesty. I have therefore altered the bearing from SSW, and made it somewhat nearer to the meridian. The Berdoa, or Bardeo of Leo, (pages 245, 246,) agrees to this position, 500 Arabic miles from the Nile, in the midst of the Desert of Libya; and abounding with dates.[71]Notwithstanding the appearance of retributive justice in these attacks on the Tibbo, by the Sultan of Fezzan, yet Mr. Horneman lets us a little into the secret, by informing us, (page 68,) that “for some years past, the Sultan has augmented his revenues considerably, bycursory expeditionsagainst the Tibbos of Burgu.” And the result of the above expedition was, “thestealingof about two hundred people, which were sold,” &c. It may be remarked, that Mr. Browne says of the Sultan of Darfoor, that a part of his revenue arises from a participation in the profits of theselatia, orslave-huntingparties, (page 299.) And of the Negro country ofDar Kulla, he says, that even the public regulations are framed with a view to theentrappingof individuals for slaves. (308.) So that the slave trade exists much in the same manner, in this quarter of Africa, where none of the slaves are purchased by European traders, as in the west.[72]It has appeared that the caravan travellers in stating the time between distant places, are apt to give the whole time that elapses between their leaving one place, and arriving at another. Hence the days of halt, have often been added to the days of march; and a faulty route of travelling has thence been adopted. This, no doubt, occasioned the low rate adopted, soon after the institution of the Association: and which nothing but actual experiment can effectually correct.[73]The proof of this fact is most satisfactorily established, by Herodotus, and by Ibn Haukel, a geographical writer of the tenth century, whose work has been lately translated by Sir William Ouseley; to whose labours the science of Geography is much indebted.[74]Mr. Horneman regards this nation as theTergaof Leo, situated in the western quarter of the Great Desert. (Leo, page 245.)[75]Ptolemy has a city namedTagama, at the Niger, but too far to the east, to answer to the position here given. (Afr. Tab. IV.). There is also aTegomain our geography, near Kashna.[76]Many persons have expected to find in the interior of Africa, the remains of the Carthaginian nation, expelled by the Romans. Considering, however, the vast interval of time that has elapsed, we can hardly expect to find the remnant of a nation, continuing so far unmixed with the surrounding nations, as to preserve their distinction of character and language. Besides, it would really seem as if the Carthaginians themselves, (meaning the descendants of the Phœnicians,) were not to be regarded as anation, so much asbodiesofcitizens, inhabiting commercial towns: so that their language may never have prevailed generally over Barbary.[77]Mr. Browne (page 232) denominates the people of theGreaterOasis,MuggrebineArabs, as well as those of theLesser. It is probable then, that all the Oases are colonies of theTuarick.[78]See the sketch opposite topage 111.[79]The Moors, and Arabs call the country of the Negroes, which was designed by the Romans under the name ofNigritia,Soudan. Abulfeda includes all the known part of Africa, south of the Great Desert, inBelad Soudan, or the country of Soudan. (The wordSoudaorSuda, in Arabic, signifiesblack.)Mr. Browne, who had visited a part of Soudan, namelyDarfoor, agrees that Soudan corresponds to ourNigritia; being “a general term for the country of the Blacks.” (page 182.) In his preface, page xxv. he says that “nothing can be more vague, than the use of the word Soudan, or Sudan. Among the Egyptians and Arabs,Ber-es-Soudanis the place where the caravans arrive, when they reach the first habitable part ofDar-Fûr: but that country seems itseastern extremity; for I never heard it applied to Kordofân or Sennaar. It is used equally in Dar-Fûr to express the country to the west; but on the whole, seems ordinarily applied to signify that part of the land of the Blacks nearest Egypt.”It has been seen, however, that the people of Tunis and Fezzan, reckon Houssa, that is, Kashna, and the adjacent countries, to Soudan; whence it must be extended westward to Tombuctoo, at least. Whether it ought to be extended farther west, I know not. The term, which is of Arabic origin, may possibly have in its application, a limited range, and may not embrace the entire country of the Negroes.[80]The following information occurs in a letter from Mr. Jackson of Santa Cruz, to Mr. Willis, dated 1st of July, 1797.“I have informed myself particularly concerning Houssa, and I find there is no such place. The environs of all great towns are called in the Arabic of this country,El Huz, orHuza.”[81]The reader is requested to compare the description of this Mound in Herodotus, (Euterpe, 137, 138,) with that in the Voyage on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, in theMémoires sur L’Egypte, p. 215,et seq.See also the Geog. System of Herodotus, p. 513, for the application.

FOOTNOTES:

[14]The Reader is referred to theMap of Mr. Horneman’s Route,page 29, and to theGeneral 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,about19Toa sand hill, (supposed to be the ridge between the Natron Valley and the bed of the Bahr-bela-ma)4ToMuhabag13Mogara4½Biljoradeck16Toa station on the hills of Ummesogeir: said to be 40 hours,or more, say41½ToUmmesogeir5Siwah20Total123

[16]The ordinary caravan day of 8 hours, appears to be about 20Britishmiles,by the road; and indirectdistance across deserts, about 16¼ or 16½Geographicmiles.

[17]Siwah to the Valley ofSchiacha23hours.To Torfaue6½Across the Desert to a watering-place on the border of Augila49To Augila9Total87½

[17]

[18]Abulfeda and Ptolemy describe it to be so; and Ledyard was told the same at Cairo.

[19]This is the computation:Hours.From Augila to the Mountains ofMoraije26To the Plain of Sultin18Across the Plain or Desert of Sultin, &c. to a woody tract, 3 journies; but no account in hours, say34To the entrance of the black Harutsch, about 1 day, say10To a watering-place in the Harutsch4To the end of the black Harutsch, 3½ days; say40Through the white Harutsch, 1½ day; say15To a watering-place on the borders of Fezzan4ToTemissa9Zuila6¾Hamarra7Tragan10¾Sidi Bisher8Mourzouk3195½The road distance, at 2¼ British miles per hour, gives 488¾, which, at ¹⁄₂₀ part for windings, as before, would give 463½; or in G. miles about 409. I have deducted 14 for the extraordinary windings and roughness of the paths, in the black Harutsch.Remains G. miles 395, for the direct distance between Augila and Mourzouk.

[19]This is the computation:

The road distance, at 2¼ British miles per hour, gives 488¾, which, at ¹⁄₂₀ part for windings, as before, would give 463½; or in G. miles about 409. I have deducted 14 for the extraordinary windings and roughness of the paths, in the black Harutsch.

Remains G. miles 395, for the direct distance between Augila and Mourzouk.

[20]Herodotus has a line of distance from Thebes, westward, in intervals of 10 days each, but very inaccurate.

[21]The former statement of the distance, (in the Geog. Herod. p. 167.) is 861. The difference is occasioned by the different modes of projection of the maps; that in Herodotus, being on a spherical projection, the present one being rectilinear.

[22]See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1790, chap. iv.

[23]The road by Sockna, seems to be theshortroad toPhazania, mentioned by Pliny, lib. v. c. 5.

[24]There are several places of the name ofWadan, in this Geography; the name designing the conflux of two water-courses, or torrents. Another Wadan is found in the road from Mesurata to Fezzan; and a third, between Fezzan and Bournu.

[25]Mr. Horneman came, on the day before he entered the black Harutsch, to a small wood ofgreentrees. This situation accords with that of Zala, being just midway between Augila and Zuila. No town is known to exist there, at present.

[26]M. D’Anville reckons the distance between Tripoly and Mourzouk 240 G. miles, only: M. Delisle about 280, or less: and Sanuto, who wrote on the African Geography, (A. D. 1588,) 255. Thus, the 289 allowed above, from Mesurata, go beyond the highest calculation hitherto made, from Tripoly, which is yet farther from Mourzouk, than Mesurata is.

[27]Mr. Browne, who didnotsee the Bahr-bela-ma, wastoldthat it lay a day’s journey to the west of the Natron Lakes; but unless it takes a turn to the west, beyond the point where General A. saw it, he must have been misinformed. See an account of the Bahr-bela-ma in the province of Faiume, in the Geog. Herod. p. 503.The description of these valleys is to be found in theMémoires sur l’Egypte, p. 212.

The description of these valleys is to be found in theMémoires sur l’Egypte, p. 212.

[28]This (I am given to understand) is the idea conveyed in the original Journal.

[29]The hills over the valley of Mogara, answer to the hills ofLe Magra, (perhaps corrupted fromEl Mogara,) of Mr. Beaufoy; Afr. Assoc. 1790, ch. x. and also to the M.Ogdamusof Ptolemy, Afr. Tab. III.

[30]See above,p. 8.

[31]In the Geogr. of Herod. p. 504.

[32]Ibid.

[33]This is explained in the observations on the alluvions of rivers, in the same book, Section xviii.

[34]My friend, Mr. Morton Pitt, M. P. has proved, by the enumeration of the inhabitants of a country parish in Dorsetshire, that the men of an agecapableof bearing arms areone-fourthof the whole community. Mr. Horneman, if I understand him rightly, states the number ofactualwarriors to be 1500; so that we ought, perhaps, to multiply that number by 5, to get nearer to the total amount of the population.

[35]Edrisi places it at seven journies from Cairo; probably through Faiume.

[36]Geography of Herodot. p. 560, 561.

[37]Most of the modern authors, who have mentioned this Oasis, speak ofruinsexisting in it. In particular Mr. Browne, p. 133.

[38](See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, ch. x.) The sea coast is truly about eight journies from Gegabib: but I know of no place of the name ofDuna. Derna is twice that distance.

[39]See above,page 108.

[40]Abulfeda speaks both of its dates and its fountains: and Ben Ali informed Mr. Beaufoy, that it was famous for the “abundanceandflavour” of its dates. Proceed. Afr. Assoc. ch. x.

[41]Mr. Horneman speaks of three towns in Augila, and Ben Ali adds a fourth town, or village,Guizara, situated at one journey to the east of the capital. Hence it agrees with the watering-place to which Mr. Horneman came at nine hours short of Augila. It seems to be also theSaragmaof Ptolemy. (Tab. III. Africæ.)

[42]Mr. Horneman saw some remains, which ought to be referred to the time of Mahomedanism.

[43]There are considerable remains of structures, at this day. See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, chap. iv.

[44]Gadamis, it would appear, ought to be placed more to the eastward than it appears in the Map of 1798; which will increase the direct distance of Teghery from Tunis, on the Map, by straightening the line of the road.Gadamis was pointed out to Mr. Magrah, to bear from Tunis, S 4° E; the distance 23 caravan days. Of these, the first 10 were to Kabes, situated in the Map of D’Anville at 163½ G. miles, in a direction of S a very little W from Tunis. If the other 13 days (at the same rate of 16,35) equal to 212½ G. miles, be laid off on the line of S 4 E from Tunis, Gadamis will fall in latitude 30° 29′ 30″, longitude 11° east.Mr. Magrah was told that it bore SW from Tripoly, but no distance is given. Pliny says, thatCydamuslies opposite toSabrata(Sabart, or old Tripoly). In one copy of Pliny, it is reckoned 12 journies from the Greater Syrtis. In this position it is somewhat more than 240 G. miles from it; agreeing to 12 journies of the rate oflighttravelling, described above,page 126.Thesedatamay be of use in the future corrections of the geography, as Gadamis may, from its position, be a useful point of outset.

Gadamis was pointed out to Mr. Magrah, to bear from Tunis, S 4° E; the distance 23 caravan days. Of these, the first 10 were to Kabes, situated in the Map of D’Anville at 163½ G. miles, in a direction of S a very little W from Tunis. If the other 13 days (at the same rate of 16,35) equal to 212½ G. miles, be laid off on the line of S 4 E from Tunis, Gadamis will fall in latitude 30° 29′ 30″, longitude 11° east.

Mr. Magrah was told that it bore SW from Tripoly, but no distance is given. Pliny says, thatCydamuslies opposite toSabrata(Sabart, or old Tripoly). In one copy of Pliny, it is reckoned 12 journies from the Greater Syrtis. In this position it is somewhat more than 240 G. miles from it; agreeing to 12 journies of the rate oflighttravelling, described above,page 126.

Thesedatamay be of use in the future corrections of the geography, as Gadamis may, from its position, be a useful point of outset.

[45]That Map has been corrected accordingly; and is placed opposite.

[46]Mr. Bruce describes a chain of mountains, extending westward from the Abyssynian branch of the Nile, between the 11nth and 12th degree of north latitude; and having to the northDyreandTegla. As these places are recognised in Browne’s routes, p. 463, under the names ofDeirandTuggala, situated in a mountainous region, I have described the ridge above-mentioned, to run to the WNW instead of west. These places, as well as Harraza and Lebeit, (meant for Ibeit,) are placed very much too far to the west of Sennaar, in the map of Mr. Bruce, Vol. V.

[47]See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1790, chap. ii.

[48]Euterpe, c. 32.

[49]Ptolemy, Afr. Tab. IV. Edrisi, p. 15,et seq.Abulfeda,Prologom.Article Rivers.Komri, orKumri, meanslunar.

[50]I think I perceive in Mr. Browne’s description of Darkulla, the traces of an alluvial country; that is, one whose soil is formed from the deposition of rivers; intersected by their branches; and periodically inundated. Mr. Browne says of the natives, “they are very cleanly, to which theabundance of waterin their country, contributes. They have ferry-boats on the river, which are impelled by poles, partly by a double oar, like our canoes. The trees are so large, from the quantity of water and deep clay, that canoes are hollowed out of them, sufficiently capacious to contain ten persons.” Travels, p. 308, 309.

[51]So says Leo, p. 254.

[52]See the General Map of North Africa, at page 178.

[53]For Edrisi, page 13, places this lake (Kauga,) at ten journies eastward of Semegonda in Wangara.

[54]Here we have a proof that the Eastern people callFittréby the name ofKauga, (orCooka,) as Horneman says.Darhas been explained by Mr. Browne to meancountry; asDar-Fûr, the country of Fûr, or Foor.

[55]This lake is said by Mr. Horneman,page 118, to be from four to eight journies in circuit; varying its dimensions with the dry or the rainy season; thus increasing threefold with the rains, and leaving, in the dry season, an enriched soil to the husbandman.

[56]This seems to be the river mentioned by Ibn al Wardi, (in Hartman’s Edrisi, p. 62,) as coming from the east, and passing by Ghama (read Begama, or Begarmé,) into theNile; meaning the Nile of the Negroes, (our Niger.)

[57]It should be observed, that Edrisi, (p. 13,) reckons Kauga to the country of Wangara; although some, says he, reckon it to belong toKanem.It is proper in this place to restate and correct the line of distance betweenGanaandDongola; which will be found in the Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1798, p. 122. There it appears, that Kauga is given by Edrisi, at 30 journies, equal on his scale, to 570 G. miles from Dongola; and it is found by Mr. Browne’s statement, to fall at 578. Again, Mr. Horneman says, that Fittré, (or Kauga,) is 40 journies to the eastward of Kashna, (See above,p. 138.) This interval of distance, taking Kashna as it is placed in the Map of 1798, is 653 G. miles; equal to 16⅓ per day; and is perfectly satisfactory. Edrisi allows 36 journies between Gana and Kauga; so that by this account, Gana ought to be nearer to Kauga, by four journies, than Kashna is. In the Map of 1798, Gana is placed eight miles too far to the east. (See the Proceed, p. 121.) This corrected, Gana will be 82 from Kashna; which, however, is still too much for four journies, and agrees better to five.The interval thus corrected, between Gana and Kauga, is 575 G. miles indirect distance; which allows no more than 15½ per day, for Edrisi’s 36 days; whilst his ordinary scale is 19. If therefore, the report of Edrisi is right, Gana must either lie more to the west, or the course of the Niger, along which his route leads, to within ten journies of Kauga, must form a very deep curve to the south, after passing the dominions of Houssa, (of which Gana makes a part.) That it does decline to the south, Mr. Horneman was repeatedly informed, as may be seen above, pages115,117,but whether in a degree sufficient to occasion the difference above-mentioned, is not ascertained.M. D’Anville also had an idea, and so describes it in his Map of Africa, 1749, (possibly from actual information), that the Niger declined to the south beyond Gana; so that the termination of it, in the lake of Semegonda, was 3½ degrees of latitude to the south of Gana; and which, by the bye, would place the lake of Semegonda, about the same parallel with theBahr Hemadof Mr. Browne. At present, however, we must be content with proportioning the distance between Gana and Kauga; which, admitting a curvature to the south, allows a rate of 16⅓ or 16½; or that of ordinary caravan travelling. It has been shewn that Horneman’s report of the distance between Kashna and Fittré, is very consistent: and there can be no question, that, of the two, we ought to prefer Horneman’s report, from its being less subject to error than the other, which has passed through so many hands, in its way to us.

[57]It should be observed, that Edrisi, (p. 13,) reckons Kauga to the country of Wangara; although some, says he, reckon it to belong toKanem.

It is proper in this place to restate and correct the line of distance betweenGanaandDongola; which will be found in the Proceed. Afr. Assoc. for 1798, p. 122. There it appears, that Kauga is given by Edrisi, at 30 journies, equal on his scale, to 570 G. miles from Dongola; and it is found by Mr. Browne’s statement, to fall at 578. Again, Mr. Horneman says, that Fittré, (or Kauga,) is 40 journies to the eastward of Kashna, (See above,p. 138.) This interval of distance, taking Kashna as it is placed in the Map of 1798, is 653 G. miles; equal to 16⅓ per day; and is perfectly satisfactory. Edrisi allows 36 journies between Gana and Kauga; so that by this account, Gana ought to be nearer to Kauga, by four journies, than Kashna is. In the Map of 1798, Gana is placed eight miles too far to the east. (See the Proceed, p. 121.) This corrected, Gana will be 82 from Kashna; which, however, is still too much for four journies, and agrees better to five.

The interval thus corrected, between Gana and Kauga, is 575 G. miles indirect distance; which allows no more than 15½ per day, for Edrisi’s 36 days; whilst his ordinary scale is 19. If therefore, the report of Edrisi is right, Gana must either lie more to the west, or the course of the Niger, along which his route leads, to within ten journies of Kauga, must form a very deep curve to the south, after passing the dominions of Houssa, (of which Gana makes a part.) That it does decline to the south, Mr. Horneman was repeatedly informed, as may be seen above, pages115,117,but whether in a degree sufficient to occasion the difference above-mentioned, is not ascertained.

M. D’Anville also had an idea, and so describes it in his Map of Africa, 1749, (possibly from actual information), that the Niger declined to the south beyond Gana; so that the termination of it, in the lake of Semegonda, was 3½ degrees of latitude to the south of Gana; and which, by the bye, would place the lake of Semegonda, about the same parallel with theBahr Hemadof Mr. Browne. At present, however, we must be content with proportioning the distance between Gana and Kauga; which, admitting a curvature to the south, allows a rate of 16⅓ or 16½; or that of ordinary caravan travelling. It has been shewn that Horneman’s report of the distance between Kashna and Fittré, is very consistent: and there can be no question, that, of the two, we ought to prefer Horneman’s report, from its being less subject to error than the other, which has passed through so many hands, in its way to us.

[58]The Thames, between Maidenhead Bridge and Mortlake, (about 41 B. miles in a straight line,) has a fall of rather more than one foot eight inches in each mile. But this is asmoothpart of its course: for although the Thames does not, by any means, spring from very elevated lands, it cannot be supposed to fall less than four feet in each mile, taken on its whole course. On this idea, the Niger should have a fall of more than 8000 feet, in its supposed course to the White River. But even if two feet and a half (which appears very moderate indeed) be allowed, the fall would be no less than 5625 feet, or 115 yards more than an English mile. Is it to be credited, that the bed of the White River, on the south of Darfoor, and at a point not very remote from its source, is a mile lower than the springs of the Joliba, or Niger?

[59]Browne’s Travels, page 473.

[60]Edrisi says, “Ab urbe Ghana ad primos limites terræ Vancáræ est iter octo dierum (orientem versus)—Atque hæc eadem est insula longitudinis trecentorum milliarium, centum et quinquaginta latitudinis, quam Nilus undequaque circundat toto anni tempore. Adveniente verò mense Augusto, et æstu gravescente, Niloque inundante, insula ista vel certè major pars illius aquis obruitur, manetque sepulta aquis quamdiu Nilus terram inundare consuevit.” (Sionita, p. 11 and 12. See also Hartmann’s Edrisi, article Vankara, p. 47et seq.

[61]Ebn Haukal, an Arabian geographer, of the tenth century, (lately translated by Sir William Ouseley,) gives the following account of the riverHeermend, p. 205.“The most considerable river ofSejestanis theHeermend, which comes from Ghaur to the city ofBost, and from that runs toSejestan, to the lakeZareh. This lake is very small when the waters of the river are not copious; when the river is full, the lake increases accordingly. The length of this lake is about 30 farsangs, (about 110 B. miles,) and in breadth about onemerhilch. (Day’s journey, or 24 B. miles.) Its waters are sweet, wholesome, &c.”It is well known, that there is nooutletfrom the lake Zareh.

[61]Ebn Haukal, an Arabian geographer, of the tenth century, (lately translated by Sir William Ouseley,) gives the following account of the riverHeermend, p. 205.

“The most considerable river ofSejestanis theHeermend, which comes from Ghaur to the city ofBost, and from that runs toSejestan, to the lakeZareh. This lake is very small when the waters of the river are not copious; when the river is full, the lake increases accordingly. The length of this lake is about 30 farsangs, (about 110 B. miles,) and in breadth about onemerhilch. (Day’s journey, or 24 B. miles.) Its waters are sweet, wholesome, &c.”

It is well known, that there is nooutletfrom the lake Zareh.

[62]Begama of Edrisi.

[63]Mr. Browne, (page 473,) states the distance betweenDonga, and the (southern) limit of Bornu, to be 20 journies.

[64]Mr. Horneman’s informant called itUngara; and it appears that the Arabs name itBelad-el-Tebr, or the country of gold. (Herbelot and Bakui.) Mr. Browne was told, in Darfoor, that gold was not found in any quantity, to the west. But Wangara, a country of gold, at least in former times, lies to the west of Darfoor!

[65]There is a town namedTaboo, a considerable way to the SW of Fezzan. D’Anville writes itTibedou. It seems to be theTabidiumof Pliny, one of the towns conquered by the Romans, under Balbus. (Pliny, lib. v. c. 4 and 5.) Pliny says, c. 8. that “the Romans possessed the country, even to the river Niger, which separatesAfricafromEthiopia;” and gives a long list of provinces and towns subject to them. It may be conceived, that besides Fezzan, Gadamis, Taboo, &c. they possessed the fertile tract, in the line from thence to the Niger; that is, Agadez, Kashna, and perhaps Gana.It may be remarked that Pliny (c. 8) speaks oftwoEthiopias; and quotes Homer, as having divided them intoEasternandWestern. One may conceive that the division between them, was the fertile tract in question, extending from Fezzan, in the line towards the Niger.

It may be remarked that Pliny (c. 8) speaks oftwoEthiopias; and quotes Homer, as having divided them intoEasternandWestern. One may conceive that the division between them, was the fertile tract in question, extending from Fezzan, in the line towards the Niger.

[66]Levataof Leo, page 245.

[67]From Mourzouk to Gatron, (or Kattron,) south 54 miles; understood to be of British standard, and to include the windings of the road. Thence to Tegerhie, SSW 33 miles. To Abo 7 days; and thence to Tibesty, 3 days in an easterly direction. Finally, to Burgu, 18 days; each of which 28 days are reckoned 18 B. milesby the road. See above,page 107.It has been calculated inpage 155,that Teghery, by the general result of the authorities, should be placed S 26 W, 68 G. miles from Mourzouk.From thence, the 10 days to Tibesty, in an easterly direction, may be taken at about 140 G. miles; which meeting the line of 7 days, equal to 98 G. miles from Temissa, (See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, chap. iv.) places Tibesty at 133 miles SE by E. from Mourzouk.

It has been calculated inpage 155,that Teghery, by the general result of the authorities, should be placed S 26 W, 68 G. miles from Mourzouk.

From thence, the 10 days to Tibesty, in an easterly direction, may be taken at about 140 G. miles; which meeting the line of 7 days, equal to 98 G. miles from Temissa, (See Proceed. Afr. Assoc. 1790, chap. iv.) places Tibesty at 133 miles SE by E. from Mourzouk.

[68]TheTroglodytæwere found in every place where nature or art had prepared recesses for them; and are always gifted with superior swiftness of foot. In particular, in Pliny, lib. vii. c. 2. and in Hanno’s Voyage, &c.Considering thatFezzan, under the name ofGaramanta, was one of the earliest known inland countries of Africa, to the Greeks, it is not altogether improbable that the first idea of the characteristic swiftness of theEthiopian Troglodytæ, was derived from thence. And considering also the false idea entertained by the Greeks, of the bearing of the western side of Africa, Hanno might have supposed the source of the riverLixus, the reported seat ofhisTroglodytæ, to have been situated in the centre of Africa.

Considering thatFezzan, under the name ofGaramanta, was one of the earliest known inland countries of Africa, to the Greeks, it is not altogether improbable that the first idea of the characteristic swiftness of theEthiopian Troglodytæ, was derived from thence. And considering also the false idea entertained by the Greeks, of the bearing of the western side of Africa, Hanno might have supposed the source of the riverLixus, the reported seat ofhisTroglodytæ, to have been situated in the centre of Africa.

[69]Horneman was told by the Augilans, that the Tibbo of Febabo, or Burgu, (it is not clear which) spoke a language that resembled thewhistlingof birds. He also takes occasion to remark, what Herodotus says concerning the language of the Ethiopians, hunted by theGaramantes; but probably without referring these last to the country of Fezzan.

[70]It appears inpage 176,(note) that Burgu is 18 journies from Tibesty; which, at 14 G. miles each, (as they are of 18 B. miles by the road,) produce 252 miles. Burgu is said,page 119,to be situated to the south,some daysdistant from Febabo. On the construction the line of 252 miles passes to the eastward of Febabo, (placed at 10 days to SSW from Augila, seepage 108,)so far, as to place Burgu to thesouth-eastward, instead ofsouth, from Febabo. It may be, that Febabo does not bear so far to the west, as SSW from Augila; as less than 14 miles per day cannot well be allowed, from Tibesty. I have therefore altered the bearing from SSW, and made it somewhat nearer to the meridian. The Berdoa, or Bardeo of Leo, (pages 245, 246,) agrees to this position, 500 Arabic miles from the Nile, in the midst of the Desert of Libya; and abounding with dates.

[71]Notwithstanding the appearance of retributive justice in these attacks on the Tibbo, by the Sultan of Fezzan, yet Mr. Horneman lets us a little into the secret, by informing us, (page 68,) that “for some years past, the Sultan has augmented his revenues considerably, bycursory expeditionsagainst the Tibbos of Burgu.” And the result of the above expedition was, “thestealingof about two hundred people, which were sold,” &c. It may be remarked, that Mr. Browne says of the Sultan of Darfoor, that a part of his revenue arises from a participation in the profits of theselatia, orslave-huntingparties, (page 299.) And of the Negro country ofDar Kulla, he says, that even the public regulations are framed with a view to theentrappingof individuals for slaves. (308.) So that the slave trade exists much in the same manner, in this quarter of Africa, where none of the slaves are purchased by European traders, as in the west.

[72]It has appeared that the caravan travellers in stating the time between distant places, are apt to give the whole time that elapses between their leaving one place, and arriving at another. Hence the days of halt, have often been added to the days of march; and a faulty route of travelling has thence been adopted. This, no doubt, occasioned the low rate adopted, soon after the institution of the Association: and which nothing but actual experiment can effectually correct.

[73]The proof of this fact is most satisfactorily established, by Herodotus, and by Ibn Haukel, a geographical writer of the tenth century, whose work has been lately translated by Sir William Ouseley; to whose labours the science of Geography is much indebted.

[74]Mr. Horneman regards this nation as theTergaof Leo, situated in the western quarter of the Great Desert. (Leo, page 245.)

[75]Ptolemy has a city namedTagama, at the Niger, but too far to the east, to answer to the position here given. (Afr. Tab. IV.). There is also aTegomain our geography, near Kashna.

[76]Many persons have expected to find in the interior of Africa, the remains of the Carthaginian nation, expelled by the Romans. Considering, however, the vast interval of time that has elapsed, we can hardly expect to find the remnant of a nation, continuing so far unmixed with the surrounding nations, as to preserve their distinction of character and language. Besides, it would really seem as if the Carthaginians themselves, (meaning the descendants of the Phœnicians,) were not to be regarded as anation, so much asbodiesofcitizens, inhabiting commercial towns: so that their language may never have prevailed generally over Barbary.

[77]Mr. Browne (page 232) denominates the people of theGreaterOasis,MuggrebineArabs, as well as those of theLesser. It is probable then, that all the Oases are colonies of theTuarick.

[78]See the sketch opposite topage 111.

[79]The Moors, and Arabs call the country of the Negroes, which was designed by the Romans under the name ofNigritia,Soudan. Abulfeda includes all the known part of Africa, south of the Great Desert, inBelad Soudan, or the country of Soudan. (The wordSoudaorSuda, in Arabic, signifiesblack.)Mr. Browne, who had visited a part of Soudan, namelyDarfoor, agrees that Soudan corresponds to ourNigritia; being “a general term for the country of the Blacks.” (page 182.) In his preface, page xxv. he says that “nothing can be more vague, than the use of the word Soudan, or Sudan. Among the Egyptians and Arabs,Ber-es-Soudanis the place where the caravans arrive, when they reach the first habitable part ofDar-Fûr: but that country seems itseastern extremity; for I never heard it applied to Kordofân or Sennaar. It is used equally in Dar-Fûr to express the country to the west; but on the whole, seems ordinarily applied to signify that part of the land of the Blacks nearest Egypt.”It has been seen, however, that the people of Tunis and Fezzan, reckon Houssa, that is, Kashna, and the adjacent countries, to Soudan; whence it must be extended westward to Tombuctoo, at least. Whether it ought to be extended farther west, I know not. The term, which is of Arabic origin, may possibly have in its application, a limited range, and may not embrace the entire country of the Negroes.

Mr. Browne, who had visited a part of Soudan, namelyDarfoor, agrees that Soudan corresponds to ourNigritia; being “a general term for the country of the Blacks.” (page 182.) In his preface, page xxv. he says that “nothing can be more vague, than the use of the word Soudan, or Sudan. Among the Egyptians and Arabs,Ber-es-Soudanis the place where the caravans arrive, when they reach the first habitable part ofDar-Fûr: but that country seems itseastern extremity; for I never heard it applied to Kordofân or Sennaar. It is used equally in Dar-Fûr to express the country to the west; but on the whole, seems ordinarily applied to signify that part of the land of the Blacks nearest Egypt.”

It has been seen, however, that the people of Tunis and Fezzan, reckon Houssa, that is, Kashna, and the adjacent countries, to Soudan; whence it must be extended westward to Tombuctoo, at least. Whether it ought to be extended farther west, I know not. The term, which is of Arabic origin, may possibly have in its application, a limited range, and may not embrace the entire country of the Negroes.

[80]The following information occurs in a letter from Mr. Jackson of Santa Cruz, to Mr. Willis, dated 1st of July, 1797.“I have informed myself particularly concerning Houssa, and I find there is no such place. The environs of all great towns are called in the Arabic of this country,El Huz, orHuza.”

[80]The following information occurs in a letter from Mr. Jackson of Santa Cruz, to Mr. Willis, dated 1st of July, 1797.

“I have informed myself particularly concerning Houssa, and I find there is no such place. The environs of all great towns are called in the Arabic of this country,El Huz, orHuza.”

[81]The reader is requested to compare the description of this Mound in Herodotus, (Euterpe, 137, 138,) with that in the Voyage on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, in theMémoires sur L’Egypte, p. 215,et seq.See also the Geog. System of Herodotus, p. 513, for the application.

To the Right Honourable SirJoseph Banks,Bart.

Dear Sir,

Mycuriosity has been much gratified by your obliging communication of Mr. Horneman’s specimen of the language spoken atSiwah, or the Oasis of Ammon, in the Lybian Desert; and it will afford satisfaction to you in return, to be informed, that notwithstanding the accident to his papers, which we must all regret, and which might cause some doubt to attach to the correctness of a list subsequently formed, I am enabled to identify the words he has transmitted, amongst the dialects of Africa with which we are already acquainted, and thereby to increase the confidence we feel in the general accuracy of this zealous and enterprising traveller.

Not having any previous knowledge of the extensive people whom he callsTuarick, of whose language he was given to understand that this ofSiwahis a dialect, I directed my attention in the first instance to the numerous specimens I possess of the languagesspoken by various tribes of Negros, in the northern part of the continent, but without being able to trace in any of them the slightest similitude. I then pursued my comparison through the Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, and the different branches of the Ethiopic; and although I thought some distant affinity perceptible, it was not such as could be insisted upon. I was next led to examine the language spoken by the inhabitants of Mount Atlas, known in Morocco by the names ofShilhaشلح, andBreberorBerberبربر, but in their own country by that ofAmazighامزيغ; and here I had the satisfaction of ascertaining the object of my search. The following examples will, I doubt not, be judged sufficient evidence of the language of these countries ofSiwahandShilha, distant from each other by the whole breadth of Africa, being one and the same; and I scarcely need to claim even that reasonable allowance which every candid person will make for the difference of orthography that unavoidably results from the different circumstances under which collections of this nature are formed.

The earliest account of theShilhalanguage of which I am at present aware, is that given by Jezreel Jones, in a Latin epistle published at the end of Chamberlayne’s Oratio Dominica, in 1715. He says, “Lingua Shilhensis velTamazeght, præter planitiesMessæ,Hahhæ et provinciam Daræ vel Drâ, in plus viginti viget provinciis regni Sûs in Barbaria Meridionali. Diversæ linguæ hujus dantur dialecti in Barbaria, quæ ante Arabicam, primariam Mauritaniæ Tingitanæ et Cæsariensis provinciarum linguam ibi obtinuêre, et hodiernum inter Atlanticorum Sûs Dara et Reephean Montium incolas solum exercentur.” A specimen is added, consisting of about one hundred words. In the excellent account of Morocco published in Danish, by George Höst, in 1779, there is also a short vocabulary of this language, where the words are given with apparent accuracy, in the Arabic character.

Several years ago you were so kind as to transmit for me to Mr. Matra, His Majesty’s Consul at Morocco, (a gentleman whose exertions for the advancement of useful knowledge, and particularly of that which is the object of the African Association, deserve the highest praise,) a copy of an extensive alphabetical list of English words, which I printed and distributed with the view of facilitating the attainment of languages not to be met with in dictionaries, and in consequence of which I received from him, through your hands, a very valuable communication. “It is not, (he says in a letter dated in 1791, that accompanied it,) the printed copy Mr. Marsden sent me, but an exact duplicate. His copy, with the words translated into Arabic, is sent toTombuctoo, I fear but with little chance of its returning.” That copy never did return; but the transcript I received contains a version of all the words into the Mauritanian dialect of Arabic, for the purpose of enabling atalb, or priest, from theShilhacountry, to write opposite to each, in the same character, the corresponding terms in his language. I have been used to consider this as a very curious document, even when I believed it to apply only to the western coast of Africa, but its importance will be much increased, if we should find, as there is ground to presume, that theShilhaorBerberextends across the whole continent, in adirection between the Negro dialects on the southern side, and the Moorish or Arabic of the Mediterranean coasts, and that it was the general language of all Northern Africa before the period of the Mahometan conquests. Independently of the Arabic terms, which must ever accompany the progress of that religion, I think it exhibits some strong marks of affinity to that class of Oriental languages which the German writers have distinguished by the name of Shemitic; and if this should be established, (contrary, however, to the opinion of Höst,) it will not be unreasonable to suppose it the ancient Punic, corrupted by the influx of words successively introduced by the colonies or armies of Greeks, Romans, and Goths, and at length mixing again with a branch of the original stream, in its connection with the modern Arabic.

I am, Dear Sir, &c.

W. M.

Spring Garden, 1st May, 1800.

P. S. Since writing the foregoing, I have adverted to the chapter on the Oasis of Ammon, in the learned work of my friend Major Rennell, (the Geographical System of Herodotus examined,) and perceive from the extracts he has selected, (p. 589, 590) that Herodotus understood the Ammonians to be composed of Egyptians and Ethiopians, and their language to be formed from a mixture of both, which might have been true in his time; but that the Arabian geographers, Edrisi and Ibn Al Wardi, assert that Santariah (which the Major has proved to be the Oasis of Ammon, orSiwah) is inhabited by Berbers mixed with Arabs.

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