i4 Journey of a Mahomedan Priest 
river is by no means of that magnitudinal importance which we 
have been led to suppose, and that the Niger may join the Nile, 
without making the latter a greater river than we have it already 
described by travellers. Mr. Bruce says, that the country 
about Sennaar, though flat, is nearly two miles above the level 
of the sea ; from which, and from the northerly course of the 
Nile from that point, it must be clear that the slope of the land 
is towards the Mediteranean, and that if the Niger makes its 
way so far to the eastward, it must discharge itself into that sea, 
through the channel of the many-mouthed Nile. On the other 
hand, many natives from Houssa, who have been made prisoners 
by the Foulahs, and been brought overland to the Gold Coast, 
have affirmed that they crossed no mountains by the way, shew- 
ing that there is no barrier against the Joliba, or any other 
river flowing in that direction, but certainly not proving that it 
does ; indeed, the easterly course of the Niger at Nufi, which 
has already been taken notice of, must in a great measure set 
that matter at rest; and if afterwards the Niger, from interven- 
ing high ground, is found to abandon its course eastward, and 
adopt a southerly one, the mouth of the Congo may be its outlet. 
How curious indeed, and how honourable to the memory of the 
immortal Park, should future research prove this to be the case. 
It may not be out of place before I conclude, briefly to suggest 
a plan which appears to me more feasible than any that has as 
yet been proposed, for exploring the course and throwing light 
on the termination of the Niger. Some have recommended the 
hazardous undertaking of accompanying a caravan from the 
north of Africa, as the most likely means of ensuring success, 
while others have considered an attempt by way of the Senegal 
and Congo rivers more prudent, as well as more practicable ; 
but as yet every trial has proved abortive, and it therefore 
behoves us to make our advances in a different manner. 
The intercourse between the nations in the interior and the 
colony of Sierra Leone has of late years become very great, and, 
to acommon observer residing in the colony, it must appear 
evident that the intercourse is daily increasing ; indeed, to such 
an extent is good faith now established, that little excursions, in 
