MISCELLANIES. 
formation of Deltas, even by 
rivers of the first magnitude, is 
by no means universal; some of 
the greatest that are knownbeing 
without them, Of this the Ama- 
zon, Plata, and Oronoko are 
mentioned by Major Rennell as 
distinguished instances; to which 
may now be added, the Congo. 
The difference appears fo be 
owing to the depth of the sea at 
the mouth of the rivers, and per- 
hapsto other circumstances, which 
are not quite understuod. 
Both of the two rivers, en- 
closing the great alluvial tract 
which has been described (the 
Rio del Rey and the Formoso), 
are stated to be of considerable 
size, being each of them seven or 
eight miles. broad at the mouth ; 
and the supposed Delta, estimated 
by the line of coast, is much 
larger than that of the Ganges: 
consequently, the two streams, 
if united, must form a river of 
prodigious magnitude. But nei- 
ther of the rivers has ever yet 
been explored ; nor has the inte- 
rior of the country, to any dis- 
tance-from the coast, been accu- 
rately described by any European 
trayeller. Hence, the question, 
whether the two rivers are ever 
really united, and whether the 
tract in question is a complete 
Delta or not, still remains to be 
ascertained. With regard also to 
the course, or even the existence, 
of the great river to which this. 
Delta is said to belong, and which 
M. Reichard supposes to come 
from the North-east of. Africa, 
there is no vestige or tradition 
among trayellers or geographical 
writers ; the whole is purely con- 
jectural. But the supposition, so 
far as relates to the alluvial origin 
585 
of the tract in question and the 
junction of the two rivers, has 
great appearance of probability. . 
On comparing Mr. Maxwell’s 
hypothesis respecting the Nigev 
with that of M. Reichard, which 
we are now considering, the Jatter 
may be said to have gained some- 
thing in: probability, by. diminish- 
ing the distance which the Niger 
has to flow in order to reach the 
Atlantic. But its course is much 
more tortucus, and its length, 
even when thus reduced, is still a 
considerable difficulty, anda great 
incumbrance on the hypothesis. 
The objection: arising from the 
Niger’s being conceived to pene- 
trate the Kong Mountains, seems 
to be nearly of equal weight in 
both. cases, on the supposition 
that this vast chain of mountains 
is of the extent generally ima- 
gined. 
It may be mentioned as an ob- 
jection to both of these hypothe- 
ses, that no traces whatever of 
the Mahometan, doctrines or iny 
stitutions are now to be found on 
‘either of the coasts where the 
Niger is supposed to terminate. 
In no part of the world has the 
spirit of enterprise and prosely~ 
tism, which properly belongs to 
the Mahometan character, been 
more strikingly displayed, than in- 
the extensive regions of North. 
Africa. Its effects are. every- 
where. conspicuous, not only: in 
the religious belief of the greater: 
part of the iohabitants, but even 
where Mahometism is not esta- 
blished, in their manners, and 
customs, and: in the predomi- 
nance of the Arabic language, 
which is almost every where 
grafted upon the native African 
dialects. These circumstanves, 
