91 THE PIGMIES. 



given to him by Cyrenian pilgrims, who had themselves received the 

 information from ErEVitcnus, King of the Ammonians. The latter 

 told them that a certain number of young Nasamons had taken it into 

 their heads to explore the desert of Lybia. Five of them, chosen 

 by lot, started with provisions and water : " They first crossed 

 " the inhabited region, then the wild country, after which they 

 " reached the desert and followed a westerly course. After having 

 " travelled in deep sand for many days, they at last perceived 

 " trees growing in a field, and approaching picked some of the 

 " fruits ; but they had hardly begun eating them when a large 

 " number of men, much below the average height, came down on 

 " them and carried them away. They spoke a language unknown 

 " to the Nasamons, and did not understand theirs. These men 

 " led them across a marshy country to a town inhabited by black 

 " people ; near this town a large river flowed, from west to east, 

 " and contained crocodiles." ( x ) 



Although this account is rather brief, yet it agrees too well with 

 our modern discoveries for us to doubt the truth of it. We know 

 that the geographical zones pointed out by the Nasamons are 

 still to be found. The river they discovered is the Djoliba, or 

 Niger, which was successively taken for the Nile itself, or an 

 aniuent of Lake Tchad, until Mtjisgo-Pare:, Caille, Clapperton, 

 the Lander brothers, <fec, aquainted us with its real course. We 

 know also that this stream, the source of which has lately been 

 discovered by two young Frenchmen, rises in a ramification of the 

 inland mountain-chain which runs parallel to the north coast of the 

 Guinea G-ulf. Although Messrs. Zweieel and Moustier v 2 ) were 



(i) Histoire tVHkrodote— Translated by A. F. Miot, vol. l,p. 246. 



( 2 ) Many attempts had already been made to reaeb the source of the Niger. 

 Major Laixg and W. Reade among- others, failed in their endeavours. In 

 l87i),oneof the founders of the Marseilles Geographical Society, Mr. C. A. Ver- 

 mink, organised, at his own expense, an expedition that was to be scientific and 

 commercial at the same time. He entrusted the care of carrying out his plans 

 to two young men, who had, for a long time, been employed in his African fac- 

 tories. Messrs. Z. ZwEiFELand Moustier left Rotombo the 8th July, 1879, 

 On the 25th September, they arrived near Mount Ternbi ( TemM, Coundou, the 

 head of the TemM J, a granitic hill from which springs the TemM, the chief 

 branch of the Niger. Unfortunately, this source, like that which Bruce took 

 for the origin of the Nile, is sacred in the eyes of the natives. Tembi Seli, the 

 hi oh priest, forbade the French travellers going too close to it : they were only 



