74 ‘TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
ning, where he derives this left branch of the Nile from the 
principal river, and fays, that, after pafling the kingdom 
of Dongola, it enters Nubia. Now, when it entered Don- 
gola it muft have already paffled Nubia, for Dongola is the’ 
capital of the Barabra, every inch of which is to the north- 
ward of Nubia. I do not know worfe guides in the geo-. 
graphy of Africa than Leo Africanus and the Nubian geo- 
grapher. I believe them both impoftors, and the commen-: 
tators upon them have greatly increafed by their own con-- 
jectures, the confufion and errors which the text has every-. 
where occafioned. 
As far as I have been ever able to learn, by a very diligent 
and cautious inquiry,from the inhabitants of the neighbour= 
ing countries, I believe the origin of the Niger is in lat. r2™ 
north, and in long. 30° from the meridian of Greenwich 
nearly; that it is compofed of various rivers falling down! 
the fides of very high mountains, called Dyre and Tegla;3: 
and runs ftraight weft into the heart of Africa.. I conclude’ 
alfo, that this river (though it has abundant fupply from eve-. 
ry mountain) is very much diminifhed by evaporation, run-- 
ning in a long courfe upon the very limits-of the tropical 
rains, when entire, under the name of Senega; or, perhaps, 
when divided under thofe of Senega and Gambia, it lofes: 
itfelf in the Atlantic Ocean. I conceive alfo, that, as Pliny 
fays, it has the fame tafte and.natural productions with the: 
Nile, becaufe it runs in the fame climate, and like that river: 
owes, if not its exiflence, yet certainly its increafe and ful- 
nefs to the fame caufe, the tropical rains in the northerm 
hemifphere falling from high mountains, : 
I. HOPE: 
