361 
CHAP. LXIV. 
THE NETWORK OF CREEKS, BACKWATERS, AND LAKES BELONG- 
ING TO THE NIGER. SARAYAMO. NAVIGATION TO KABARA. 
On my first arrival at the town of Bambara, I had 
not been at all aware that it formed a most important 
point of my journey, it being for me, as proceeding 
from the south-east, what that celebrated creek three 
days west from Timbuktu was to the traveller from 
the north during the middle ages, and which on this 
account has received the name of " Ras el ma." The 
town of Bambara is situated on a branch, or rather 
a dead backwater of the river, forming a very shal- 
low bottom of considerable breadth, but a very ir- 
regular border, and containing at that time but little 
water, so that the communication with the river was 
interrupted ; but about twenty days later in the season, 
for about four or five months every year, during the 
highest state of the inundation, the boats proceed 
from here directly, either to Dire by way of Galaye 
and Kanima, or to Timbuktu by way of Delego and 
Sarayamo, thus opening a considerable export of corn 
towards that dependent market-place, which again has 
to supply the whole of the nomadic tribes of A'zawad, 
and the neighbouring districts. 
