VIU 
APPENDIX. 
is to be found in Labat's collection, published in 1728; although the detail 
differs in some points. He says. Vol. ii. p. 161, et seq. that the Mandinga 
merchants report that the Niger (by which he always means the Senegal river) 
springs from the lake Maberia, whose situation could not be ascertained. That 
the Gambia river was a branch of the Niger ; separating from it at Baracota 
(a position also unknown) and that it passed through a marshy lake, in its 
way to Baraconda ; where the English and Portuguese had settlements. 
That the Niger, at a point below Baracota, sent forth another branch, namely 
the Faleme river ; which encompassed the country of Bambouk, and afterwards 
joined the Niger in the country of Gallam. And finally, that die same Niger, 
by its separation into two branches, formed a very considerable island above 
Kasson, It may be remarked, that a belief of these circumstances, manifests a 
gross state of ignorance respecting the interior of the country ; since such de- 
rivations from rivers, are found only in alluvial tracts : and it happens, 
that scarcely any levels vary more than those, through wliich the_ rivers in 
question pass ; as will appear in the sequel. 
They likewise report (p. ^63) that on the east of the lake Maberia lies 
the kingdom of Guinbala ; within which, is the river of Guien, which passes 
near the city of Tombuctoo. Again (Vol. iii. p. 361 to 364) it is said tliat 
Tombuctoo is not situated on the bank of the Niger, but at about 6 leagues 
inland from it : and that in passing to it, from Gallam (which is reported to be 
a journey of thirty-two days only), they go through Timbi, five journies short 
of Tombuctoo ; where they leave die bank of the river, to avoid too great a 
detour. , 
Labat does not state in positive terms that the Niger or river of Senegal af- 
fords' a continuous navigation, from the falls of Govinea (above Gallam) to 
Tombuctoo : but that he believed it, is strongly implied, by what appears after- 
wards, in p. 367, 368 ; that is, a project of a trade to Tombuctoo ; " by keep- 
ing an establishment of vessels above the falls ; which vessels might ascend the 
Niger to a point opposite to Tombuctoo, thereby saving die great expence 
and fatigue of a land journey." 
Here then, we trace the idea of the lake of Maberia, the supposed head 
of the Niger; and the river of Tombuctoo, under the name of Guien; and 
