Ixxiv 
APPENDIX. 
is with the stream of the Niger:* and if this be true, it ought unquestionably 
to have the same direction all the way from Houssa. 
To these notices, of which the most full and positive, is that of an intelligent 
person who had visited the spot ; are to be opposed the reports of Edrisi and 
Abulfeda, who wrote at a distance, and from the information of others. As to 
Leo, although his declaration is in favour of the two Arabian geographers, 
yet his authority loses all its weight, by his saying that the river runs to the west, 
by Tombuctoo ; a fact which, I presume, no one will be hardy enough to con- 
tend for. And it will be found, that his descriptions do most completely do 
away his declaration : so that his testimony is turned against himself by the 
very context. For after saying that it -runs towards the kingdoms of Ginea 
and Melli, he says also that they lie to the west, in respect of Tombuctoo. 
Now the contrary has already been made apparent, in page Ixv, et seq. ; so 
that in fact, Leo's descriptions go rather to prove, that the course of the 
Niger is to the east, than to the west. But after all, his descriptions are the 
result of hearsay, rather than of observation : and it is plain, that his idea of 
the course of the Niger, was regulated by the supposed situation of the 
countries it ran through. Nor had he in his mind the Coast of Guinea, ac- 
cording to our acceptation of the term, when he spoke of the country of 
Ginea : for in his description of Nigritia he says, that the sea on the soutb^ 
was unknown t to him. Thus the testimonies appear to be clearly in favour 
of an easterly course of the Niger from Houssa to Wangara. I next pro- 
ceed to the question respecting its termination. 
3. Concerning the Termination of the Niger. 
Mr. Beaufoy's Moor farther says, that " beloiv Ohinea, is the sea, into 
which the river of Tombuctoo disembogues itself." This may therefore be 
considered as the prevailing idea at Houssa and Tombuctoo, at which places 
* Sionita, p. 12, translates the passage thus: " Via cursum Nili comitante." And 
j^artmann, p. 51, " Nilum sequere." 
D'Herbelot understood the same thing ; article Vankara, f ^^^> P* 2« 
