viii 
APPENDIX. 
which 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 Man- 
dinga 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 ano- 
ther branch, namely, the Faleme river ; which encompassed the country of 
Bambouk, and afterwards joined the Niger in the country of Gallam. And 
finally, that the 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 in- 
terior of the country; since such derivations from rivers, are found only in 
alluvial tracts: and it happens, that scarcely any levels vary more than those, 
through which the rivers in question pass; as will appear in the sequel. 
They likewise report (p. 163.) 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 that 
Tombuctoo is not situated on the bank of the Niger, but at about six 
leagues inland from it : and that in passing to it, from Gallam (which is re- 
ported to be a journey of thirty-two days only), they go through Timbi, five 
journies short of Tombuctoo ; where they leave the bank of the river, to 
avoid too great a detour. 
Labat does not state in positive terms that the Niger or river of Senegal 
affords a continuous navigation, from the falls of Govinea (above Gallam) 
to Tombuctoo: but that he believed it, is strongly implied, by what appears 
afterwards, in p. 367, 368; that is, a project of a trade to Tombuctoo; 
K by keeping an establishment of vessels above the falls; which vessels 
might ascend the Niger to a point opposite to Tombuctoo, thereby saving 
the 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 
