X 
APPENDIX. 
to the ignorance of the African merchants; but, in all probability, in a 
much greater part, to the want of understanding each other's language ; a 
defect that has led to many errors, that are oftentimes charged to the ac- 
count of wilful falsehood, or, at least, to an indifference to the cause of 
truth. 
I can easily conceive that the caravan merchants, in passing from Tom- 
buctoo to Gallam (or the contrary), might have deceived themselves into a 
belief, that the principal rivers which they had either crossed or skirted in 
their way, might communicate with each other: for it appears clearly, by 
Mr. Park's observations, that the eastern branch of the Senegal, and the 
western branch of the Joliba, approach very near to each other, in the early 
part of their courses; so that, during the whole journey, the merchants 
might never be farther distant from a river to the southward of them, than 
a few journies. 
As to the stoiy, so long credited, of the Niger being the parent river, 
from whence all the western rivers were derived, w« may remark, that ig- 
norance, in every country through which large rivers take their course, is 
very ready to derive them all from one source ; and that source very pro- 
bably, a lake. Within our own times, the Burrampooter and Ava rivers 
were thus described in the maps. Pliny reports, that the Euphrates and 
Tigris are united in Armenia, by the medium of a lake:* and Edrisi, as we 
have seen, derived the Nile and Niger, from one and the same lake.t 
It will appear that the lake Maberia, taken by D'Anville and Delisle 
for the head of the Senegal river, or that which runs to the west, is meant 
for no other than the lake of Dibbie, formed by the river Joliba, or that 
which runs to the east; and which Mr. Park's inquiries have brought to 
our knowledge. Again, we recognize the river Guien, or Guin, of Labat, 
of D'Anville, and of Delisle, in the northern branch of the same Joliba, 
* Pliny, lib. vi. c. 27. 
f Thomson believed it. After speaking of the Nile, he says,—- 
His brother Niger too, and all the floods 
In which the full-form'd maids of Afric lave 
Their jetty limbs. Summer, 81 1. 
