APPENDIX. 
Ixxi 
was an error common to all the ancient geographers, as well as to those of 
Arabia : for Ptolemy places the mouth of the Senegal river only two de- 
grees more to the west, than Edrisi does that of the Niger. 
Abulfeda believed, with Edrisi, that the Niger had a common source with 
the Nile, and ran westward.* 
It is certain, that these opinions furnish no proofs of continuity of course : 
but it may be supposed that there was some foundation for them ; especially 
as Edrisi says, that salt was carried upon the Niger in boats from the island 
of Ulil, and distributed to the people on its banks, from Sala to Wangara, 
and Kauga.t 
Mr. Matra was told J that from Kabra, the port of Tombuctoo, " people 
sometimes travelled along the river the space of 40 days, to Ginny (Ghana) 
a large city," &c. 
The Moorish merchant, with whom Mr. Beaufoy conversed, and whom 
he speaks of as a clear and intelligent man, says, " That the country of 
Guinea or Ginny, is on the same river with Houssa." (Mr. Beaufoy's 
MSS.) 
Edrisi, besides mentioning the cities of Sala, Tokrur, Berissa, Ghana, and 
Ghanara, all of which he says are situated on the Niger, remarks that the 
country of Wangara, to which Ghanara belongs, is surrounded by that 
river, $ as it would appear by means of a subdivision of its waters; for 
Gatterer says, that Ghanara, one of its cities, stands on the western arm of 
the Guin,|| by which name he. mentions the Niger; of which more presently. 
Now, as Wangara extends, according to Edrisi, 300 Arabic miles along 
the river,** this extent, together with the distance of Wangara from Ghana, 
eight journies,tt or 152 miles, makes up 496 G. miles of the course of this 
river, eastward from Ghana; which being itself 500 miles east of Houssa, 
there will be 969 miles in direct distance, traced eastward of Houssa: or 
on the whole, as Houssa is 700 miles below the source, about 1670 G. 
* Article So d.m. f Edrisi, p. 7. % Mr. Beaufoy's MSS. 
§ Edrisi, p. 7, 11, and 12. || Hartmann's Edrisi, p. 43. notes. 
** Edrisi, p. 11. ff lb. p. n. 
* 
