Ixxx 
APPENDIX. 
Nile (of which, in our idea, there does not appear a shadow of probability) 
they must either be evaporated in lakes, or lost in sands. The lake of 
Kauga offers itself in a position very convenient for the purpose, and a river 
taken by Edrisi for the Niger, is actually said to pass near it. It has also 
been shewn, that in the idea of Edrisi, the Kauga lake communicated with 
the western waters : but whether this is true, or otherwise, it is not possible 
to decide. 
I do not pretend to follow Ptolemy in his description of the rivers in the 
interior of Africa, with that precision which M. D'Anville has attempted: 
but this circumstance is clear enough, that he describes them to terminate, 
as well as to begin, within the continent. The same is to be said of Aga« 
themerus. 
It is apparent, that Ptolemy has carried the head of the Niger seven de- 
grees too far to the north, and about four, or more, too far to the west : as 
also that his inland positions in Africa, as well along the Niger, as at a dis- 
tance from it, are yet more to the west of the truth. But notwithstanding this 
geographical error, he proves that he knew many facts relating to the de- 
scriptive part of the subject. For instance, he places the source of the 
Niger, at the mountains of Mandrus, and amongst the nation of the Man- 
dori. It has been seen, that the Joliba rises in the country adjacent to 
Manding. He marks also a large adjunct to the Niger, from amongst the 
Maurali, in the south, answering to the river from Malel (or Melli) in 
Edrisi. To these may be added another particular of agreement. The 
Caphas mountains of Ptolemy seem meant for those of Kqffaba, a country 
9 or 10 journies to the eastward of Kong; 18 short of Assentai (or Ashantee) 
near the Coast of Guinea * But I have a doubt where to place Ptolemy's 
metropolis of Nigritia, in modern geography. His ideas, however, corro- 
borate in the strongest manner, the present system of geography. 
Amongst the eastern waters, the Gir of Ptolemy, seems to be recognized 
in the river of Bornou, and its adjuncts : the Niger, in that of Tombuctoo 
and Wangara. The Panagra of the same geographer answers to Wan- 
gara; and his Lybia Palus, which forms the termination of the Niger, 
* Af. Assoc. 1790, ch. xii. 
