cxiv 
APPENDIX. No. IV. 
is familiarly mentioned by Claudian, who, however, it may be recollected, was 
a native of Africa : — 
" Gtr, ditissimus amnis 
" iEthiopum, simili mentitus gurgite NiUim." 
Carm. 21 v. 252. 
In some MSS. it is notissimus amnis ; but the other reading is more probable. 
■ " Domitorque feraruni 
" Girihteus,qm vasta colit sub rupibus antra, 
" Qui raraos ebeni, qui denies vellit eburnos." 
Carm. 47. v. 20. 
II. The second opinion respecting the Niger is, that it terminates in the 
Nile. In other words, this hypothesis identifies the Niger with the great wes- 
tern branch of the Nile, called the Jf/iite River, which D'Anville traces 
from a source very far SS.W. to its junction with the Nile near Sennaar, He 
likewise accurately distinguishes this stream from the eastern branch, which is 
much shorter and of inferior magnitude, and which takes its rise in the moun- 
tains of Abyssinia. This opinion is maintained by Mr. Horneman, Mr. Grey 
Jackson, and several other modern travellers ; and it is slightly sanctioned by 
Strabo and PUny, who speak of the sources of the Nile as being reported by 
some to be in the farther parts of Mauritania. But it may be affirmed with 
great confidence, that of all the hypotheses respecting the termination of 
the Niger, that which supposes it to be a branch of the Nile, is the most 
unfounded, and the least consistent with acknowledged facts. It is indeed 
rather a loose popular conjecture, than an opinion deduced from probable 
reasoning ; since nothing appears to be alleged in its support, except the mere 
circumstance of the course of the river being in a direction towards the Nile; 
and a few vague notions of some of the African natives with regard to this 
subject, which are unworthy of the smallest attention. 
Mr, Jackson, indeed, in his Travels (p. MO), states it to be a fact universally 
known among the rich African traders, that the Niger and the Nile are one 
and the same river, by means of which there is a practicable communication 
between Tombuctoo and Grand Cairo. Between these two cities caravans are 
continually passing, and a large trade is carried on; but Mr. Jackson ob- 
serves, that the expense of land-carriage by means of camels is more mode- 
rate than that by water, and that the journey also is more agreeable ! He 
gives an account of the voyage to Cairo down the Niger, haying actually beien 
