IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
rof and Timbuctoo. It is not demonstrated that the first 
of these names is identical with Takrour,* and conse- 
quently this passage will not prove that the countries of 
Takrour and Timbuctoo are distinct. 
In the time of Leo Africanus, who travelled in the 
early part of the sixteenth century, the prosperity of 
Timbuctoo had declined in favour of the town of Djenne, 
which is still, by the report of M. Caillie, more considera- 
ble and commercial than the former city. According to 
Leo, the river which runs near Timbuctoo takes a westerly 
direction. " We navigated/' says he, " coming from 
the kingdom of Tombuto, to the east, and following 
the course of the stream, towards the kingdom of Ghinea, 
and as far as the kingdom of Melli, which are both to 
the west of Tombo."' This assertion is not confirmed by 
the French traveller. Even if we suppose that one of the 
two branches, which he saw near that city was a tribu- 
tary, and not a derivative branch, and that he had not 
perceived the distinction, (which must appear very ex- 
traordinary), this hypothesis would be contradicted, since 
it was reported to him by the inhabitants that this arm 
rejoined the principal stream at some distance. 
With the exception of Leo, (who was a Moor born 
at Grenada), and the Portuguese, concerning whom we 
* This opinion is adopted by M. Walckenaer (Recherches sur 
I'Afrique sept. &c. p. 32). ' 
