IN CENTRAL AFRICA. ^47 
as large as Soueyrah, situated in a vast plain^ and built of 
stone, earth, and reeds. On leaving Timbuctoo, Sidi- 
Hamet travelled fifty-five days towards the N. E., and 
eighteen to the north, before he arrived at Touat, and after- 
wards he proceeded to Fez. M. Caillie did not perceive 
the little river close under the walls of Timbuctoo ; but 
what is said by Riley shews that it might be dried up. 
The great river at two hours' distance to the south, is 
evidently the Cabra branch, flowing between the east and 
north. The word Zolibib is unquestionably the same as 
Dhioliba. The situation of the oasis of Agably (or of 
Touat), is not consistent with the data by which I was 
guided in drawing up the general map, namely the astro- 
nomical observations made by Major Laing at Ain- 
salah,* 
We have seen above that Major Peddie and Captain 
Campbell took the way of the Rio-Nunez, to penetrate 
into the interior : the second alone was able to advance 
to within a short distance of Timbo ; but he could not 
reach that place. Both swelled the list of victims to 
the climate and martyrs of science. Captain Campbell, 
and M. Caillie, as well as Watt and Winterbottom, tra- 
velled in nearly parallel lines : tiieir accounts, far from 
contradicting, mutually confirm each other; but the 
marches of the French traveller present a multitude of 
instructive details, and local circumstances which the 
* See below, page 217", the analysis of the general map, § II, 
Art. 3. 
