IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 2(>7 
We afterwards descend into vast and very fertile 
plains^ watered by the Tankisso, a large river^ with steep 
banks, the Bandiegue and others less considerable^ till 
we reach the principal river of this part of Africa, the 
Dhioliba. 
On leaving the Soulimana the river takes a northerly 
direction, as I have said above, on the authority of Major 
Laing, but afterwards turns to the east. This bend is pre- 
cisely given by a distance in the new itinerary. It may be 
observed that the river passes at one day's journey to the 
south of Saraya. This bearing is in perfect agreement 
with the map of Laing's journey to the Soulimana,* which 
will confirm if necessary the position of Saraya, and my 
plan of the route. It is known that the actual height of 
its source above the level of the sea^^ is, according to 
Major Laing, about sixteen hundred feet, or a hundred 
and thirty more than the source of the Rokelle. 
It was at Couroussa, in the little country of Amana, 
that our traveller crossed it. Though so near to its source, 
it had already attained a breadth of nine hundred feet, 
and the moderate velocity of two miles and a half. At a 
short distance from this point, the Yendan, a large river, 
falls into it ; farther on it receives the Milo, coming from 
the town of Kankan, and the Sarano, which waters the 
* The Mandingoes place the Couranco, where Major Laing places 
the Soulimana, that is to say they prolong the Couranco to the N. W., 
towards the sources of the Dhioliba, 
