IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 283 
whole course of the river, two or three degrees farther 
east, when besides there exists no observation what- 
ever, either geographical or astronomical, for carrying 
the river and its towns farther into the interior of the 
continent. 
The position of Djenn^, the arms of the river by 
which it is surrounded, its situation in a large island 
apart from the Dhioliba, the stream which branches off 
in the neighbourhood of Sego, and rejoins the river at 
Isaca, four days further on, are so many circumstances 
all equally new, and which tend greatly to modify our 
previous notions. Looking at this complication of details, 
the obscurity and contradictions contained in all the ac- 
counts of the negroes on the subject of Djenne may be 
easily conceived ; but, upon an attentive study and careful 
comparison of the different data, we arrive at a tolerably 
just idea of these localities : the reader will judge whether 
I have attained this object in the course of these obser- 
vations and in the drawing here submitted to him. Un- 
questionably j there yet remain many circumstances to be 
learnt relating to this double branch of the Dhioliba, the 
true form and actual extent of the island of Djcnn^, and 
its double or perhaps triple communication with the 
branches of the river ; for every step yet gained in our 
acquaintance with this mysterious river seems to throw 
us to a greater distance from the ultimate object : it is, 
therefore, to confess the truth, nothing more than a slight 
sketch that I have presumed to delineate ; time will rectify 
our yet imperfect notions, and complete the observations 
