336 REMARKS ON TRAVELS 
have been previously formed of the existence of a lake in 
this part of Africa, we were utterly ignorant of its situation, 
its true name, its form, and extent. The islets, on which 
our countryman has thought himself entitled to bestow 
names, will perhaps one day prove remarkable points. 
Their occupation would suffice to intercept the navigation 
upwards and downwards, and by thus rendering their 
possessor master of the river to influence the commerce 
of interior Africa ; a commerce, comprehending on one 
hand, the gold extracted from the rich mines of Boure, 
and the productions of Kankan, Ouassoulo, and Fouta- 
Dhialon, the merchandise of the Mandingoes, and all the 
articles of Djenne ; on the other, the productions which 
Timbuctoo receives from the northern coast, and every 
thing transported thither by the Moors from the north and 
north east. - 
The observation of the river near Djenne affords a 
still more remarkable modification of received opinions ; it 
must now be acknowledged that Djenne stands on an 
island, and that this island is double; which, let me re- 
mark, by the way, may serve to explain many contra- 
dictory accounts both of travellers and natives. The new 
narrative itself is, 1 confess, not free from difficulties, I 
have consequently only traced with dotted Hnes the branches 
of the river round Djenne. The following results may, at 
any rate, be deduced from M. Caillie's routes by land and 
water, along the eastern part, and from the inteUigence 
which he obtained respecting the western portion ; first, 
that a large branch diverges near Sego, about forty 
leagues, (in a direct line), above Djenne; and that it re- 
