IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 339 
navigated it here ; the current, by his account (but on the 
22d of August, the season when the river is full,) ran at 
the rate of about five knots an hour. Its bed was a mile in 
width, and at the point of the rapids twice as much*. 
The observations which I have made above upon the 
position of Timbuctoof apply equally to the course of the 
river. Ever since the year 17^0, the tracing of this 
course on the maps has been progressively moving from 
east to west, drawing nearer and nearer to the Senegambia 
and to the west coast of Africa. It becomes, also, more 
and more probable that the mountainous space, which 
separates these two basons, will be found shorter and more 
practicable for the passage both of men and animals. 
Who knows but some large tributary to the Dhioliba may 
run in the close vicinity of a similar tributary to the 
Bafing, or even to the Senegal below Galam, such as the 
Red River, or the Baoulima, or the Kokoro, so that the 
communication between these two rivers might be estab- 
lished without much difficulty ? Who knows, in short, 
whether the progress of civilization may not one day effect 
* Journal of a Mission, 8fc., 144, and following pages. 
f I have already called the reader's attention to the fact that M, 
Walckenaer had carried this position at least two degrees farther west 
than the old maps. Subsequent observations, which I have employed 
myself in collecting, have proved that a change in this direction was 
necessary. To judge of its extent it was essential to have good obser- 
vations taken at Galam, (or at Bakel), as well as a new itinerary be- 
tween Senegambia and the Dhioliba. It is on these more accurate 
data that I have endeavoured to work. 
z 2 
