366 REMARKS ON 
Dhioliha, Sec, it retains the latter name as far as Sego, 
where or in the environs it divides; if we may trust the de- 
scription of the amanuensis of Bello^ the left arm is called 
Baniou, and the right Balio, and after the junction it is 
called only Couara, But M, Caillie never once heard that 
the river^ which he reached at Galia^ and upon which 
he navigated thirty days^ had different names ; perhaps 
because he did not inquire. He only saw a river, Couaraba, 
which falls into the right branch, but very far to the south. 
I think then that if the stream is called Couara below 
Isaca, it is only because the term is generic and signifies 
a river. 
I might stop here and leave it to the reader to draw 
other consequences from the new observations. But the 
question of the outlet of this stream is so closely connected 
with my subject, that the reader would have a right to 
complain if in this work he found neither information nor 
opinion upon it. It is universally inquired what becomes 
of this immense collection of water below Timbuctoo ; it is 
at least necessary to exhibit in a few words the different 
opinions at present current upon this subject. 
The most ancient identifies this river with the Nile of 
Egypt. It does not appear that the partisans of this opi- 
nion had any other foundation than the pretended unani- 
mous reports of blacks, Arabs, and natives. Thus without 
considering the physical conditions, or taking account of in- 
surmountable obstacles, they maintained as a fact, that the 
waters which had their rise in the heights of the Souli- 
