DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 6l 
only expresses his surprise, considering this im- 
mense length of course, that the Senegal should 
not pour a greater mass of waters into the ocean. 
The banks of this great river are fertile, and co- 
vered with populous and commercial cities. The 
principal is Tombuctoo, situated three leagues to 
the north of the river, and which, on account of 
the gold brought thither from the great province 
of Mandingo, is resorted to by numerous merchants 
from Cairo, Tunis, Tremecen, Morocco, Fez, and 
all the kingdoms of Northern Africa. These re- 
pair also to another city, situated on the course of 
the river itself, and which was formerly more cele- 
brated than Tombuctoo. It is called variously by 
the Negroes Genna, Jannii, and Gennii ( Jenne of 
Park). This city, as being situated further to the 
west than Tombuctoo, forms a species of rendez- 
vous for all the nations which are nearest to the 
coast ; the Caragolees, Foulhas, Brabariis, Lud- 
dayes, and JalofFs. Through the channel of these 
people, as well as of those situated near the head of 
the Gambia, and also of those bordering on the 
castle of Mina, gold came into the hands of the 
Portuguese. Yet Di Barros asserts, with, I sus- 
pect, very little reason, that the Gambia and the 
Senegal do not roll a greater quantity of golden 
sand than the Tagus and Mondego of his native 
country ; and he conceives it to be the mere illu- 
sion of distance which led his countrymen to seek, 
