190 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH 
country, so that, had not the falling of the wa- 
ters of the Senegal obliged him to lose no time in 
returning, he could have acquired a thorough 
knowledge of every part of it. M. Golberry ob- 
tained access to his notes, as well as to those of the 
three other gentlemen before mentioned. He made 
diligent inquiry also from the natives, as well as 
from the English traders on the Gambia. From 
these various sources he compiled an account of 
Bambouk, by much the most copious and complete 
that has yet appeared ; for Mr Park only travelled 
along its southern frontier, through part of Konko- 
doo and Satadoo. It cannot, therefore, be amiss to 
glean a few additional particulars inspecting a coun- 
try so important in a commercial point of view. 
Bambouk is situated between 12° 30', and 14° 15' 
north lat. It is about thirty-six leagues in extent 
from north to south, and about twenty-eight of ave- 
rage breadth. The number of inhabitants is not 
supposed to exceed 60,000. They are of Manding 
origin, and their natural character, and most of 
their customs, are similar to those of the other 
Manding tribes, which have been so fully delineate 
ed by Park. They seem, however, to be peculiarly 
indolent and licentious. The whole country is no- 
minally subject to a Siratik or king ; but the Fa- 
rims or chiefs of the villages, whose situation is 
also hereditary, exercise a power almost wholly in* 
dependent. According to the tradition of the 
