372 MR park's first journey. 
and negro traders^ an account of its farther course, 
and of the kingdoms in its vicinity. He was in- 
formed that Jenne, a large town, containing a 
greater number of inhabitants than Sego, or any 
other city in Bambarra, is situated on a small island 
in the Niger, at the distance of two days' journey 
from Sill a. Two days' journey below Jenne, the 
river expands into a considerable lake, termed 
Dibbie, the dark lake, in crossing which, from west 
to east, the canoes lose sight of land for one whole 
day. From the lake Dibbie, the river issues in a 
number of streams, which, at a lower point, unite 
in two large branches, which, separating to a great 
distance, enclose the island Ginbala or Guinbala, 
which is about 100 miles in length. Ginbala is 
inhabited by negroes, who live in considerable af- 
fluence, as the country is often visited by traders^ 
who pass from the west to Tombuctoo, and who, 
from the swampy nature of the soil, intersected 
by numerous creeks, have been able to resist all 
the power of the Moors. The soil of this island 
is extremely fertile. The two great branches of 
the Niger, which insulate Ginbala, unite at Kabra, 
the port of Tombuctoo, which is one day's jour- 
ney to the south of that city. On the northern 
banks of the Niger, at a small distance from Silla, 
the pastoral kingdom of Massina commences, in- 
habited by Foulhas, who are tributary to Bambar- 
ra. On the north-east of Massina lies the king- 
