ISO 
KAN KAN. 
CHAPTER X. 
Further account of Kankan and its environs. — Council of elders. — State 
of trade, and civilization. — Kissi. — Boure. — Trade between Boure and 
Bamako, Yamina, Sego, Sansanding, and Jenne. — Working of gold 
mines. — Establishment of Bamako. — Passage of the Milo, and several 
other tributary rivers of the Dhioliba. 
The season was advancing. It was now the middle of July, 
and in August it becomes almost impossible to travel, the 
country being then entirely flooded : I was beginning to be 
very uneasy, when, fortunately, an opportunity occurred of 
starting for Sambatikila. I bargained with a Poulh^ of the 
Fouta-Dhialon, who agreed to carry my luggage as far as 
the Wassoulo, for three heads of tobacco, worth about ten or 
twelve sous. My new guide, whose name was Arafanba, had 
a high reputation for piety ; he appeared very obliging, and 
I was indebted to Mamadi-Sanici for recommending him. 
Our departure was fixed for the 16th of July ; but before quit- 
ting Kankan I will give some further description of the place. 
Kankan, the capital of a district of the same name, 
is a small town, situated at the distance of two gunshots 
from the left bank of the Milo, a fine river, flowing from 
the south, and fertilizing the country of Kissi, where it has 
its source. It runs to the N. E. : and discharges itself into the 
Dhioliba, two or three days' journey from Kankan. It is 
broad, deep, and fit for the navigation of canoes, drawing 
six or seven feet water. In the month of August it over- 
flows, and fertilizes the neighbouring country. The follow- 
ing are the names of the villages which, as I was informed, 
are dependent on Kankan : Carfamoudeya, Diocana, Bouca- 
* Poulh and Foulah are the same. 
