376 
GEOGRAPHICAL SYSTEMS 
render probable, the travellers directed their course 
through Fezzan, they would, on emerging into the 
desert, be considerably to the south of those rivers, 
and to direct their course nojrthwards, would have 
been in direct contradiction to their original ob- 
ject. Their travelling westward puts Bornou out 
of the question ; so that, though the distance be 
somewhat great, I do not well see to what other 
river their course could carry them, except the 
Niger. 
These data being established, Herodotus, as 
usual, proceeded to complete his system by arbi- 
trary suppositions. The Nile coming from the west, 
it appeared very natural to conceive, that the river 
of the Nasamones might fall into, and form the 
main branch of that greatest of the streams of Afri- 
ca. The opinion, in fact, has not been controvert- 
ed by actual observation ; though Major Rennell's 
learned arguments seem to have left it destitute of 
all shadow of probability. * It appears, however, 
by the testimony of recent travellers, t that the 
same belief, founded on very nearly the same data, 
is still prevalent in Northern Africa. 
Herodotus evidently considered Africa as sur- 
rounded on all sides by the sea, unless at the isth- 
mus of Suez or the Nile. When, however, he states 
* Geographical System of Herodotus, 
f Jackson, Horneman. 
i 
