THEORIES RESPECTING THE NIGER. 415 
however diffident he must feel in advancing any- 
thing new on a subject treated by so many eminent 
geographers, yet, as the opinion was the result of 
a somewhat diligent investigation, perhaps he may 
be indulged in a short exposition of it. * 
Although the Niger, in Bambarra, carries with it 
to the east all the waters of central Africa, it can- 
not be doubted, that there is a tract on the other 
side of the continent, where these waters flow in an 
opposite direction. Without having recourse to 
ancient, or more doubtful authorities, we find 
Browne expressly stating, that all the rivers about 
and beyond Darfur, were reported to him as 
flowing to the west and north-west. Some, the 
Kulla for instance, are so delineated, that they 
could scarcely continue to flow in that direction 
without meeting the Niger. That a junction there- 
fore takes place, at some point, of rivers from oppo- 
site sides of the continent, can scarcely be doubt- 
ed. Whether these rivers terminate there, or di- 
rect their united streams into the ocean, is a sepa- 
* Should any reader feel curious to see this system more 
fully explained, he may have recourse to the article Africa 
in the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which 
was contributed by me, at the request of my friend Mr Na- 
pier, the very able editor of that publication. The work, 
being supported by the most eminent men of science in this 
country, is in very general circulation. 
VOL. II. 
