416 THEORIES RESPECTING THE NIGER. 
rate question. According to the general opinion, 
this union takes place in Wangara. There is, how- 
ever, a considerable weight of testimony which 
goes to prove, that much farther west, and in pas- 
sing through the kingdom of Cassina, the direction 
of the stream is still westward. Abulfeda, Edrisi, 
and all the Arabian writers, without a single ex- 
ception, are well known to have described their 
Nile of the Negroes as flowing from east to west 
Now, as Gana was the centre of their settlements, 
and the main channel of communication with 
Northern Africa, it appears very improbable that 
they should be misinformed as to how the matter 
stood there. Nor is it improbable that their know- 
ledge might terminate with this westward-flowing 
river, and might never reach the stream visited by 
Park. 
The next testimony is that of the Shereef Im- 
hammed, an eminent native merchant, who crossed 
and recrossed the Niger at least twice. He stated 
to Mr Lucas, * that ' 4 its rise and termination are 
" unknown, but its course is from east to west." 
He adds, that " such is the rapidity with which it 
" traverses the empire of Cashna, that no vessel 
" can ascend the stream that it is crossed on 
an ill constructed raft ; that its depth is twenty- 
three or twenty- four feet ; and its width " such, 
* c that at the island of Gongoo, where the ferry- 
* Proceedings of Association, 1 790, 4to. 
