NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 439 
found in the sands of all these rivers. Bambouk, 
which is situated to the north-west of these moun- 
tains, furnishes the greatest part of the gold which 
is sold on the western coast of Africa, as well as 
that which is brought to Morocco, Fez, Algiers, 
and to Cairo, and Alexandria in Egypt. 
The third principal tract where gold is abun- 
dant, lies on the south-east coast, between 15° 
and £2° of south latitude, and nearly opposite 
Madagascar. The gold of that country, it is said, 
is found not only in the state of dust, but also in 
veins \ and it is supposed, that Ophir, from which 
Solomon obtained gold, was a country on the same 
coast. Nearer to the equator, the Gold Coast 
supplied the Portuguese, and afterwards the Dutch, 
with great quantities of gold dust. * 
24. Silver. — There are several silver mines in 
the territory of Tunis ; others are reported to exist 
in the mountains behind Mosambique, also in those 
behind Congo. Browne heard that silver abounded 
in Zanfara, a country to the west of Darfur. He is 
single in this respect, and I suspect it is a mistake. 
%5. Copper. — Considerable quantities of this me- 
tal are found in the western Atlas, also in the ter- 
ritory of Tunis ; and there are copper mines at 
Fertit, bordering on Fur, to the south. It occurs 
# Jameson's Mineralog)^, Vol. III. 
