APPENDIX. 
511 
long as the Nile continues to overflow. But when the waters 
decrease, and the Nile begins to retire into its proper channel, 
all, who are in the kingdom of the blacks, living in those 
islands, return to their habitation ; and during the whole time 
that the Nile decreases, they slightly dig the earth, and not 
one of them is disappointed in his labour ; but every one, by 
digging, finds more or less of gold, according to the gift of 
God. And after the Nile hath entirely returned to its former 
bounds, they sell what they have found, and trade among them- 
selves ; indeed, the greater part of the gold is bought by the 
merchants of Varectan, and by the remotest western merchants, 
and they carrying it into their countries, strike and coin it in- 
to pieces of money ; with which they carry on their trade, 
This happens every year. 
Next to the cities of the country of Vancara lies the great 
and populous city Tirca, distant from Ghana six days' journey ; 
the road lies along the banks of the Nile* From Tirca to the 
city Mafasa is reckoned six days ; and from this to the coun- 
try of Setmara is six days' journey. From that to the city 
Semegda is eight days' journey. This is a beautiful and agree- 
able city, situated On the shore of a fresh water sea, and distant 
from the city Reghebil nine days. Also from the city Secmara 
to the city of Reghebil, towards the south, is a journey of six 
days. The city Reghebil lies also on the shore of a fresh wa- - 
ter sea, and is of a beautiful form and magnitude, situated un- 
der a mountain, which overhangs it on the south side. Be- 
tween the city Reghebil, towards the west, and the city Gha- 
nara, there is a distance of eleven days. The city Ghanara is 
on the bank of the Nile, enclosed with a strong wall, and in- 
habited by a numerous and robust people. Also from this 
city to that of Ghana is a journey of eleven days, where water 
is veiy scarce. All the countries just mentioned are under 
the dominion of the king of Ghana, 
