ASSOCIATION. 
7 
Gambia rivers improved upon that of De la Brue and Moore ; 
for though fince their time half a century has elapfed, the 
Falls of Felu on the firft of thefe two rivers, and thofe of Ba- 
raconda on the laft, are ftill the limits of difcovery. 
Neither have we profited by the information which we have 
long polTeffed, that even on the weftern coafts of Africa, the 
Mahometan faith is received in many extenfive diftrids, from 
the Tropic of Cancer fouthward to the Line. That the 
Arabic, which the MulTulman Priefts of all countries under^ 
ftanda furnilhes an eafy accefs to fuch knowledge as the weft- 
ern Africans are able to fupply, is perfe6tly obvious ; as it alfo 
is, that thofe Africans muft, from the nature of their Religion, 
polTefs, what the Traders to the coaft afcribe to them, an in- 
tercourfe with Mecca. But although thefe circumftances ap- 
parently prove the practicability of exploring the Interior Parts 
of Africa, and would much facilitate the execution of the 
Plan, yet no fuch efforts have hitherto been made. Certain 
however it is, that, while we continue ignorant of fo large a 
portion of the globe, that ignorance mufi: be confidered as a 
degree of reproach upon the prefent age. 
Senfible of this ftigma, and defirous of refcuing the age 
from 
