COMMUNICATIONS, 
123 
Its width is fuch that even at the Ifland of Gono;oo, where the 
ferrymen refide, the found of the loudell voice from the north- imhammccj. 
ern lliore is fcarcely heard ; and at Tombudou, where the name Ben aiij. 
of Gnewa, or black, is given to the ilTcam, the width is defcribed 
as being that of the Thames at Weftminiler. In the rainy fea- 
fon it fwells above its banks, and not only floods the adjacent 
lands, but often fweeps before it the cattle and cottages of the 
fliort-fighted or too confident inhabitants. 
That the people who live in the neighbourhood of the Niger 
iliould refufe to profit by its navigation, may juflly furprife the 
Traveller ; but much greater is his aftonifliment, when he finds imhammci 
that even the food which the bounty of the ftream would give, BerAUi, 
is ufelefsly offered to their acceptance ; for fuch is the want of 
fkill, or fuch the fettled diflike of the people to this fort of provi- 
fion, that the fifli with which the river abounds are left in undif- 
turbed poffeilion of its waters. 
Having pafTed the ftream, the face of the country, and with 
it the mode of travelling, are changed. High mountains and 
narrow valleys, extenfive woods and miry roads, fucceed to the 
vafl plains and fandy foil of the Zahara and its neighbouring 
kingdoms. Water is no longer refufed or fcantily given to the 
R 2 parched 
