lîô 
A VOYAGE TO SENEGAL, 
CHAP. XIL 
BESCRIPTÎON OF THE BAR OF THE SENEGAL, AND OF 
THE EANKS OF THAT RlVEÏi, AS FAR AS ISLE ST. 
LOUIS. PEECAUTiONS TO BE TAKEN' FOR PASSING 
THE BAR. REMARKS ON THE CANOES OF THE NE- 
GROES. DESCRiPriON OF ISLE ST. LOUIS, ITS ADMI- 
NISTRATION AND INHABITANTS, 
^ÂfTER the r?pid sketch Vibich I have G;iven of our esta- 
blishments from Cape Blanco to the river of Sierr.t Leone, it is 
necessary to retum to the bar of the Senegal^ and say some- 
thing]; of ihe passage of that river, as far as Isie St. Louis, which 
deserves a particular description. 
The bar of the Senegal is situated in about 15° .'.3'lat. and 18° 
àv 30 Ion. : it IS a Ua nk of niovinj>; sand, formed at the mouth 
of the river by the mud and sand \^ hich it conveys in its course 
to the sea, ar^d which the latter repels incessantly towards the 
coast. The river, ui consequence of its mass of w ater, and the 
^jolence of its cuirent, has made two outlets here, which are 
cabled the posses of the bar, and are dii;tinguished by the ap- 
pellation of Great and Small. To enter them is very difficult, 
aiiâ even dangerous. 
The great pass is generally about a hundred fathoms wide, 
and eight or nine feet deep; and at all times the only ships 
which can pass it, are those that draw seven or eij^ht feet of 
water. The waves ai e so short and strong, that they break with 
a terrible violence ; and this passage often proves an end to the 
most favourable navigition. The small pass is so narrow and 
shallow, that none but canoes or small boats can get through it. 
The large opening cannot be passed w ithout an expert pilot, 
who is in the habit of visiting it every day, to know exactly its 
state and depth ; both of which are uncertain, as they vary ac- 
cording to circumstances. Ali^ therefore, that is known, is the 
extent and rapidity of the floods ; but the sudden variations in 
question must doubtless be attributed to the double action of 
the river and the sea. 
The pilot who is engaged to conduct ships over the bar, has a 
large boat with a deck, and a crew of Negroes, who have no 
cloathing but a band of linen about six inches broad, which passes 
between their thighs : they are all strongly-made people, and 
xceileiit swimmers. But notwithstanding their knowledge and 
