46 
THE MIDDLE AGES. 
houi'S. The religion was Mahometan ; but the in- 
tolerance, so strongly reported in modern times, 
is mentioned only in regard to the Jews, who are 
said to have been most rigorously excluded, 
Cabra was a town similarly built, but smaller. 
It was situated on the Niger, at twelve miles from 
Tombuctoo, and was the port from whence the 
merchants sailed for the western countries of 
Ghinea and Melli. Ghinea, or Genni, is describ- 
ed as an extensive country, 500 miles in length, 
and 950 in breadth, extending along the Niger 
till that river fell into the ocean. The country 
was very fertile, particularly in cotton ; the ma- 
nufacture of which formed the main staple of its 
trade. During the months of July, August, and 
September, it is completely overflowed by the 
branches of the Niger, which surround, and give 
to it the appearance of an island. At that time 
the merchants of Tombuctoo conveyed their com- 
modities in small canoes made of a single tree. 
These they rowed during the day ; then fasten- 
ing them to the shore, spent the night on land. 
At the time Leo wrote, this country also had been 
conquered by Izchia, king of Tombuctoo. To 
the south of it lay Melli, upon a river which fell 
into the Niger. It is described as also fertile, 
abounding in merchants and artificers, who enjoy- 
ed a great degree of opulence. The inhabitants 
were the first who had embraced the religion of 
.14 
