14)2 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE, 
them rise from the lakes of Zaire and Zambre^ 
which also give rise to the Nilcj are evidently fa- 
bulous, and founded on an erroneous system of 
African geography. The only statement at all 
distinct, is that given by Labat, chiefly from the 
report of Cavazzi. According to him, two of 
these great rivers, the Coango, and Berbela, have 
their rise in or near the kingdom of Matamba, 
and, flowing southwards along the eastern fron- 
tiers of Congo, at length unite and take a wester- 
ly direction. D'Anville, whose authority is cer- 
tainly better, makes only one river, instead of 
two. He gives to it the name of Coango, but 
that of Berbela has since been generally applied 
to it. The next river is the Vambre or Umbre^ 
said to flow from east to west, through the king- 
dom of Fungeno, a region known only by name. 
The last and most northerly is the Bancaro, de- 
scribed as flowing through the kingdom of Anziko, 
which lies to the north-east of Concobella. This 
evidently must be the river, if any, which forms 
the yet unknown termination of the Niger, and 
to trace its course upwards, must therefore be 
the main object of European investigation. 
