400 
GEOGRAPHICAL SYSTEMS. 
distances, and the anniliilation of the unknown 
interval between distant objects, combined in 
leading to these remarkable errors. Abyssinia, 
above all, was extended in the most extraordi- 
nary manner, being made to reach as far as the 
southern frontier of Congo and Monomopata. 
Here was placed the great lake Zaire or Zembre, 
from which was supposed to flow not only the 
Nile, but the Congo, and, according to some, 
though not universally, the Ciiama, or Zambezi. 
That this lake was at bottom the Dembea, ap- 
pears from the Abyssinian provinces of Gojam, 
Damut, Bagamidri (Begemder), and the Cafates 
(Efat), being ranged around it. The name Zaire 
is evidently derived from the river of Congo ; and 
Zembre, which has no authentic origin, appears to 
be a transition-step from Zaire to Dembea, form- 
ing a sort of alliance between two names which, 
in themselves, are perfectly dissimilar. In all the 
early delineations of newly discovered countries, 
exaggeration is a prominent feature ; but I know 
of no instance in which it has taken place to so ex- 
travagant a degree. From Massuah, to the south- 
ern extremity of the lake of Dembea, the actual 
distance does not exceed four hundred miles j in 
the maps alluded to, it scarcely falls short of two 
thousand. It is difficult to account for so enor- 
mous an error in a country which was traversed, 
at different times, by so considerable a number of 
