EARLY MODERN IDEAS, 
315 
bassies, without learning the existence of Bam- 
barra, or of the Niger, as a separate stream from 
the Senegal We have already seen how early 
the first discoverers began to consider as Tom- 
buctoo, every town which bore the slightest re- 
semblance to it in name and situation. I strongly 
suspect, therefore, that this Portuguese Tombuc- 
too was some town situated on the Upper Sene- 
gal, perhaps Tamboucanee, mentioned by Saug- 
nier as a great mart for slaves and gold. A diffe- 
rent conclusion might indeed be suggested by the 
mention of Zimbala, which, from name and situa- 
tion, can scarcely be any other than the Jinbala 
of Park. But it seems not difficult to conceive, 
that reports applicable to the real, might come 
mixed with those of the imaginary Tombuctoo, 
especially as the former was known, not through 
this channel only, but also through that of the 
Barbary traders. 
In all these maps, a prominent feature consists 
in a lake called Guardia or Sigesmes, with an 
island in the centre, and situated at some dis- 
tance to the east of Tombuctoo. I have never 
been able to meet with any description of this 
lake, or any notice of the authority upon which 
it is laid down ; nor does it seem very easy to de- 
* See above, Book I. Chap, I. 
53 
