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MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
river of Africa emptied itself into a large lake, they laughed 
at such an idea, and reasoned so as to put wiser heads to the blush. 
" God/' say they, " made all rivers to run to the sea, you say that 
small rivers go there: the Quolla is the largest river in the world, 
and why should it not go there also ? Was it to lose itself in the 
lake, where could the waters go to 1" They describe the Quolla as 
about five miles in breadth, and having a very rocky channel, the 
banks on both sides very high and rugged; in many places, canoes 
often take a day to pass a short distance, from the dangerous whirl- 
pools, and sudden squalls: at other places, the stream runs with 
' great rapidity. 
They think the Mediterranean sea to be circular, without mixing 
with the ocean ; seven rivers from Africa turn their course to it, 
but only two reach the shores, of which the Nile is one. The rush 
of the waters of the Nile, when they meet the sea is so great, that 
the waves are driven into the air with great force, and retire like 
waves against a rock. They call the Mediterranean sea Bahare 
Mall. The Red sea, say they, assumes various colours at different 
periods, from seven streams pouring their course into it, red, 
blue, yellow, &c. Hence they call it Majumaal Bahare, or the 
confluence of streams. They are very fond of mystical numbers, 
and often quote seven. The lake Caudie they call Bahare Nohoo, or 
the water of Noah, from the tradition that the deluge broke out 
from thence. They describe it as encompassed with rocks, within 
which is a bed of sand, and then the water. This we may allow 
to be a little fanciful, as I have seen a map of the earth drawn by 
Baba, where the world is supposed to be round, and encompassed 
with a rocky girdle, the sea is supposed to flow between this and 
the earth, which is placed in the centre. They are not singular in 
this idea ; as all rude nations form the same notions of the globe : 
