170 Mr Murray on the Course of the River Niger. 
imagine. A person of credit also assured Mr Horneman, that 
the communication of the Niger and the Nile is ‘ very little, 
unless in the rainy season.” This evidently gives up the iden- 
tity of the two rivers, and implies merely some small connecting 
cut, like that of the Cassiquaire. This is no doubt possible, 
though I think not probable, considering the rarity of the occur- 
rence, and the mountainous character of the country described 
by Browne, to intervene between Darfoor and the sources of the 
Bahr-el-Abiad. 
This hypothesis being ' disposed of, and there being no men- 
tion of any great lake or inland sea upon the course of the 
Quolla, there appears no alternative but that of its discharge in- 
to the southern Atlantic. Upon this subject the Ashantee mer- 
chants had nothing to say ; but Mr Bowdich having resided for 
some months at Gaboon, obtained some important information 
respecting the rivers of that part of Africa. The natives men- 
tioned the Wola, as a river considerably to the north of their 
country, as the greatest river in the world, four or five miles 
Avide, and flowing to the eastward. There can seemingly be no 
doubt as to this being the same river called by the Moors Quolla. 
Another river, called the Ogooaway, was also described as 
communicating with the Wolla, and then rolling southwards 
through the interior. After pursuing a long and winding course 
through vast savannahs, it was said to separate into two branches, 
the largest of which formed the main stream of the Congo, 
Avhile the smaller one discharged itself into the ocean at Cape 
Lopez. This Avould form certainly a very large Delta, which 
could, however, be less wondered at, as the river, previous to 
separation, would have held a longer course than any other 
perhaps in the world. The Gaboon and Danger form two other 
estuaries, the origin of which is unknown, and which may pos- 
sibly form part of the same great Delta. Much in short re- 
mains to be cleared up ; but, upon the whole, the probability 
seems very strong, that this celebrated stream must find its way 
by more than one channel into the southern Atlantic. 
