106 Dr Brown on tli'C CoiTespandence between Mr Park 
do not commence until the sun has nearly gained his utmost 
boundary, and is about to return towards the equinoctial line. 
So that the increase of the Congo from the end of October to the 
beginning or even middle of December, cannot be ascribed to 
any rain that falls in South Africa. About the end of January 
or the beginning of February, the river, he says, may be sup- 
posed at its height : but at no time can the rains to the south- 
ward of the line be compared with those to the north of it, be- 
tween the river Volta and Cape Lopez, in what is called the 
Bight of Guinea. Whether the Congo, therefore, be the out- 
let of the Niger or not, it offers, in his opinion, the best open- 
ing for exploring the interior of Africa, of any scheme that has 
ever been attempted ; and the ease and safety with which it might 
be conducted, need no comment. If the Niger have a sensible 
outlet, he has little doubt of its proving the Congo ; being ac- 
quainted with most of the large rivers between Cape Palmos 
and Cape Negro : nor need the immense course of such a river 
as the Congo and Niger in one continued stream, excite much 
astonishment, when we know that the St Lawence, contemp- 
tible in size compared with the Congo, after traversing a great 
part of North America, and issuing through a chain of lakes, 
discharges itself into the Atlantic Ocean : but, instead of five 
or six lakes, like the St Lawrence, the Congo may be supposed 
to pass through twice the number, which may in a great mea- 
sure solve any difficulty as to the floods of the Niger not imme- 
diately affecting the Congo. He can say this much, however, 
for the river Congo, that by comparing it wdth other rivers, ac- 
cording to the best authorities, it must rank as the third or 
fourth in magnitude ; and, indeed, from the current which it 
produces in the ocean, carrying out floating islands 60 or 70 
leagues from the coast, the Amazons alone can cope with it ; of 
which our poet says, that Ocean trembles for his blue domain.” 
Many of the traders that he met with at Embomma, had come 
a journey of one month (gonda) down the river, (which, at 20 
miles a day, allowing seven days rest, would make 440 miles,} 
spoke of it as equally large v/here they came from, and that it 
went by the name of Enzaddi, as it does by all the natives on 
the lower part of the sea-coast: and when questioned about its 
source, Mafooka Coombi gave a similar answer to Mr Maxwell, 
