CAMBBOONS. 
265 
at tlie base of the cliffs, -whicb would lead to the sup- 
position that the original banks of the river reached 
as far as this on both sides. It is now, however, low 
and covered with mangrove trees, as are all the islands 
within twenty miles of the sea. 
They seem, indeed, to be in process of forming a 
little delta, which may fill up the estuary, and thus 
regain from the encroachments of the sea, what may 
have been submerged by some convulsion, of volcanic 
agency, in the neighbouring mountain range. 
The fine estuary of the Oameroons is the common 
receptacle of several streams; and owes it names to 
the Portuguese, who called the extreme point Cape 
Camerones, from the vast quantity of small shrimps 
found there. This name has been extended to the 
principal river which falls into it, but the natives, as 
is usually the case, give to it that of the countries 
through which it flows. Thus at Bell’s Town, it is 
called the Madiba ma Dualla; higher up it is the 
Madiba ma Wuri, &c.. 
Although a beautiful river, it is not to be compared 
with the Niger. Its average breadth above the man- 
groves is about four hundred yards, as far as we reached. 
In the dry season, this portion of the river varies 
in depth from two to twenty feet, though we rarely 
had more than eight feet; but when flooded there 
would be water enough for vessels of any draught. 
From the accounts, however, of several intelligent 
natives, the navigation is obstructed by rocks at 
