70 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
that lie could not even hire a boat; he was forced to 
rely upon public charity. 
To advance further under these circumstances was 
not only to risk his life, but to place the results of all 
his fatigues and efforts in jeopardy. To return to 
Gambia was scarcely less perilous ; to do so he must 
traverse hundreds of miles on foot through hostile 
countries. Still the hope of returning home might 
sustain his courage. 
“ Before leaving Silla,” says the traveller, “ I thought 
it incumbent on me to collect from the Moorish and 
negro traders all the information I could concerning 
the further course of the Niger eastward, and the 
situation and extent of the kingdoms in its neigh¬ 
bourhood. 
“ Two days’ journey eastward of Silla is the town of 
Djenneh, which is situated on a small island in the 
river, and is said to contain as many inhabitants as 
Sego itself, or any other town in Bambara. At a dis¬ 
tance of two days’ more, the river widens and forms a 
considerable lake, called Dibby (or the dark lake), con¬ 
cerning the extent of which, all I could learn was that, 
in crossing it from east to west, the canoes lose sight of 
land for one whole day. From this lake the water issues 
in many different streams, which finally become two 
branches, one flowing to the north-east, the other to the 
east; but these branches join at Kabra, which is one 
day’s journey to the south of Timbuctoo, and is the port 
or shipping-place of that city. The tract of land be¬ 
tween the two streams is called Timbala, and is inhabited 
by negroes. The whole distance by land from Djenneh 
to Timbuctoo is twelve days’ journey. North-east of 
Masena is the kingdom of Timbuctoo, the great object 
of European research, the capital of the kingdom being 
one of the principal marts for the extensive commerce 
which the Moors carry on with the negroes. The hope 
of acquiring wealth in this pursuit, and zeal for propa¬ 
gating their religion, have filled this extensive city with 
Moors. The king himself and all the chief officers of his 
court are Moors, and are said to be more intolerant and 
