SENEGAL. 29 
species cultivated are; the hieracium-leaved groundsel (senecio 
hieracifolius) ; the Chinese groundsel (senecio pseudo 
China); the spleenwort-leaved groundsel (senecio hastatus); 
and the elegant groundsel, or purple Jacobaea (senecio 
elegans.) 
In the fourth species there are varieties with very double 
purple, and with equally double white flowers. The former 
is now chiefly cultivated. 
And there are other species that may be cultivated for 
variety. 
The first and two last sorts are readily increased by plant¬ 
ing cuttings of the branches in pots filled with fine mould 
in the summer season, shading them till they have taken 
root; and, as the winter approaches, removing them under 
the protection of the greenhouse, where they should remain 
till May, when they may be planted out in the borders or 
clumps. They may likewise be raised from seed, which 
should be sown in the spring in pots, and placed in a gentle 
hot-bed. 
The second sort should be more carefully attended to, 
being raised from offsets, which should be planted in pots in 
the spring season, and be plunged in the hot-bed of the 
stove, where the plants should be constantly kept. 
The first and two last sorts afford variety in the borders, 
and among potted plants; and the second in stove collec¬ 
tions. 
SENECEY, a small town in the east of France, 
department of the Saone and Loire, with 1800 inhabitants ; 
11 miles south of Chalons-sur-Saone.—There are three other 
villages of France of the same name; one in the department 
of the Cote d’Or, 6 miles east of Verdun-sur-Saone; another, 
3 miles south of Dijon ; and the third, in the department of 
the Saone and Loire, north of Macon. 
SENECTA ANGUIUM, the exuviae, or sloughs of ser¬ 
pents. 
SENEFFE, a small town of the Netherlands, in the 
province of Hainault, with nearly 3000 inhabitants. It is 
noted as the scene of a sanguinary but indecisive battle, 
fought on 1 1th August 1674, between the prince of 
Orange and the prince of Conde; 12 miles north-west of 
Charleroi. 
SENEGAL, a large and remarkable river of Africa, the 
principal one, which falls into the sea on its western coast. 
In all the early delineations of Africa, it was considered as 
the same river with the Niger, and was thus delineated as 
coming from the most distant regions in the interior of the 
continent. Thus, till the beginning or middle of last century, 
the words Senegal and Niger were considered as synonymous. 
The French, however, having fixed their head settlement at 
St. Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal, penetrated up the 
river as far as Gallam, where they also established a fort. 
Tombuctoo, early celebrated as the centre of African wealth, 
being situated on the Niger, anxious inquiries were made as 
to the means of penetrating to that city, by ascending the 
Senegal. The result, however, was not satisfactory. It was 
found, that about sixty miles above Gallam, the country 
assumed a mountainous aspect, and the rocks intersected the 
river in such a manner, as to render it impossible for barks to 
ascend. This was called the cataract of Felu; and about 
forty leagues higher were the falls of Govinea, which have 
not been so carefully examined, but have been reported as 
equally formidable. These obstacles served to account for 
the fact, which was soon ascertained, that there was no 
instance of a vessel sailing between Tombuctoo and Gallam. 
It was still conceived, however, that by transporting the 
goods from the rock of Felu, to beyond that of Govinea, 
the benefit of the navigation of the supposed Niger might be 
obtained to a great extent. In endeavouring, however, to 
trace the higher part of its course, they were perplexed by 
various and contradictory reports. According to some, the 
Niger, after passing Tombuctoo, continued to flow westward, 
till it discharged itself into the Atlantic; but others positively 
asserted, that the river passing Tombuctoo flowed eastward, 
and had no communication with the Senegal. These last 
statements appeared so strongly attested, that the learned 
Vop. XXIII. No. 1552. 
French geographers. Delisle and D’Anville, hesitated not, in 
the course of the century, to make an essential change on 
the geography of this part of Africa, describing the Senegal 
as a completely distinct river from the Niger. They derived 
it erroneously, however, from the lake Maberia, which ap¬ 
pears to be the same described by Mr. Park, under the name 
of Dibbe. At the same time, the governors and the persons 
best acquainted with the French settlement on the Senegal, 
continued to cherish the old ideas, and to hope still for a 
navigable intercourse with Tombuctoo. The geography of 
this part of the continent was never cleared up, till the 
journey of Park, who fully ascertained the distinction 
between the two rivers, the eastward course of the Niger, to 
which a great portion of what even Delisle and D’Anville 
had assigned to the Senegal, really belonged. He learned 
moreover the source of the Senegal itself, in the great range 
of mountains which traverses Manding and Jallonkadoo, 
and from the other side of which the Niger takes its 
rise. From these descend a succession of rivers, of which 
that called on the spot the Ba Fing, or Black river, is 
considered as the principal branch of the Senegal. Its 
source has never been precisely explored ; but it may be fixed 
pretty nearly in 7. 0. W. long, and 11 . 50. N. lat. The 
Faleme, and the Ba I«e, or Kokoro, are also great streams, 
which, joining the Senegal in the kingdom of Gallam, 
render it a river of the first magnitude. The whole of the 
early course of this river, and of its tributaries, is through a 
broken country, diversified by rugged and precipitous hills, 
and intersected by numerous streams, the sands of which 
being copiously impregnated with gold dust, afford a 
considerable source of wealth. The gold is extricated by 
the women, by the mere process of agitation in water. 
After passing Gallam, the Senegal rolls over a level plain, 
through FootaTorra, the states of the Siratik, and the coun¬ 
try of the Foulahs. After passing Podor, about 60 leagues 
from its mouth, the level is so complete, that Adanson does 
not conceive it to descend in that space more than two feet 
and a half. The river in this part of its course is bordered 
by vast woods, obstructed by thick underwood, and filled 
with numberless species of birds. The different kinds of 
monkeys and parrots in particular, are exhibited in vast 
variety. Crocodiles, and other species of amphibia, abound 
in the upper parts of the river. The Senegal, in this level 
part of its course, separates into branches, which form 
several large islands. Its entrance is obstructed by a very 
formidable bar, consisting of a ridge of sand, stretching 
across its mouth at a little distance under water. The mouth 
of the Senegal is in Lat. 16. 5. N. 
SENEGAL, Government of, the name given by the 
French to their great African settlement, situated at the 
mouth of the above river. It was under the reign of Louis 
XIV., that the energies of France began first to be directed 
towards colonies and commerce. In 1637, when Janne- 
quin undertook his voyage to the Senegal, he found no set¬ 
tlement by any European nation, and his party were ob¬ 
liged to erect temporary habitations for themselves at the 
village of Biyult, on the left bank of the river. It was in 
1664 that the first West India Company, being established at 
Dieppe, directed its operations towards this part of Africa. 
It was soon involved in bankruptcy: and several similar 
companies, which followed in succession, were equally un¬ 
fortunate. Each, however, at their commencement, made 
vigorous exertions to promote and extend the trade, of which 
they had obtained the monopoly ; so that the settlement 
soon acquired some degree of prosperity. St. Louis, the 
capital of the French settlements on the Senegal and in 9 
Africa, is situated on an island in the middle of the river, 
which is here of considerable breadth. The only advantage 
of this situation is its security, for the island is a mere bank 
of white and moving sand, entirely arid, and destitute of the 
least appearance or vegetation. The streets are well arranged, 
and in general composed of thatched cottages or huts, amongst 
which are interspersed some stone houses, covered, according 
to the custom of this part of Africa, with flat roofs. Though 
producing nothing within itself, it is plentifully supplied 
I with 
