Te 
1797-] 
fhips that come up to the latter city, it 
is, however, certain, that fimilar accounts 
have been tran{mitted to the fociety from 
very different quarters, and from perfons 
of the higheft credit, wholly unconneét- 
ed with, and atanimmenfe diftance from 
each other. ‘Teftimontes without num- 
ber occur to prove, that the river running 
eaftward to Tombuéts0, and from thence 
to Houfla, widening as it runs, is the 
Niger, or a confiderable branch of it; 
and its termination in an extenfive lake, 
or mediterranean ocean, in the very 
centre of Africa, feems extremely proba- 
ble. Major Houghton (gs we have feen) 
was informed at Medina, by the Shereef, 
whom he had known at Morocco, that 
he might embark at Genné, and proceed 
wilh rbe jiream to Tombuétoo; and, 
moreover, that decked veffels navigated. 
The fame information was given by the 
native who ferved the major as a guide; 
and the fociety have received a letter 
from Mr. Matra, the conful at Tangiers, 
inclofing one frem his brother at Tunis*, 
wherein the latter expreffes himf{clf in 
thefe words: ‘‘ I have traced a mediter- 
ranean fea in the interior of Africa, from 
{uch a concurrence’ of teftimony, as ob- 
viates ail doubts of its exiftence,. and it 
muft be of a prodigious furface !’’—Con- 
cerning the people, mentioned by Mr. 
Park as white, the only conclufion to be 
drawn is, that they are of Moori/h origin. 
Some of thefe might appear, in the eyes 
of Mr. Park’s informant, the negro 
prieft, a race of whites ; but it cannot ea- 
Aly be fuppofed that a nation perfectly 
white, lke the people of Europe, is to be 
found in the bofom of tue Aftican conti- 
nent.— 
Since the foregoing fhee?s were print- 
ed, the fecretary of the affociation has 
been enabled to announce to the fubfcri- 
bers, that a Mr. HoRNEMANN (another 
"intended traveller) has begun his journey 
onthe philofephical warld, and be extended to every 
under very favourable circumftances. 
Having been provided with introductory 
A A 
* Dated 16th, September, 1794 
: ? Ne sae: 
New Plans for Difcovers, Fe. in Africas 
373 
letters to fome diftinguifhed literary cha- 
raéters in France, members of the [n/titut 
National, he proceeded to Paris, where he 
arrived inthe beginning of July, and was 
received by thofe gentlemen with great 
kindnefs and attention; and with affu- 
rances, on their part, and on the parts of - 
their colleagues, of an ardent zeal to pro- 
mote the purpofes of his miffion. M. la 
Lande furnifhed him with fome copies of 
his Mémoire de [ Afrique, and pretented 
him toa meeting of the Infhtut Nationat, 
at which he was permitted to afift. M. 
Brouffonnet, who is appointed conful for 
Mogadore, introduced him to M. de 
Roche, lately nominated conful-general 
at Tangier—by whofe means, he has 
formed an acquaintance with a Turkiih 
gentleman, a native of Tripoli, now re= 
fiding in Paris; who being made ac- 
quainted with the motives and views of 
the African Affociation, hasntered into 
Mr. Hornemann’s intrepid enterprize 
with a liberality and ardour, particularly 
honourable to a Mahometan. Befides 
giving him much excellent advice and in- 
‘ftruction with refpeét to his route, he has 
favoured him witha letter of introduCtion, 
written jn Arabic, to.a.perfon of confe- 
quence refiding in Cairo, conceived in 
terms of the warmeft recommendation. 
He particularly requeits his friend, ‘to 
introduce Mr. Hornemann to fuch Ma- 
hometan merchants (men of integrity ) 
as haye travelled into the interior of 
Africa ; to furnifh him with every affift. 
ance and facility in profecuting his jour- 
ney; and, above all, to fecure to him 
fuch protection in the caravan with 
which he may travel, as may render his 
progreis not only free from peril, but 
commodious and. pleafant. 
Thus provided, Mr. HornemMann 
was on the point of proceeding to Mar- 
feilles ; from whence to embark by the 
firft opportunity for Alexandria; at 
which piace it is probable he will arriye 
before the end of this month. | 
Aupuff25ib, 1797. 

‘ 
MATHEMATICAL DEPARTMENT. 
Our defire to fréfent our Readers with the Proceedings of the African Affaciation, which, we have 
reafon to believe, is not likely, at frefenty to abjear before the Public in any other /aape, has occafioned 
us to defer feveral Mathematical Communications, and the anfwers to fome queftions, At this moment 
aljo it may be proper, tha: we fhould announce our defign not to infert any wore mathematical gueftions 5 
but to confine our mathematical department entirely to mathematical leiters, and general difquifitions 
. upton curious and xnafcertainable points. We adopt this new arrangement with a view to enlarge our 
article of Nrw PATENTS, which, in future, will be conducted by a gentleman of the firft eminence 
grprovenent, 
aC 2 
[pecics of mechanical and chemical difcovery er. 
CaP TCXTNT A FT: 
Se i 


