7 2 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
ning, where he derives, this left branch of the Nile from the principal river, and fays, that, after palling the kingdom of Dongola, it enters Nubia. Now, when it entered Don- gola it mult have already paffed Nubia, for Dongola is the capital of the Barabra, every inch of which is to the north- ward of Nubia. I do not know worfe guides in the geo- graphy of Africa than Leo Africanus and the Nubian geo- grapher. I believe them both impoftors, and the commen- tators upon, them have greatly increafed by their own con- jectures, the confufion and errors which the text has every- where occafioned.
As far as I have been ever able to learn, by a very diligent and cautious inquiry,from the inhabitants of the neighbour- ing countries, 1 believe the origin of the Niger is in lat. i z a north, and in long. 30 from the meridian of Greenwich nearly ; that it is compofed of various rivers falling down the fides of very high mountains, called Dyre and Tegla;. and runs ftraight wed into the heart, of Africa. I conclude alio, that this river (though it has abundant fupply from eve- ry mountain) is very much diminifhed by evaporation, run- ning in a long courfe upon the very limits of the tropical rains, when entire, under the name of Senega ; or, perhaps, when divided under thofe of Senega and Gambia, it lofes itfelf in the Atlantic Ocean. I conceive alfo, that, as Pliny fays, it has the fame tafle and natural productions with the Nile, becaufe it runs in the fame climate, and like that river owes, if not its exiflcnce, yet certainly its increafe and fui- nefs to the fame caufe, the tropical rains in the northern, .'.mifphcre failing from high mountains.
I HOPE
