An Account Of Timbuctoo And Housa Territories In The Interior Of Africa Part 31

[Footnote 246: Inserted in March, 1817.]

Sir,

London, Jan. 25. 1817.

Having read some annotations, in the Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, by Mungo Park, in 1805, which are calculated to persuade some persons, that my Account of the Interior of Africa is not altogether authentic, I feel myself called upon to offer some cursory observations to the public, in refutation of those aspersions. (Vide Appendix, No. IV. to Mungo Park's Second Journey, in 1805, pages 114. and 115.)

Although I a.s.sert, on the concurrent testimony of the best informed and most intelligent natives of Sudan, that there exists a [247]water communication between Timbuctoo and Cairo, I do not maintain that the [248]Nile of Sudan falls into the [249]Nile of Egypt, but that it hath a communication with it, or with some river 444 that connects itself with the Nile of Egypt, which opinion is confirmed by Mr. Hornemann, on African authority.

[Footnote 247: Vide Jackson's Marocco, second or third edition, page 310.]

[Footnote 248: (_Nile el Kabeer_) the Great Nile, (_Bahar el Abeed_, or _Nile el Abeed_) the Nile of Slaves or Negroes, (_Nile Sudan_) the Nile of Sudan or Nigritia, are the various names applied to the river that pa.s.ses by Timbuctoo, and through the interior of Sudan, from west to east.]

[Footnote 249: _Nile Ma.s.ser_ is the name applied to the Nile of Egypt.]

It is very probable that this junction is formed by a stream that flows westward towards w.a.n.gara through the country called [250]

Bahar Kulla, and Lake Dwi, from the source of the Nile of Egypt, or from that part of the Jibbel k.u.mri, or Lunar Mountains, which form the southern boundary of Donga.

If this be so, the junction of the Nile el Abeed, of Timbuctoo, and the Bahar el Ahead of Donga[251], (or more properly the Bahar el Abeed,) is established, and the water communication between Timbuctoo and Cairo is proved; admitting, however, that the Negroes reported by me to have performed the[252] voyage by water, took their boat or canoe ash.o.r.e, to ascend the cataracts, in the country between w.a.n.gara and Donga.

[Footnote 250: _Bahar Kulla_ is an Arabic term, signifying the sea altogether, implying an alluvial country, (probably forming a part of the mediterranean sea of central Africa). See Major Rennel's Map in the Proceedings of the African a.s.sociation, vol. i. 8vo. page 209. lat. N. 10, long. 18.]

[Footnote 251: Vide Major Kennel's Map in the Proceedings of the African a.s.sociation, 8vo. edition, vol. i. page 209.]

[Footnote 252: Vide Jackson's Marocco, second or third edition, page 312.]

Mr. Park's annotator, in the spirit of controversy with which he appears to be endued, may say, the fact of this stream running to 445 the west towards w.a.n.gara, cannot be admitted, because Mr. Browne saw a ridge of mountains extending in that direction; but Mr.

Browne did not ascertain that this was an uninterrupted ridge; the river might therefore pa.s.s through some chasm similar to that which I have seen in crossing the Atlas Mountains, or through some intermediate plain.

The annotator further says[253], "It is needless to comment upon such hearsay statements, received from an African traveller." This a.s.sertion being calculated to impress on the public mind, that I founded my hypothesis respecting the junction of the Niles of Africa on the simple and single statement of one individual African traveller; I feel it inc.u.mbent on me thus publicly to declare, that _the junction alluded to is founded on the universal and concurrent testimony of all the most intelligent and well informed native African travellers_ (for the most part natives of Sudan), not one of whom differed in this opinion, but unanimously declared it to be an uncontroverted fact, that the waters of the Nile of Egypt joined the waters of the Nile el Abeed, which pa.s.ses near Timbuctoo to the east; and that there exists, without a doubt, a water communication between Cairo in Egypt, and Timbuctoo in Sudan. Now, if, as M. de Bailly observes, "_la verite se fait connaitre par le concours des 446 temoignages_," it must be admitted, by men of liberal sentiments, that it is somewhat more than a hearsay statement; and what better foundation can there possibly be for the truth of any geological fact, than the concurrent testimony of the best-informed natives of the country described?

[Footnote 253: Vide Appendix, No. IV. to Park's Second Journey page 115.]

With respect to precision being unfavourable to authenticity[254], I consider this a new dogma; and if I were disposed to confute it, (but it carries with it its own confutation,) I should point out many hearsay evidences, precisely recorded in my Account of Marocco, which have been confirmed already by Ali Bey (El Aba.s.sy) and many others; but "_non est hic locus_."

J.G. JACKSON.

[Footnote 254: Vide Appendix, No. II. to Park's Second Journey page 103.]

_Strictures respecting the Interior of Africa, and Confirmation of Jackson's Account of Sudan, annexed to his Account of the Empire of Marocco, &c._

London, 16th Jan, 1818.

It is a satisfaction to perceive (after a lapse of eight or nine years since the publication of my account of Marocco and the interior of Africa), that in proportion as we are becoming better acquainted with the interior of that continent, my account becomes more authenticated, notwithstanding the attempts that have been so 447 insidiously made to invalidate it.

The various hypotheses, for the most part founded in theory, that have within the last seven years, been adopted respecting the course of the _Nile el Abeed_ (Niger), are beginning now to fall to the ground, and the learned and judicious editor of the Supplement to the New Encyclopedia Britannica, founding his opinions, as it should seem, upon the facts that have been corroborated respecting the interior of Africa, has actually adopted my opinion;[255] viz.

That there is an union of waters between the Nile of Egypt, and that of Sudan[256]; where the common receptacle is, I have not ventured to declare, but it is probable that it may be in the Bahar Kulla[257], in w.a.n.gara, or in the [258]Sea of Sudan; the opinion that the junction is formed in the Sea of Sudan is supported by the Shereef Imhammed, who saw the Nile at Cashna, and declared that it was so rapid there from east to west, that vessels could not stem it.

[Footnote 255: See my letter to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, vol. xliii. March, 1817, page 125.]

[Footnote 256: It is incorrect to say, that the word _Nile_ is applied, in Africa, to any great river: the name, I can with confidence declare, is never applied to any river in North Africa, except the Nile of Egypt, and that of Sudan; whoever has propagated this opinion has mistaken the matter altogether.

See Proceedings of the African a.s.sociation, vol. i. page 540.]

[Footnote 257: See Major Rennell's Map of North Africa, lat.

north 6, long, west 18, &c.]

[Footnote 258: See Jackson's enlarged Account of Marocco, Timbuctoo, &c. page 310.]

448 Again: Parke's intelligence, in his second journey, demonstrates an union of waters in the (Baseafeena[259]) Sea of Sudan; for he says, the current was said to be sometimes one way, and sometimes another; which I will take the liberty to interpret thus:--

That the current from the Eastern Nile, was westward into the Sea of Sudan, and the current of the Western Nile was eastward into the same sea of Sudan: thus the current would be sometimes one way, and sometimes another, making the Sea of Sudan the common receptacle for the Eastern as well as for the Western Nile.

Ptolemy's Sea of Nigritia is undoubtedly the same with my Sea of Sudan; _Lybia Palus_[260] being the Latin denomination, as _Bahar Sudan_ is the Arabic for the interior lake called the Sea of Sudan; but whether this sea of Sudan will ultimately prove to be situated[261] as I have described it, fifteen journies[262] east of Timbuctoo, or 450 English miles, or as Ptolemy has described it, or in the intermediate distance between the two extremes, must be left for future travellers to ascertain.

[Footnote 259: Another name for the Sea of Sudan, as will hereafter appear.]

[Footnote 260: See Ptolemy's Map of North Africa.]

[Footnote 261: See Jackson's enlarged Account of Marocco, page 310.]

[Footnote 262: Fifteen journies horse travelling, which are the journies here alluded to, at thirty miles a-day, is 450 British miles.]

The enterprising and indefatigable, the patient and persevering genius of Burkhardt, deriving incalculable advantages from a long 449 residence in the eastern regions of Africa, may probably decree him to be the person to clear up this long-contested geographical point, unless the fascination of Arabian manners, or some Utopia in the interior regions of that continent, should wean him from the desire to re-visit his native country.

This intelligence of Park may be considered some corroboration of what I have maintained respecting the union of waters between the Eastern and Western Niles.[263]

The following testimonies are some confirmation of my report respecting decked vessels, &c. in the interior of Africa.[264]

Dr. Stetzen, a German physician residing at Alexandria[265], says, that he has received intelligence from a pilgrim, on his way to Mecca, a native of _Ber Noh,_ or _Bernou_[266], that the river within a mile of the city is as large as the Egyptian Nile, and overflows its banks; _it is navigated by vessels of considerable dimensions, carrying sails and oars._

[Footnote 263: See Monthly Magazine, March, 1817, page 125.]

[Footnote 264: See Jackson's enlarged Account of Marocco, &c.

page 309.]

[Footnote 265: For full particulars, see New Supp. to Ency.

Brit. article "Africa."]

[Footnote 266: This Bernou, or according to the Arabic orthography, _Ber Noh_, is a.s.serted by the Arabs to be the birth-place of the Patriarch Noah.]

Mr. Barnes states, that the Niger discharges itself into a large lake; that he has heard from the Black traders that there are white 450 inhabitants upon the borders of this lake; and has been told, by people who have seen them, that they dress in the style of Barbary Moors, and wear turbans, but do not speak Arabic. See Report of Committee of Council.[267]

[Footnote 267: See Jackson's enlarged Account of Marocco, &c.

p, 309.]

Park, in his second journey, was informed, that "one month's travel south of Baedo, through the kingdom of Grotto, will bring the traveller to the country of the Christians, who have their houses on the banks of the _Ba Seafeena_[268], which they describe as incomparably larger than the lake Dehebby (Dibbie)."--This is another corroboration of the accuracy of my account of the interior of Africa; but before I dismiss this subject, I should observe, that from the general ignorance of the African Arabic, an important circ.u.mstance respecting this _Ba Seafeena_, is not yet (it appears) discovered. It is this:--the words _Ba Seafeena_, or, according to the correct Arabic orthography, _Bahar Sefeena_, literally translated into English, signifies the Sea of s.h.i.+ps, and is evidently only another name for the Sea of Sudan, declaring it to be a sea wherein s.h.i.+ps are found!