never before been visited by a European traveller.

Jenne is described by Caillié as situated at the eastern extremity of a branch of the Niger separating below Sego from the main current, with which, after passing the former city, it again unites. This delineation seems doubtful. Such a branch, had it existed, would probably have been observed by Park, who, on the contrary, describes the river which passes by Jenne as a separate stream, tributary to the Niger. The Arabic term, translated by us island, is of very vague import, being familiarly applied to a peninsula, and even to a space wholly or partially enclosed by river-branches. The country around, as far as the eye could reach, formed only a naked marshy plain, interspersed with a few clumps of trees and bushes. The city was two miles and a half in circuit, surrounded by a wall of earth; the houses rather well built, composed of sun-dried bricks, two stories high, without windows in front, but lighted from interior courts. The streets are too narrow for carriages, but of such breadth that seven or eight persons may walk abreast. The population is reckoned by M. Caillié at 8000 or 10,000; but upon this subject we suspect he is apt to form his estimates somewhat too low. The inhabitants consist of various African tribes, attracted by the extensive commerce of which Jenne is the centre. The four principal are the Foulahs, Mandingoes, Bambarras, and Moors, of whom the first are the most numerous, and are bigoted adherents to the Mohammedan faith, compelling the pagan Bambarras who resort to Jenne to conform to the rules of the koran during their temporary residence. The trade is

chiefly in the hands of thirty or forty Moorish merchants, who often unite in partnership, and maintain a communication with Timbuctoo, in barks of considerable size ranged along the river. The negro merchants also carry on business, but on a smaller scale, and chiefly in native articles. The markets are filled with the productions of the surrounding country, either for consumption or exportation, cloth, grain, fruits, kolla-nuts, meat, fish,-gold from Bouré, and unhappily with numerous slaves, who are paraded through the streets, and offered at the rate of from 35,000 to 40,000 cowries each. These commodities draw in return from Timbuctoo, salt, Indian cloths, fire-arms, beads, toys, and all the variety of European articles. The merchants of Jenne were found more polished in their manners than any native Africans with whom Caillié had yet held intercourse they were extremely hospitable, entertaining him at free quarters during his whole stay; but he considers them as having driven an exceedingly hard bargain for his goods. The mode of living, even of the most wealthy, was extremely simple. Their houses contained scarcely any furniture; and their clothes were deposited in a large leathern bag, generally suspended from the roof. The chief entertainment to which our traveller was invited, consisted merely of a huge fragment of a sheep stewed in onions, and, as usual, eaten with the fingers,-four cups of tea concluding the repast. On the 23d March, M. Caillié left Jenne, near which he embarked on the Joliba, which was there half a mile broad, in a vessel of sixty tons burden, but of very slight construction, and bound together with cords. Such barks, impelled without sails, and

R

deeply laden, cannot proceed with safety when the waters are agitated by a brisk gale; therefore much time is consumed in the voyage. The traveller passed first through the country of Banan, which presented a surface flat and monotonous, but abounding in flocks and herds. On the 2d April, the river opened into the great lake Dibbie, here called Debo, in sailing across which, notwithstanding its magnitude, land was lost sight of in no direction except the west, where the water appeared to extend indefinitely like an ocean. Three islands, observed at different points, were, not very happily, named St Charles, Maria Theresa, and Henri, after three individuals who, the author little suspected, would so soon be exiled from France.

After quitting this lake, the Niger flowed through a country thinly occupied by Foulah shepherds, and by some tents of the rude Tuaricks. On the 19th April, he arrived at Cabra, the port of Timbuctoo, consisting of a long row of houses composed of earth and straw, extending about half a mile on the bank of the river. The inhabitants, estimated at about 1200, are entirely employed in lading and unlading the numerous barks which touch at the quay.

In the evening of the 20th April, Caillié, with some companions, rode from Cabra, and entered Timbuctoo, which he calls Temboctou. He describes himself as struck with an extraordinary and joyful emotion at the view of this mysterious city, so long the object of curiosity to the civilized nations of Europe. The scene, however, presented little of that grandeur and wealth with which the name has been associated. It comprised only a heap of ill-built earthen houses, all around which were spread im