ON AFRICA. 445 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 pass through some chasm similar to that which I have seen in crossing the Atlas Mountains, or through some intermediate plain.

The annotator further says , "It is needless to comment upon such hearsay statements, received from an African traveller.'' This assertion 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 incumbent on me thus publicly to declare, that the junction alluded to is founded on the universal and concunent 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 passes 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 temoignageSy'* it must be admitted, P Vide Appendix, No. IV. to Park's Second Journey page 115.