I. THE GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT

I. THE GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT

SECTION I.

“The first province of this dominion (Tak-roor), on the east side, is, as it is supposed, Foor (Darfoor); and, next to it, on the west side, are those of Wa-da-i, and Baghar-mee. Foor is an extensive country, containing woods, and rivers, and fields fit for cultivation. Its inhabitants are partly composed of itinerants who became settlers, and partly of Arabs who still wander about; and it contains a great number of herdsmen, or graziers of cattle. The food of these inhabitants is the dokhn dura (millet), and the daj’r, or peas. Mooslemanism spread itself very much in this province, and most of its inhabitants perform the pilgrimage; and, it is said, have great respect for the pilgrims, and interrupt them not on their way.

“The inhabitants of Wa-da-i and Baghar-mee are nearly of the same description. Baghar-mee, however, is now desolated. The cause of its ruin was, as they say, the misconduct of her king, who, having increased in levity and licentiousness to such a frightful degree, as even to marry his own daughter, God Almighty caused Saboon, the Prince of Wa-da-i, to march against him, and destroy him, laying waste, at the same time, all his country, and leaving the houses uninhabited, as a signal chastisement for his impiety.

“These provinces are bounded on the north by deserts and dry sands, which, in the spring only, are frequented by herdsmen; and on the south by a great many countries, inhabited by various tribes of Soodan, each of whom speak a different language, and among whom Mooslemanism is not much spread.

“Adjoining this country, Baghar-mee, on the west side, is the province of Barnoo, which contains rivers, and forests, and extensive sands. It has always been well peopled, even before the last mentioned country, and its extent and wealth are unequalled by any part of this tract of the earth. Its inhabitants are the Barbar, the Felateen, the before-mentioned Arabs, and a great many of the slaves of the Barbar. These Barbars are of the remnants of those who first inhabited the country between Zanj and Abyssinia, and who were expelled from Yemen by Hemeera[73], subsequent to their establishment in that country by Africus. The cause of their being brought to Yemen was, as it is related, as follows:—While Africus reigned over Yemen, and the Barbars in Syria, the inhabitants of the latter country, being oppressed by the iniquities and impiety of their rulers, applied to Africus to deliver them from their hands, and, at the same time, they proclaimed and acknowledged him as their legal sovereign. He marched against the Barbars, fought and destroyed them, except the children, whom he kept in Yemen as slaves and soldiers. After his death, and the elapse of a long period, they rebelled against Hemeera, who then ruled Yemen. He fought and turned them out of that country; whence they emigrated to a spot near Abyssinia (the coast of the Red Sea facing Mokha), where they took refuge. They then went to Kanoom, and settled there, as strangers, under the government of the Tawarék, who were a tribe related to them, and called Amakeetan. But they soon rebelled against them, and usurped the country. Fortune having assisted them, their government flourished for some time, and their dominion extended to the very extremity of this tract of the earth; and Wa-da-i and Baghar-mee, as well as the country of Hoosa, with those parts of the province of Bow-sher which belong to it, were in their possession. In the course of time, however, their government became weakened, and their power destroyed.

SECTION II.

“Adjoining this province (Barnou), on the south side, is that of Aáheer, which is spacious, and contains extensive plains. It is inhabited by the Tawarék, and by some remnants of the Sonhajá, and the Soodan. This province was formerly in the hands of the Soodan inhabitants of Ghoobér; but five tribes of the Tawarék, called Amakeetan, Tamkak, Sendal, Agdálar, and Ajdaraneen, came out of Aowjal, and took it from them; and, after having settled themselves, they agreed to nominate a prince to rule over them, in order to render justice to the weak against the powerful. They appointed a person of the family of Ansatfén; but they soon quarrelled among themselves, and dismissed him. They then nominated another, and continued upon this system, viz. whenever a prince displeased them, they dethroned him, and appointed a different one. These Tawaréks were of the remnants of the Barbar, who spread themselves over Africa at the time of its conquest.

“The Barbars are a nation, descendants of Abraham;—though it is stated that they descended from Yafet (Japhet); and others say, from Gog and Magog, whom “the two horned” Alexander (the great) immured[74]; but that, at the time, a tribe of them, happening to be at Ghair-oon, remained there, and intermarried with the Turks and Tattars.

“It is likewise stated that they (the Barbars) originated from the children of the Jan, or Jinn (Demon), under the following circumstances:—A company of them having gone to Jerusalem, and slept during the night in a plain there, their women became pregnant by the Jinn of that spot. They are, therefore, naturally inclined to blood-shedding, plundering, and fighting. It is also said, that they were the people who slew the prophets Zachariah and Eliah; and that, after leaving Palestine, they proceeded westwards till they arrived at Wa-leeba and Morakéba,—two towns in the interior, west of Egypt, where the Nile does not reach, but the inhabitants drink the rain water[75],—where they fixed their residence for some time. They then divided themselves into different tribes, and proceeded westwards in Africa. The tribes of Zedata and Magh-yala first entered the Gharb, and inhabited the mountains. These were followed by that of Láwata, who inhabited the country of Enttablos (Tripoli), which is Barka. They afterwards spread themselves over the interior of the Gharb, till they reached the country of Soossa, where the tribe of Hawazna took possession of the city of Lebda, and the tribe of Nafoosa entered the city of Ssabra, and expelled the Room (Greeks or Romans) who then ruled there.

“It is again stated that they descended from Farek, son of Yonssar, son of Ham; and that, when Yonssar conquered Africa, they spread themselves over the Gharb, and first inhabited Tunis. Thence they proceeded in tribes towards the southern parts of the Gharb, which communicates with the country of Soodan, where they settled at Aowjal, Fazaran, Ghadamess, and Ghata.

“Thus they came in five tribes from Aowjal, as before mentioned, and conquered this province (Aáheer), as before stated.

SECTION III.

“Next to the above-mentioned province, on the right hand side, and west of Barnoo, the country of Howssa lies. It consists of seven provinces, to each of which a prince is appointed to superintend its affairs, and the inhabitants of the whole speak one language. The central province of this kingdom is Kashnah, the most extensive is Zag-Zag, the most warlike is Ghoobér, and the most fertile is Kanoo.

“It contains rivers, woods, sands, mountains, valleys, and thickets inhabited by the Soodans (who originated from the slaves of the Barbars, and from the people of Barnoo), the Falateen, and the Tawarék. It is presumed that the first father of the Soodans of this country was a slave, named Ba-oo, belonging to one of the former kings of Barnoo; and, on this account we said above, their origin was from the slaves of the Barbars, and the people of Barnoo.

“My friend, the prince of the faithful, Mohammed El-bákery, son of Sultan Mohammed El-ad-dal, informed me that the inhabitants of Kashnah, Kanoo, Zag-Zag, Dor, or Dowry, Ranoo, and Yareem, originated from the children of the above-named slave, Ba-oo, but that the people of Ghoobér are free born; because their origin was from the Copts of Egypt, who had emigrated into the interior of the Gharb, or western countries. This tradition he found in the records which they possess.

“These seven provinces (of Howssa) contain a great many wonderful and rare things; and the first who ruled over them was, as it is stated, ’Amenáh, daughter of the Prince of Zag-Zag. She conquered them by the force of her sword, and subjected them, including Kashnah and Kanoo, to be her tributaries. She fought, and took possession of the country of Bow-sher, till she reached the coast of the ocean on the right hand and west side. She died at Atágára, or Ataghér.

“In consequence of these conquests, the province of Zag-Zag is the most extensive in the kingdom of Howssa, including in it the country of Bow-sher; which consists of various provinces inhabited by tribes of Soodan.

“Among the provinces of Bow-sher, the following are the most considerable:—First is Ghoo-wary, which contains seven divisions, inhabited by seven tribes of Soodan, who speak one language, and who have not embraced Mooslimanism. Second is Ghoondar. Third is Reer-wa, or Rear-wee, which contains a lead mine. Fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, are Yass, Kodoor, Kotoo, and Aádám. Eighth is another Kotoo, which contains a copper mine, and one of alum. And ninth is Kornorfa, which embraces about twenty divisions, ruled by one king, who often sallied forth upon Kanoo and Barnoo, and caused much desolation. A gold mine is found in it, as likewise one of salt, and another of antimony. Near to this province there is an anchorage or harbour for the ships of the Christians, who are sent by two sovereigns to traffic or trade with the people of Soodan.

“The province of Atagára, or Ataghér, is likewise one of the most extensive in the territory of Zag-Zag; and near it there is also an anchorage or harbour for the ships of the said Christians. Both these places are on the coast of the ocean.

“In all the above-mentioned provinces of Bow-sher and Zag-Zag, Mohammedanism was not known before our conquest.

SECTION IV.

“West of Kashnah and Ghoobér there are seven different provinces, extending into the territory of Howssa, which are—Zanfarah, Kabi, Ya-ory, Noofee, Yarba, Barghoo, and Ghoorma. To each of these there is a prince appointed as governor.

“With regard to Zanfarah, it is presumed that the first father of its inhabitants was from Kashnah, and their mother from Ghoobér. They had the government of the province in their own hands, and their authority increased after the decline of the power of the people of Kabi. They had once a very ambitious sultan, named Yá-koob (Jacob) ben Bub, who, on coming into power, marched against Kabí, and conquered and ruined most of its towns and villages. He likewise went to Kashnah, and conquered the greatest part of it. Their power, however, was destroyed by one of the sultans of Ghoobér, whose name was Bá-bari, and who, after taking possession of their country (Zanfarah), entailed it upon his generation for a period of fifty years, till they were conquered by us.

“Kabí is an extensive province, containing rivers, forests, and sands. Its inhabitants, it is supposed, had their first father from Sanghee, and their mother from Kashnah. They ruled their own country, and their government flourished very much during the reign of Sultan Kantá, who, it is said, was a slave of the Falateen. He governed with equity, conquered the country, and established peace in its very extremities and remotest places. His conquests, it is stated, extended to Kashnah, Kanoo, Ghoobér, Zag-Zag, and the country of Aáheer; but having oppressed the inhabitants of some of these places, Sultan Aly-Alij marched from Barnoo against him, through the road leading to Simbaki, and passed north of Dowra, or Dowry, and Kashnah, and west of Ghoobér, till he entered the country of Kabí, and reached the fort of Soorami. The Sultan of Kabí met him on the morning of the feast. They fought together for an hour; at the end of which the former fled westwards, and the Sultan of Barnoo remained there to reduce the fort. But it being very strong, he was obliged to retire, taking the right hand road, till he arrived at Ghandoo, from which place he returned to his own country.

“Sultan Kanta, however, soon prepared an expedition, and followed him through the same road, till he reached Onghoor, where they met, and fought together, and Kanta gained the battle. After making much booty, he returned to a place called Doghool, in the province of Kashnah, where he attempted to subdue a tribe of the Soodan who were disobedient to him. He had a very severe battle with them, during which he received an arrow, which wounded him mortally. On arriving at Jir he died, whence his body was carried by his troops to his palace at Soorami, and there interred. He had three favourite capitals, where he had residences; the most ancient of which was Ghonghoo, then Soorami, and, the last, Leek. His dynasty continued reigning for about one hundred years after his death, notwithstanding the desolation of most of their territories. There were no greater than them in these countries, and their tradition has no equal. Their power was only destroyed when Sultan Mohammed Ebn Shárooma of Ghoobér, Agabba Ebn Mohammed El-mobárék, Sultan of Aáheer, and the Prince of Zanfarah, allied together, and marched against them, taking possession of their dominions, and destroying the three above-named capitals.

“The province of Ya-ory contains mountains and valleys, and is situated on the coast of the river called the Nile. It is inhabited by some tribes of the Soodan, who are mostly weakminded[76].

“Noofee is a province that has, on the right and left sides, rivers, forests, sands, and mountains; and its inhabitants are tribes of the Soodan of Kashnah; but their true origin is a mixture from Kashnah, Zag-Zag, Kanoo, and other places. Their language is different from that of the people of Howssa. They possess much knowledge in the fine and rare arts; and from their country many elegant and marvellous things are still exported.

“Yarba is an extensive province, containing rivers, forests, sands, and mountains, as also a great many wonderful and extraordinary things. In it the talking green bird, called babaga (parrot), is found.

“By the side of this province there is an anchorage or harbour for the ships of the Christians, who used to go there and purchase slaves. These slaves were exported from our country, and sold to the people of Yarba, who resold them to the Christians.

“The inhabitants of this province (Yarba), it is supposed, originated from the remnants of the children of Canaan, who were of the tribe of Nimrod. The cause of their establishment in the west of Africa was, as it is stated, in consequence of their being driven by Yaa-rooba, son of Kahtan[77], out of Arabia, to the western coast between Egypt and Abyssinia. From that spot they advanced into the interior of Africa, till they reached Yarba, where they fixed their residence. On their way they left, in every place they stopped at, a tribe of their own people. Thus it is supposed that all the tribes of Soodan, who inhabit the mountains, are originated from them; as also are the inhabitants of Ya-ory.

“Upon the whole, the people of Yarba are nearly of the same description as those of Noofee.

“The province of Barghoo contains forests and sands[78], and is inhabited by tribes of the Soodan, whose origin, it is supposed, was from the slaves of the Falateen. They are insubordinate and stubborn, as also very powerful in magic.

“And Ghoorma is an extensive country, larger than Barghoo, and contains rivers, woods, sands, and mountains. Its inhabitants are almost like those of Barghoo, and chiefly robbers and depraved.

SECTION V.

“Near the last-mentioned province, there is an extensive country called Moo-shér, which contains rivers, trees, and a gold mine. It is inhabited by tribes of the Soodan.

“Adjoining to it, on the north side, the province of Sanghee lies. It is extensive, very fertile, and well peopled. Its inhabitants are remnants of the Sonhaja, the wandering Arabs, and the Falateen. They profess the Mohammedan faith, and their princes ruled them always with equity and justice. A great number of learned and pious persons have distinguished themselves from among them.

“Next to Sanghee, on the west side, and north of Barghoo, the country of Malee is situated. It is a very extensive province, and inhabited by the Soodan, who, it is said, originated from the remnants of the Copts of Egypt. Among its inhabitants, some of the Tow-rooth, the Falateen, the Arabs, the Jews, and the Christians, are found. It is likewise supposed that their origin was from Sarankaly, or the Persians. It contains a gold mine, and has an anchorage or harbour for ships sent by two Christian sovereigns, since former periods. This country has always been in a flourishing state from times immemorial. It embraces the province of Banbara, which is very extensive, and contains rivers, forests, and a gold mine. The Soodan who inhabit it are very powerful, and to this time still infidels.

“Near to Banbara there is the province of the Tow-rooth, and that of Footá; which are extensive, and inhabited by their own people, and by those of Sarankaly, or Persians. The Tow-rooth nation, it is said, originated from the Jews, others say from the Christians, and others make them to be descendants of the Soodan of Banbara.

“Beyond the last mentioned countries there is only the province of Dámlá, or Damloo, which lies on the coast of the ocean. In it Mooslimanism is not known; and its inhabitants presume to hear the sound of the sun on reaching the meridian at noon. This country contains many wonderful, rare, and extraordinary things, which we are prevented from detailing by the pressure of time.

“Thus we now conclude what we intended to insert in this extract, for the purpose of giving an outline of the geography of the kingdom of Tak-roor.”

END OF PART FIRST.

N. B. The next, or Second Part, contains only the details of the actions and battles that took place when Bello’s father conquered these countries.

OBSERVATION.—It is proper here to explain, that the only deviation I made from the original is in dividing the Pamphlet into two parts, and separating the geographical from the military account.—A. S.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 73: On referring to the History of Yemen, by Mass-oodi, to ascertain the period at which these two sovereigns reigned, I find that the author of this pamphlet has made a mistake in asserting that Africus reigned anterior to Hemeera; whereas Hemeera ruled Yemen many hundred years previously to Africus, and that “Africus was the sovereign who removed the Barbars from Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, to their present countries.”

From the above-mentioned history (if it can be relied upon) it appears, that the reign of Hemeera was after the demise of the Prophet Heber, and that Africus reigned soon after the death of Alexander the Great. A. S.]

[Footnote 74: The Eastern, and all Mohammedan people, considering Alexander the Great as the only monarch who conquered the globe from east to west, give him the title of “the two horned,” in allusion to his said conquests. They likewise believe that Gog and Magog were two great nations, but that, in consequence of their wicked and mischievous disposition, Alexander gathered, and immured them within two immensely high mountains, in the darkest and northernmost parts of Europe, by a most surprising and insuperable wall, made of iron and copper, of great thickness and height; and that, to the present time, they are confined there: that, notwithstanding they are a dwarfish race—viz. from two to three feet in height only—they will one day come out and desolate the world!—A. S.]

[Footnote 75: Perhaps in the Oases.—A. S.]

[Footnote 76: This expression means nothing less than that the people of Ya-ory are chiefly light-headed; for the author, in this part of the MS., is very clear and intelligible.—A. S.]

[Footnote 77: This was a great sovereign of Arabia, to whom the people of that country gave the title of “Father of Arabia;” and, according to Mass-oodi, he was the first who ruled over Yemen, and wrote the Arabic language. His reign was, as the said historian says, during the lifetime of the Prophet Heber.—A. S.]

[Footnote 78: This province seems to contain no rivers; because the word “rivers” was inserted in the MS., but afterwards struck out by the writer.—A. S.]

* * * * *

No. XIII.

NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR.—In my translation of the first part of this pamphlet, I stated that the second part embraced only the details of the battles and actions that took place when Sultan Bello’s father conquered his present dominions; which details are those of the battles of Kashnah, Dowra, Kanoo, Kabi, and of three actions in the province of Kadawee. These being of no general interest, I considered it superfluous to translate the whole; but, in order to give an idea of the military tactics of the Africans, and the manner of their warfare, I have selected the account of the first battle of Kadawee, which is the longest, and somewhat interesting.

A Narrative of the first Battle of Kadawee.

“When we assembled and consulted together, respecting the conquest of Kadawee, and our opinions agreed upon its execution, we encamped out, with our troops, commanded by general Aly Jedo. After leaving Manee, or Moona, we marched till we arrived at the west suburbs of the capital, where we found the infidels prepared and intrenched within some thickets. We fought them; and God Almighty gave us the victory. We then proceeded till we reached Boori, about half a day’s journey from Kadawee, where our friends, the tribes of the Falateen, who had fought the infidels at the right side suburbs, sent and announced to us that they (the infidels) had embraced Mooslemanism; and that a great number, of both settlers and wanderers, who had been beaten by our other troops, had also followed their example. The fight continued on that day till our soldiers reached Jerwa; which place is very near the capital. At sunset, I and my guards retired from the western suburbs, but our people besieged the southern; and the next morning when our brother, the pious Namooda, arrived with his troops, they advanced upon the eastern suburbs. We then held a council and agreed to attack the city, notwithstanding the immense number of the enemy’s troops (whose amount God only knows) that was collected in it. This being known, every one of our party, who were besieged in it, and made their escape, came to us. After encamping at Manee, and most of our friends and people had joined us, we marched, commanded by the great vizier Abdullah, till we arrived at Boori, where we stayed till the rest of our followers reached us. We now marched towards Ghazik, and early in the morning came near the capital, which was very strongly fortified, and well protected by being situated between trees and thickets. Our general hastened and advanced till he reached the vanguard of the enemy, where he found that they had prepared, on each side of the town, a company to defend it. They sallied forth, and bore upon our left; we resisted and fought them for an hour, while their people, from the fortifications of the city, were shooting upon our troops volleys of arrows: so that we were attacked on one side by their troops, who came out to us, and on the other by their archers from the town. During this engagement my uncle was wounded in the foot. God Almighty, however, helped us against them, and we routed their troops; and, when we obtained this advantage of their backs, the battle became very hot and sanguinary. I pursued them with a portion of our troops (while the rest, on the right wing of the army, remained fighting against the city), till I drove them towards the place where I was encamped. I then sent to the right wing to join me; and, while we were thus engaged, the enemy came out with a fresh body of horsemen and followed us. On seeing this movement, I hid myself, with a number of my cavalry, till they passed and got near our troops, whereupon I started and bore upon them from behind; by which surprise God dispersed and made them fly. We then returned to our troops, and encamped till the next morning, when the enemy sent out against us an immense number of horsemen, at whose head we thought was their prince himself. Our cavalry started and met them; and after a severe battle, routed them. We pursued them till we reached Zoghrob, on the right side of the capital, where we rested three nights, and then marched to re-attack it. On Sunday morning we fought the enemy most terribly, till it appeared as if the city was on the point of being opened to us. In this battle a great number of our people fell martyrs, and we killed as many of the enemy. At sunset we retired to the camp.

“Here the Tawarek conducted themselves with treachery and deceit: they came to us and declared their submission; but, afterwards, they went to the infidel Soodan, and united with them against us. They, likewise, on seeing our success in the first action, swore and agreed among themselves, to seize upon and capture our family. But our friend and brother, the most virtuous among them, Ahmed ben Heeda, having written to us a detail of their design, and cautioned us, we immediately despatched a part of our troops, headed by the vizier, to protect our family. I remained with the rest of the army, contending with the enemy, till the vizier returned and brought the family safe to us.

“During his absence, however, I sent a body of soldiers to seize upon Ackoowee; which they pillaged, and returned safely, bringing with them an immense booty.

“In the mean time the noble shaikh, my father, moved with a multitude of troops, and arrived at Boori; where, on hearing of his march, I repaired to meet him.

“The Tawarek again deceived us, by writing letters, in which they pledged themselves to meet and unite with us. But when they assembled and joined us, and we encamped at Thunthoo, and our people were scattered in search of provisions, while only the nobles and leaders remained in the camp, we were surprised by the appearance of the enemy near us. The nobles then started to encounter them with what they could collect of our troops, while I and my company were intrenched behind our baggage and animals. At this moment, our friend, the pious brother of the shaikh Saado, came to our assistance, with the royal standard in his hand, and desired that we should advance against the enemy immediately. I told him, he had better wait till they approached us nearer. He refused, and advanced by himself and people. I, being very ill, was obliged to remain behind. They reached the enemy, prepared, and darted upon them. After a severe action of an hour, the enemy fled, but not without a great number of our people having fallen martyrs. By this time, our uncle, the vizier, came to our succour, followed by the noble shaikh, our father, and his party.

“They pursued the enemy, and God gave them the victory, and enabled them to plunge their weapons into their bodies, and disperse them in shreds (small parties). In this engagement we lost about 2,000 martyrs, most of whom were of our best soldiers, and of the most pious and virtuous of our men: as the chief justice Mohammed Thanboo, the noble Saado, Mahmood Ghordam, Mohammed Jamm, the learned and intelligent poet and reciter Zaid, Aboo-bakr Bingoo, the true diviner Es-sudani, and several others. After burying as many as we could of them, we retired and encamped till the next morning, when we buried the rest. This battle took place about two miles from Kadawee.”

The manuscript ends thus:

“Ended, by the grace and assistance of God, the writing of this extract, by the hand of its writer, on Wednesday about noon, the 29th of Rajab, 1239 of Hejra, for Rayes Abdallah, the English Christian, in the city of Sackatoo, of the country of Houssa, residence of the prince of the believers, Mohammed Bello; whom may God cause to be ever victorious! Amen.”

No. XIV.

The Song of Mohammed-Alameen ben Mohammed El-Kanemy, Sheikh of the Koran, Lawgiver to Bornou, and Governor of Kanem, on his return from the Begharmi Country in 1821. Translated by Major Denham.

“I return to my people, the people of my heart, and the children of my solicitude! At break of day, fasting, coming towards Kouka, with my morning prayer on my lips, in sight of the gate, the gate that saw me depart! The morning wind blew fresh and cool, yet mild as the evening breeze. The battle of spears had been long doubtful; but had ended in glory! had covered my people with honour and victory, God Almighty assisting us! These were our deeds; they lived in the memory of all. Oh! glorious expedition! But the greatest joy must be told; the joy, oh, how exquisite! the recovery of my lost love! a part of myself. Her high and noble forehead, like the new moon, and nose like the rainbow! Her arched eyebrows reaching to her temples, overhanging eyes than which the moon is less bright, as it shines through darkness! large piercing eyes, whose looks never could be mistaken! A single glance at these her all-conquering beauties instantly called her to my mind with all the graces of her disposition; lips sweeter than honey, and colder than the purest water! Oh! dearest of my wives! Heaven’s own gift! what were my sensations when I removed the veil from thy face! Thou knewest me not in thy alarm; animation had left thee! Thou knewest not what was to follow; and thy large eyes had closed in despair! It seemed that lightning had struck me with its fire! As the light of morning dispels the blackness of night, so did she, reviving, impart to me a gladness overpowering as the blood-red sun, when it breaks forth in its splendour, warming the sons of earth with its re-animating fires. I thought of the day when she was blooming in my presence, when the news of her loss came to me like a blast from the desert. My head was laid low with sorrow! The Spring returned with its freshness; but its showers could not revive my drooping head! Who shall now tell of my joy? From her shoulders to her waist, how fair is her proportion! When she moves, she is like branches waved by a gentle breeze! Silks from India are less soft than her skin; and her form, though noble, is timid as the fawn! Let this my joy be proclaimed to all my people! Let them take my blessing, and give me congratulation! Their chief is alive, returns, and is victorious! All my people, even little children, shall sing these our deeds; all must share in the joy of their chief, as well those whose age prevents their sharing my glories, as those who have yet to learn the path of heroes! God has made us to overcome those who stood against us! They are fallen, and their towns are in ruins! In the open day, by the light of the sun, the children of the prophet trod them under foot! and now we approach our homes! Towards the rising sun, we followed them; they fled! They were destroyed! they bled! and they were bound! On the fifth day of the week, blessed be the day! the standards of the prophet floated in the wind! The lightnings of my spears played around them! The neighings of my horses seemed like thunder to the unbelievers! They fell! The earth claimed them once more, and drank their blood! From the morning until black night we pursued them; and their blood was as food and refreshment to my strong-armed chiefs! Their women, their cattle, and their horses, were amongst our spoils; and he, who was, at the rising of the sun, surrounded by thousands of glittering spears, he, the king, was, on the going down thereof, deprived of all! He was left alone and deserted! David, my captain, my chosen captain, was covered with the blood of his enemies! His garments were of blood colour! He set his foot on the necks of the Kaffirs, as he drew out his never-failing spear, deep as it was in their gory forms! while with his sword he still satisfied his unappeased wrath. Forests of spears pierced our enemies! Cowards on that day were brave! The hitherto boasting but inactive soldier this day proved himself a hero! Who shall sing the deeds of my brave people, and do them justice? With death before their eyes, they embraced danger as a maiden whom they wished to enjoy, smiling, and proud of their strength; for glory to them was sweeter than new honey or virgin lips. The battle of spears was like a wedding feast, so joyous were my people! Surely their rage is like that of a furious lion in his wrath! which who shall restrain? They are a destroying fire in the eye of their enemies! Stronger than rocks are my followers! Spear them! spear them! till the sun sees their bones; and let their bodies be food for the birds and hyænas, while they resist the sword of the prophet! But oh! my people, spare the fallen! and those who implore mercy in the name of the One and Omnipotent! These were my words. Wading through blood, we arrived at the palace of the sultan. What were all my defeats, when compared to this victory!

“Lend your ears, oh my chiefs! ye who were present; for they are your deeds I sing! and ye also who were away; for I sing of your brethren and your children. It was on the first of the month, when we once more came on those, who were enemies to us, and to our faith!

“Tirab, chief in fight, raged alike with the strength of an elephant! and also his wisdom for two days! Four kingdoms towards the declining sun had been destroyed, and one to the south, five in number! Six months I had been from home, and on the seventh I made my return, after humbling my enemies, and binding them as slaves! As food is before the hyæna, so are their enemies before my people. They are devoured! But the prophet’s children are saved by God, who watches over true believers! As a thorn pierces whatever disturbs its retirement, so do my spear-hurling hosts dash their pointed javelins into the flesh of those who break our peace and our repose! When I cheer them on, miserable are they that oppose them! But he that submits, and acknowledges the One and Omnipotent, and his Prophet, blessed be God and his angels, shall receive mercy! I govern by the will of the most High, and by God’s decree, and administer the law of God, whose servant I am; and whoever dies under such law, paradise is his.”

* * * * *

No. XV.

Translation of an extempore Arab Song.

“Oh! she was beauty’s self, and shone in matchless symmetry! When shall I hear news of her? how support her absence, and her loss? My hopes are but as the fantastic dreams of night; yet with this hopelessness my love does but increase, even as a star shines the brightest in the blackest night. O! Mabrooka! thy head sinks too with sorrow at losing him, whose thoughts are still of thee; but as the desert bird[79] drops and smooths its wing, but to display the richness of its plumage, so will thy silent grief but cause thee to appear with increased charms! Vain and cruel delusion! At the moment of the possession of earthly happiness to doom us to melancholy despair, was as if the traveller should draw water to the brink of the well, and then see the wished-for draught snatched from his thirsty lips!

“What she looks upon becomes graceful, enchanted by her loveliness! Oh! she is beauty’s self, my polar star[80] of life.”

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 79: Ostrich.]

[Footnote 80: The word in the original is jiddie, which guides the kafila in traversing the deserts, their track generally lying either north or south.]

* * * * *

No. XVI.

Translation of the Song of the Fezzanneers, on Boo Khaloom’s Death.

“Oh! trust not to the gun and the sword! The spear of the unbeliever prevails!

“Boo Khaloom, the good and the brave, has fallen! Who shall be safe? Even as the moon amongst the little stars, so was Boo Khaloom amongst men! Where shall Fezzan now look for her protector? Men hang their heads in sorrow, while women wring their hands, rending the air with their cries! As a shepherd is to his flock, so was Boo Khaloom to Fezzan!

“Give him songs! Give him music! What words can equal his praise? His heart was as large as the desert! His coffers were like the rich overflowings from the udder of the she-camel, comforting and nourishing those around him!

“Even as the flowers without rain perish in the field, so will Fezzaneers droop; for Boo Khaloom returns no more!

“His body lies in the land of the heathen! The poisoned arrow of the unbeliever prevails!

“Oh! trust not to the gun, and the sword! the spear of the heathen conquers. Boo Khaloom, the good and the brave, has fallen! Who shall now be safe?”

No. XVII.

Bornou Vocabulary.

Good for nothing, Fussel

Good, Angala

Bad, Dibbe

Bread, Gorassa

Rice, Fergami

Come here, Arai natin

Go away, Lanai daka

Come to-morrow, Bali arai belte,

Come to-morrow night, Bali booni arai

Meat, Dha

Water, Inki

Bring water, Inki coutai

I wish to drink, Shay aski

Stay in the house, Arai fatto nemine

Sit down, Nemine

Bed, Boushe

Sheep, Anglaro

Bullock, Feea

Fowls, Koukee

Wind, Karouah

Sun, Kangal

Cold, Kakou

Hot to-day, Kow zow

Woman, Kano

Girl, Faro[81]

Fine girl, Faro angala

Rich girl, Faro sukala

Ugly girl, Faro dibbe

Father, Aba

My mother, Yany

Your mother, Yaanem

My brother, Crameny

My sister, Yaiany

Wife, Neka

Siriah, Keferoua

Hand, Musko

Leg, Segulni

White teeth, Teminy bull

Tongue, Telumny

A slave with large eyes, and Keir angala shem kora handsome,

Great, Kora

Small, Gana

Old man, Keeary

Horse, Fur or Pur

Dog, Kree

Sweet milk, Kiam klee

Sour milk, Kyam

I wish to wash, Musco toliske

I will go to your house, Fanim laneskin

House, Fatto

God keep you in health, L’affia dagumba

How is your health? Are you Wanumba l’affia? La lay? Ba lay? well? Are you well?

Breeches, Yangay

A pretty young slave, Keir gana angala

I give you a little physic: if Kergun gana gadishe atte keteen that does not cure you, come baco, arai bali to-morrow,

I am sick, Ou donde

I am a little better, Kermunga neske gana

Rains coming, Delaky goushe

Good day to you, Dibdony che l’affia

Good night to you, Booni che l’affia

Bad boy, Tetowa dibbe

Good boy, Tetowa angala

White man, Bull fulk

One, Telo

Two, Inde

Three, Yasko

Four, Dago

Five, Ooogoo

Six, Araska

Seven, Toolur

Eight, Waskoo

Nine, Lekar

Ten, Meagoo

Eleven, Meagoo lageree

Twelve, Indoore

Thirteen, Meagoo yaskun

Fourteen, Meagoo daree

Fifteen, Meagoo ouree

Sixteen, Meagoo araskee

Seventeen, Meagoo toluree

Eighteen, Meagoo waskun

Nineteen, Meagoo likareen

Twenty, Finde

Thirty, Fee askar

Forty, Fee daga

Fifty, Fee oogoo

Sixty, Fee raskee

Seventy, Fee tolur

Eighty, Fee tuskoo

Ninety, Fee lekar

One hundred, Mea

Poor man, Koua telleka

Sick man, Koua laka

Gussub, Ergum

Handsome woman, Kamoo angala

Very hot to-day, Kou dzow

Very cold, Kako ngubboo

Very dirty, Teginy kadafooa

Very clean, Teginy angala

Dead, Nuee

I, Ooma

You, Nema

Mine, Kakay

Yours, Kakanem

Sandals, Sono

Cap, Geaqua

You know every thing, Summa nunumba

I know nothing, Afeema noniskeni

I know, Noniski

Bring supper, Coutai bree

I wish to eat, Maniskin buskin

I look for food, Manimin boomin

I do not wish, Naguski baco

Have you got a little? Agoga nashe

I have nothing, Afeema baco

Honey, Kom̄agun

Wood, Kuska

At night eat supper, Booni bree boyee

Morning meal, Cheny feleski

I must go home, Oola niske fatto

Will you, or will you not? Rakami, rouanimy

I will not, Waniskee

Yes, Geree

No, Wankee

Breast, Gungy

Quick, Doua

Come, make haste, Arai doua

Black, Sellem

Red, Kemmy

White, Bull

Grass, Kajum

Straw, Soogoo

Mat, Suggady

I have many bullocks, Nanin fean’ gubboo

A great warrior, Bendugoo gubboo

I must buy a shirt, Koulko manki efeski

Tell me directly, Manany doua

I have no money, Nani gourse baco

I have no friend, Sobany baco

You are my friend, Nema sobany

You are not my friend, Ne sobany gani

I wish to sleep, Manki boniske

I do not sleep in the day, Kou boniske baco

Where is good water, very good? Indaran inki, angala lintia

This water is not good, Inki ada angalăgănĭ

Not good, Angalăgăny̆

I will give you nothing, Afeema giski baco

Call him, Booboonimin

Don’t beat him, Wata edkonimy

Strong, Kibboo

Weak, Kibboo gany

Strong slave, Keir kibboo

I wish to return to my country, Bellany laniski

Lion, Kourgilly

Ichneumon, Chorma

How many children have you? Tetoua ndago nanimin

Where is your country? Ndara bellanem

You are very handsome, Angala lintia

Come with me, Yeronemin langay

Go I cannot, Lanem baco

I am tired, M’bareski

Whip, Kourfo

Turban, Aliafo

Sword, Kazager

Looking-glass, Koutrum

Face, Fiska

My face, Fiskany

Your face, Fiskanem

His face, Fiskansa

Their faces, Fiskanday

My foot, Sheeny

Your foot, Sheenum

His foot, Sheensay

Their feet, Sheenday

All their feet, Sheenday andi summa

Beard, N’chitty

Foot, Shee

Feet, Shee ndiso

Fingers, Gulandoni

Toes, Fergamij

Who is that? N’dee aty

What is that? Aty a fee

What is your name? Nin dhu

Presently, Wakay

Wait a little, Dāgā dāgō

White trowsers, Yangay bull

White shirt, Kukoo bull

Blue shirt, Kulgoo kagi

Pillow, Beeree

Where are you going? Ndara doony min

Where are you come from? Ndara kadim

From the sheikh’s house I come, Fatto shoukobe kadisco

To-day, Kow

Yesterday, Biska

The day before yesterday, Biskada

Ass, Koro

Mule, Koro la fuddera

Handkerchief, Futtha. Not used

Crocodile, Timsa, karem

Hippopotamus, Nghroot

Many mosquitoes, Kantano n’gubboo

Hyena, Dela

Elephant, Kamāgun

Calf, Kena gana

Cow, Kena

Where are your shoes? Sononem daran

Where is your cap? Geaqua n’daran

A bad man, Koati dibbe

You are bad, Nema dibbe

Do you wish that woman? Kamo ati rakami

Not that one? This I wish, Ati waniski too raguski

Man, Kam

Woman, Kamo

A strong man, Kamqua

Two men, Kuandee

Two women, Kamundee

Camel, Kelgimmo

Camel’s saddle, Kantergue

Riding camel or maherhy, Kelgimmo serdebee

Wear your cap; the sun is Geaqua coutai kou n’gubboo strong,

My house, Fany

The house of me, Fatto kakai

I will come at night, Ou boone leniske

It is now night, Kerama boone

Why did you not come yesterday? Afero biska issamy bah

I could not come, Issiskany

I am come to-day, Kou issisky

I am angry, Ou gergan iskana

Always, Zaar

I go on horseback, Kela furby linisky

Horse, Fur, or Pur

I go on foot, Sheenin linisky

Your house, Fanem

His house, Fansa

All their houses are one, Andi summa fanday telo

Give me this, Ougoaty orashe

A little, not much, Gana

Take care, Zebba

Now give me, Kormashee

Shut the door, Suganay tapah

Not now, Kormakany

By and by, Oo kanowaā

I will give you a handsome Koulko angala noroweskin shirt,

I will dress you prettily, Kasamow angala noroweskin

Hear me, I say, Fanimy

God bless you, Allah kabunsho

May you live for ever, Engoubourou dagah

God send you a happy old age, Allah kiaro literally gray hairs,

Bring water to wash my hands, Inki coutai muskowy toliske

To wash your hands, Muskonem tolei

Like a Bornowy, Kanourin kalcal

Near, Karengha

A long way off, Kiento rinta

Why are you afraid? Afero ranimin

You come directly? Kurma ma duaree

The day after to-morrow, Wagoro

Eat you, Nema booy

I can read, Rageski karaengen

Can you read? Ne karanemin bah

I cannot, Karaniskin baco

I know, Ooma nongana

You know, Nema nonema

He knows, Shema nosena

We know, Amgaso nony-enna

Ye know, Ande amgaso

They know, Nony-enna

Every body knows, Amsemma nozana

Nobody knows, Ondooma nozana baco

Gazelle, Engry

Ducks, Enguddoo

Vulture, Quogoo

Monkey, Daggel

Buffalo, Zamouse

I will not go, Laniski baco

I will come, Lazusko

Is it necessary for you? Ragumba

It is necessary, Ragiski

Now, Kurma

Not now, but in a little, Kurmagany, laga toosiny

Why is your cap off? Afero geaquanem gogo

It fell off, Oogony konusko

My horse, Furny

Your horse, Furnem

His horse, Furnsa

My hut, Engiminy

Your hut, Engiminem

His hut, Engiminsa

Onions, L’bussel

Wheat, Gomah

Gussub, Arkum

Fan of ostrich feathers, Kergeaga

Ostrich, Nham

Feathers, Riesh

I wish a man who knows the road Ooroo kam angala sidi Waday to Waday, nosena

Do you know all the road? Sidi Waday nony mabah

All I know, Angaso nony ski

In the road, river great is Waday den komadagoo kora beetche there?

There is, but not a great one, Beetche, gana laga

And a great deal of water, there N’gobboo gany inki enga is not,

Gussub is there plenty? Argum beetche engubbooba

Rain little, and gussub Inki gana argum engubboo, gany not much,

Last year rain plenty, more than Mindy inki engubboo kerma koge at this time,

This year, Kimmindy

Last year, Mindy

Fish, Boony

Standard carried before the Yerma Sultan of Bornou,

Fire bring, quick, quick, Kano coutai doua, doua

Fire bring, get supper, Kano coutai bree deniskin

Mount, we will go, Neebamin baa lanyée

Now I will come, Kurma mai issisky

I do not wish, Wanisky, wangy

Wait a little, now he will come, Garany gana kurma machin

Bring water, I will drink, Inki coutai yaskin

I will not come, Isiskin baco

Give grass to the horse to eat, Fena kajem furby zebbo

Nose bag, Engerky

The nose bag for the horse Engerky furby coutai bring,

Fill it with gussub, Fegana argum

Give it him to feed, Yeshery zebbo

Does he feed? Zebbe ra-watche

He feeds, A zebbena

Feed he will not, Zebbin baco watche

Take off the nose bag, if he Zenney engerky watchea will not,

Take him to drink, Yeati inkero

Give him well to drink, Y’eshero angeloro tsaa

Bucket none, yesterday broke, Kirfy baco biska creety

Go a bucket good buy, Lanee kerfy angala belinefay

Take care thieves don’t take it, Wata kaleny burbo gotzenu

I wish it, Oura kusku

Something I wish, Aqualaka oura kusku

What do you wish? Afferacum

Where are we going? Ainfera lanen

Near now we go? Karinga ateman lascia

Sunset before? Shall we stop? Magrubo setteny? Zubtsayu bah

We shall stop, Zubtsayu

At sunset we shall not stop, we Mugrubbo kelten zubtsay inde shall go until Ashea; then we leesharo letzaya doo go zubtneia shall stop,

Sunset before we shall return, Mugrubbo setteny doo goo lanem

To-day go, to-morrow come, Kou lanemya bali arai

You are very handsome, Neety angala engubboo

You than others I like best, Neety kamo gediro rakuskin ago angalko

Speak true speeches, Mana gereby manany

It is necessary, I see the well, Kouroo garoubi ruguski,

This is my town now, Ate bellany kurma

I wish to see, Raguski rusky

Will you buy anything? Neema eefamy bah

I wish to buy, Raguski effuskin

I do not wish to buy, Wankee effeesky baco

I will not sell, Wankee ladisky baco

I wish to sell, Ragusky ladisky

Will you sell? Ladamin bah

My feet ache, Sheeny zow

Do your feet ache? Eenim zow bah

My legs, Shegul ny

My knees, Engurum grum kakai

My thighs, Dunomy

My loins, Duefurgy-ny

My belly, Suero-ny

My breast, Ingun geny

My neck, Dubboony

Woman’s breast, Tekkum

My mouth, Cheny

My nose, Kinoa-ny

My tongue, Telam-ny

My teeth, Teneeny

My cheeks, Gegaty

The eyes, Shem

The forehead, Engum

Eyebrows, Engum eshem

Ears, Summo

Head, Kla

This woman, her face is Kamo atteta feskansa angala handsome,

Long gourd with a hole at each Zantoo end, used by Tibboo and Bornou as a musical instrument,

Wrapper or petticoat, Zeneh

Eggs, Gubbel

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 81: In the southern provinces of Bornou this is pronounced Paro.]

* * * * *

No. XVIII.

Begharmi Vocabulary, taken from the mouth of the late Sultan’s son, now a slave of the Sheikh of Bornou.

One, Keddy

Two, Sub

Three, Mattāh

Four, Soh

Five, Mee

Six, Meeka

Seven, Chilly

Eight, Marta

Nine, Doso

Ten, Dokemy

Eleven, Dokemy kar keddy

Twelve, Dokemy kar sub

Thirteen, Dokemy kar muttāh

Fourteen, Dokemy kar soh

Twenty, Doke sub

Twenty-one, Doke sub kar keddy

Twenty-two, Doke sub kar sub

Thirty, Doke muttah

Thirty-one, Doke muttah

Forty, Doke soh

Forty-one, Doke soh kar keddy

Fifty, Doke mee

Fifty-one, Doke mee kar keddy

Sixty, Doke muka

Sixty-one, Doke muka kar keddy

Seventy, Doke killy

Seventy-one, Doke killy kar keddy

Eighty, Doke marta

Ninety, Doke doso

One hundred, Arrou

One hundred and one, Arrou se keddy

Two hundred, Arrou sub

One thousand, Dooboo

Two thousand, Dooboo sub

Eyes, Kammo

Leaf of a plant, Kammo

Head, Geujo

Mouth, Tara

Door of a room, Tara be

Breast, Kājā

Sun, Kājā

Nose, Amo

Belly, Ngala

Thighs, Brinjee

Knees, Kejee

Legs, Kersha

Feet, Njanja

Flesh, Nja debe

Ox, Mungho

Flesh of an ox, Nja mungho

Sheep, Batta

Goat, Angha

Water, Mane

Flour, Jumo

Bread, Tabaka

No kinds of fruit known, all plants different.

Onions, (Good, great.) Bussara

Honey, (Quantities Tejee, eaten.)

Elephant, Keejee

Horse, Soudah

Mule, El Feddrah

Ass, (plenty), Krow

Dog, (many), Besee

Lion, (plenty), Tobio

Lioness, Tobiony

Leopard, Nugo

Gazelle, Ngria

Rabbit, Omo

Fowls, Kenja

Cock, Kla

Father, Babma

Mother, Konuma

Brother, Monnjema

Sister, Monnjum

Son, Wonma

Daughter, Wonum

Woman, Née

Man, Gaba

Wife, Neema

Favorite, Mandama

Noon, Dooro

Night, Njow

Sleep, Tonangy

Awake, Ingra

I am hungry, Bow

I am thirsty, Mane mukago

My friend, Kaffama

Your friend, Kaffaily

Bring supper, Du gesa

Come here, Da lullo

Go away, Abey

Hot, Kaisungoh

Cold, Kooloo

Fat, Booboo

Too hot, Kaigocho

Very cold, Koolo ognio

Wind, Leélee

Rain falls, Manet kudy

Boat, large, Toko

Small boat, Toko bassa

River, Bah

Great river, Bah nungolo

Near, Bony

Distant, Aouo

Very distant, Aouo killa hudder

Bad, Kussu

I have something, Congassa saikilly

I have nothing, Ngasskoto semki

Good man, Kab

Bad man, Kab-kussu

Young, N’bussa

Old, Kaddah

Handsome woman, Nein

Ugly woman, Nein kussu

Take that, Dibena magi

Merchant, Maly ocho

Slave, Baly

Woman slave, B’llow

White man, Kab n’jaffy

Slaves, Bakee

White woman, Nee njaffy

I will not, Gaily

To kill, Tolly qua

My house, Bema

Your house, Beay

To wound, Noyalee

Wheat, Gkal kumba

Gussub, Tenghoo

Dates, Depenow

Saddle, Serdee

Fire, Peddoo

Wood, Cheree

Bring some wood quick, Den cheree, keske, keske

I am ill, Mungaly

Are you ill? Gegony

Do you wish physic? Talem kourgoonoo

Come with me, Dejab kow

I am your friend, Ma kafai

I am your servant, Ma manai

Always, Njan

All, Petta

After, Belti

Before, Dencha

Mid-day, Kaisung-oo

Gafooly, Wah

Meloheiœ, Gongonbelto

Bridle, Al jemmo

Halter, Kabboomoo

Grass straw, Moo

Teeth, Nganah

* * * * *

No. XIX.

Mandara Vocabulary, taken from the mouth of Achmet Mandara, a slave of the Sheikh of Bornou.

One, Mtaque

Two, Sardah

Three, Kighah

Four, Fuddah

Five, Elibah

Six, N’quaha

Seven, Vouyah

Eight, Teesah

Nine, Musselman

Ten, Klaou

Twenty, Kulboa, kulla boa

Thirty, Kullo kegah

Forty, Kullo fuddah

Fifty, Kullo elibah

Sixty, Kullo N’quaha

Seventy, Kullo Vouga

Eighty, Kullo Teesa

Ninety, Kullo Musselman

One hundred, Drimka

Two hundred, Dibboo

Water, Yowah

Bring water, Sensa yowah

Meat, Souah

Gussub, Mudjuga

Man, Geela

Woman, Mug’sa

Girl, Gala

Handsome girl, Shugra

Ugly girl, Mowgwa

Good man, Zeeriah

Mother, Mama

Father, Dada

Brother, Malay

Sister, Koudray

Mountains, Ouvra

River, Gouah

Well, Souah

Spring, Pooshay

Great, Yeakay

Little, Chequah

Great mountains, Ouvre yeakay

Little sister, Koudray Chequah

Meal, breakfast, Dafah or supper,

To eat, Zuzie

Bring to eat, Senga dafah

I will not, Wyanga

Sultan, Tsuksa

I am tired, Yaluffa luffa

Good bye, N’gea dha

Day, Vechea

Night, Véggea

I must go, Amindala

Come here, Souah sokena

My wife, Muksanga

Your wife, Muksarwa

Good road, Oungala shrugra

Bad road, Oungala mangoua

Rice, Acheiah

Butter, Wyay

Honey, Ammah

Eyes, Echey

Nose, Ukteray

Mouth, Okay

Ears, Shimmah

Head, Erey

Female slave, Quatana

Male slave, Affee

Handsome slave, Quatana mugray

Grass, Massah

My country, Uksarwa

Your country, Uksangra

I wish to sleep, Wenwyah yeksentia sah

I am your friend, Tukkatarwa

Horse, Bilsah

Ox, Tsah

Tiger-cat, Oobellah

Tiger’s skin, Ogzo oobellah

Ass, Anzouwah

Sheep, Keoay

Rich man, Tallowah

Poor man, Tszuah

* * * * *

No. XX.

Timbuctoo Vocabulary.

Come, Kaa

Go, Koey

Quickly, Tumba

Give me to eat, Kata mung-ha

Give me to drink, Katahary mungenee

I am thirsty, Hamai egowei

I, or me, Ei

You, Ee

Him, Wo

They, Oo

Good, Abooree

Bad, Affootoo

Man, Harree

Woman, Weey

Girl, Izowy

Boy, Ezahary

Handsome woman, Weey tienta

Bad man, Harree footoo

Two eyes, Moh inka

Mouth, Mey

Beard, Kabi

Head, Bong-o

Horse, Barree

Camel, Yeo

Ass, Furka

Dog, Hanshe

Sheep, Fagee

An ox, Hou foh

Oxen, Hou bobo

Meat, Hum

Sweet milk, Wah gana

Sour milk, Wah coutoo

Sultan, Gabee coin

Bread, Takoola

River, Issa

Boat, Hee

House, Hoo

Slave, Bunneea

Female slave, Kong-o

Fire, Jarree

Night, Keegee

Day, Noony

Wood, Togoolee

Elephant, Turcondu

Water, Hary

Blood, Koorie

Knife, Hoorie

Gold, Oorah

Silver, N’zurfa

Turban, Tabbai

Tobe, Tilleby-kai

Breeches, Seeby

Sandals, Tarno

Cap, Foolah

Clouds, Beenee

Earth, Gunda

Mountain, Foudee

Well, Bungo

A ghrazzie, Wongo

Spear, Yagy

Mat, Tangaree

The truth, Keemy

That man lies, Wahareeagoothangany

Eat, Ngha

Foot, Kay

Hand, Kambah

One, Affoo

Two, Nahinka

Three, Nahinza

Four, Attakee

Five, Aggoo

Six, Iddoo

Seven, Ea

Eight, Yaha

Nine, Yugga

Ten, Auwy

Eleven, Auwy kindofoo

Twelve, Auwy kindoohinka

Thirteen, Auwy kindohinza

Fourteen, Auwy kindotakee

Fifteen, Auwy kindaggoo

Sixteen, Auwy kindo iddoo

Seventeen, Auwy kindoea

Eighteen, Auwy kindo yaha

Nineteen, Auwy kindoyugga

Twenty, Warunka

Twenty-one, Warunka kindofoo

Thirty, Warunza

Thirty-one, Warunza kindofoo

Forty, Waytakkee

Forty-one, Waytakkee kindofoo

Fifty, Wayaggoo

Fifty-one, Wayaggoo kindofoo

ZOOLOGY.

No. XXI.

Having been requested by the authors of the preceding narrative to describe the Zoological subjects collected during their journey, we think it right, in the first place, to notice the difficulties attending their acquisition and preservation. The European traveller, who is transported with equal comfort over the rugged heights of Mont Cenis, or along the level plains of Holland, can have little conception of the privations and distresses which attend the wanderer in the desert. The most feeble and timid may encounter the first task without fatigue or fear; but the robur et æs triplex of a strong constitution, persevering patience, and undaunted courage, must fortify his resolution who directs his daring course through the sands of the Sahara.

Having arrived at the farthest point of their route, our travellers were occupied no less than five months in their return to Tripoli, pursuing their “weary way” almost wholly through deserts, and suffering severely by sickness and all sorts of privations. Their means, too, of skinning and preserving the animals they procured were of the slightest kind; the only cutting instrument they possessed being a penknife belonging to Major Denham, and a little arsenical soap, left from the stores of the late Mr. Ritchie, their sole antidote to protect the skins from moth and corruption. Such, however, was their ardour in the pursuit of Zoological subjects, that in spite of all the difficulties and drawbacks that beset them, they succeeded in collecting and bringing home upwards of a hundred specimens, and some of them in exceedingly good condition and of peculiar interest; though we regret to say, that less than a third of that number is all that have come into our hands, many of the subjects having fallen into utter decay.

Classis. MAMMALIA. Auct.

Ordo. CARNASSIERS. Cuv.

Tribus. CARNIVORES. Cuv.

Stirps. DIGITIGRADES. Cuv.

Genus. FENNECUS. Lacep.

Species 1.—Fennecus Cerdo.

Fennec. Bruce, vii. 231. (8vo). pl. 28.

Animal Anonyme. Buff. Supp. iii. 128. pl. 19. (1776).

Zerda. Penn. Quad. pag. 248. pl. 28.

Canis Cerdo. Gmel. Linn.

Fennecus Brucii. Desm. Mamm. pl. 108. f. 4.

Canis Megalotis. Griff. An. King.

This beautiful and extraordinary animal, or at least one of this genus, was first made known to European naturalists by Bruce, who received it from his drogoman, whilst consul general at Algiers. It was brought from Biscara by a Turkish soldier, from whom the janizary bought it, and who said it was not uncommon at that place, but was more frequently met with in the date territories of Beni Mezzab and Werglah, where these animals are hunted for their skins, which are afterwards sold at Mecca, and thence exported to India. Bruce kept his animal alive for several months, and took a drawing of it in water colours, of the natural size; a copy of which, on transparent paper, was clandestinely made by his servant. On leaving Algiers, Bruce gave the animal to Captain Cleveland, of the Royal Navy, who made a present of it to Mr. Brander, the Swedish consul. Mr. Brander, according to Sparman, as quoted by Bruce, gave an account of the animal in “some Swedish Transactions,” but refused to let the figure be published, the drawing having been unfairly obtained. Bruce asserts that this animal is described in many Arabian books, under the name of El Fennec, by which, he adds, that it is known all over Africa; he conceives the appellation to be derived from the Greek word φοινιξ, a palm, or date tree.

After Bruce left Algiers, he met with two other Fennecs, one of which had been brought by the caravan of Fezzan to the Island of Gerba, from whence it was carried to Tunis, where Bruce saw it; the other he bought at Sennaar, but where it came from he knew not; though it seems probable that it was a native of the date villages in the desert of Selima. These animals exactly resembled the one first seen at Algiers, and were known by the name of Fennec, and by no other.

The favourite food of Bruce’s Fennec was dates, or any sweet fruit; but it was also very fond of eggs: when hungry it would eat bread, especially with honey or sugar. His attention was immediately attracted if a bird flew near him, and he would watch it with an eagerness that could hardly be diverted from its object; but he was dreadfully afraid of a cat, and endeavoured to hide himself the moment he saw an animal of that species, though he showed no symptoms of preparing for any defence. Bruce never heard that he had any voice. During the day he was inclined to sleep, but became restless and exceedingly unquiet as night came on.

Bruce describes his Fennec as about ten inches long; the tail, five inches and a quarter, near an inch of it on the tip, black; from the point of the fore-shoulder to that of the fore-toe, two inches and seven-eighths; from the occiput to the point of the nose, two inches and a half. The ears were erect, and three inches and three-eighths long, with a plait or fold at the bottom on the outside; the interior borders of the ears were thickly covered with soft white hair, but the middle part was bare, and of a pink or rose colour; the breadth of the ears was one inch and one eighth, and the interior cavity very large. The pupil of the eye was large and black; the iris, deep blue. It had thick and strong whiskers; the nose was sharp at the tip, black and polished. The upper jaw was projecting; the number of cutting teeth in each jaw, six, those in the under jaw the smallest; canine teeth, two in each jaw, long, large, and exceedingly pointed; the number of molar teeth, four on each side, above and below. The legs were small; feet very broad, with four toes, armed with crooked, black, and sharp claws on each; those on the fore-feet more crooked and sharp than those behind. The colour of the body was dirty white, bordering on cream-colour; the hair on the belly rather whiter, softer and longer than on the rest of the body. His look was sly and wily. Bruce adds that the Fennec builds his nest on trees, and does not burrow in the earth.

Illiger, in his generic description of Megalotis, states the number of molar teeth on each side of the upper jaw to be six, but gives no account of those in the lower; nor does it appear on what authority he describes the teeth at all, or where he inspected his type. In other respects, his description agrees pretty closely with that given by Bruce.

Sparman[82] took the Fennec to be of the species he has called Zerda, a little animal found in the sands of Cambeda, near the Cape of Good Hope; and Pennant and Gmelin have called Bruce’s animal, after Sparman, Canis cerdo; Brander considered it as a species of fox; Blumenbach rather as belonging to the Viverræ. Illiger quotes Lacépède as having made a distinct genus of it, Fennecus[83], and has himself placed it as one, under the name of Megalotis, in the order Falculata, in the same family with, and immediately preceding the genera Canis and Hyena.

M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, assuming Bruce’s account to be imperfect and inaccurate, supposes that the Fennec is neither more nor less than a Galago; but M. Desmarest differs from him in opinion, and places it in a situation analogous to that assigned it by Illiger, at the end of the Digitigrades, in the order Carnassiers. Cuvier merely takes the following short notice of this animal in a note, “Le Fennec de Bruce que Gmelin a nommé Canis cerdo, et Illiger Megalotis, est trop peu connu pour pouvoir être classé. C’est un petit animal d’Afrique, dont les oreilles égalent presque le corps en grandeur, et qui grimpe aux arbres, mais on n’en a descrit ni les dents ni les doigts.” (Reg. Anim. I. 151. note). This eminent zoologist appears from the above to hold our countryman’s veracity, or at least his accuracy of observation, and fidelity of description, in the same low estimation as M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire; or he would hardly have talked of the ears of the Fennec being nearly as large as its body[84], or have asserted that neither the teeth nor toes have been described. But the illustrious foreigners of whom we have, in no offensive tone we hope, just spoken, are not the only persons who have hesitated to place implicit confidence in all that Bruce has given to the world: his own countrymen have shown at least an equal disposition to set him down as a dealer in the marvellous. Time, however, and better experience, are gradually doing the Abyssinian traveller that justice which his cotemporaries were but too ready to deny him.

M. Desmarest considers all the characters which Bruce has given of the Fennec as correct, “not conceiving it possible, that he could have assumed the far too severe tone he adopted in speaking of Sparman and Brander, if he had not been perfectly sure of his facts.”

Mr. Griffith has given the figures of two animals, both, as he conceives, belonging to this genus; one of them came from the Cape of Good Hope, and is now in the Museum at Paris; it is named by Cuvier Canis megalotis, and is described by Desmarest in his Mammalogie, (Ency. Meth. Supp. p. 538): Major Smith has called it Megalotis Lalandii, to distinguish it from Bruce’s Fennec. The other animal is from the interior of Nubia, and is preserved in the Museum at Frankfort. Both the figures are from the accurate and spirited pencil of Major Hamilton Smith. The first animal is as large as the common fox, and decidedly different from Bruce’s Fennec; the second, Major Smith considers to be Bruce’s animal.

In the fifth volume of the Bulletin des Sciences, sect. 2. p. 262., is an extract from a memoir of M. Leuckart, (Isis, 2 Cahier, 1825), on the Canis cerdo, or Zerda of naturalists, in which it is stated that M. M. Temminck and Leuckart saw the animal in the Frankfort Museum, which had been previously drawn by Major Smith, and recognized it for the true Zerda; and the former gentleman, in the prospectus of his Monographies de Mammalogie, announced it as belonging to the genus Canis, and not to that of Galago. M. Leuckart coincides in opinion with M. Temminck, and conceives that the genus Megalotis, or Fennecus, must be suppressed, “the animal very obviously belonging to the genus Canis, and even to the subgenus Vulpes.” He adds, “that it most resembles the C. corsac; the number of teeth and their form are precisely the same as those of the fox, which it also greatly resembles in its feet, number of toes, and form of tail. The principal difference between the fox and the Zerda consists in the great length of the ears of the latter and its very small size.”

The singular controversy, not even yet decided, that has arisen respecting this little animal, has induced us to preface our description of the individual before us, by this sketch of its history.

FENNECUS. Dentium formula.—Dentes primores 6—6 / 6—6, laniarii 1—1 / 1—1, molares 6—6 / 7—7?

F. supra rufescenti-albus, subtus pallidior; maculâ suboculari rufâ; caudæ maculâ sub-basali nigrescenti-brunneâ, apice nigro.

Dimensions. Inches.

Length of the head from the extremity of the nose to the occiput, 3⅜

Breadth between the eyes, 0⅞

Length of ears, 3⅛

Breadth of do. at the widest part, 2

Breadth of the cranium between the ears, 1⅝

Length from the occiput to the insertion of the tail, 9½

Tail, 6

[85]Height before, from the ground to the top of the back, above the shoulder, 6⅝

[85]Height behind, to the top of the back above the loins, 7½

Breadth of the extremity of the nose, 0⁵⁄₁₆

Length of the middle claws of the fore feet, 0⁷⁄₁₆

Exterior do. do. 0½

Middle and exterior claws of the hind feet, 0½

The general colour is white, slightly inclining to straw-yellow; above, from the occiput to the insertion of the tail it is light rufous brown, delicately pencilled with fine black lines, from thinly scattered hairs tipped with black; the exterior of the thighs is lighter rufous brown; the chin, throat, belly, and interior of the thighs and legs are white, or cream colour. The nose is pointed, and black at the extremity; above, it is covered with very short, whitish hair inclining to rufous, with a small irregular rufous spot on each side beneath the eyes; the whiskers are black, rather short and scanty; the back of the head is pale rufous brown. The ears are very large, erect, and pointed, and covered externally with short, pale, rufous-brown hair; internally, they are thickly fringed on the margins with long greyish-white hairs, especially in front; the rest of the ears, internally, is bare; externally, they are folded or plaited at the base. The tail is very full, cylindrical, of a rufous-brown colour, and pencilled with fine black lines like the back; its colour is rather deeper above than on the under part, and there is a small dark brown spot, at about an inch below its insertion on the upper side; the ends of the hairs at the extremity of the tail are black, forming a black tip about three quarters of an inch long. The anterior feet are pentadactylous, the posterior tetradactylous, and both are covered to the claws with moderately long whitish hairs, slightly inclining to straw-yellow; the claws are of a yellowish-white, or light horn-colour, moderately hooked, very much compressed, and very sharp; those on the hinder toes are most compressed, longest, and least arched. The fur is very soft and fine; that on the back, from the forehead to the insertion of the tail, as well as that on the upper part of the shoulder before, and nearly the whole of the hinder thigh, is formed of tri-coloured hairs, the base of which is of a dark lead colour, the middle white, and the extremity light rufous brown.

The teeth of our animal are much worn, apparently by age; the incisors in the upper jaw are nearly even, the second pair rather broader than the rest; of those in the lower jaw, the outer pair are considerably the largest.

The imperfect state of the teeth, and the difficulty of examining them accurately without having the skull detached, forbids us to be confident as to the number of grinders in either jaw. From the most careful inspection, however, that we could make in the actual state of the specimen, we are inclined to believe that the system of dentition closely, if not exactly, resembles that of the dog. In the present state of uncertainty, whilst opinions of the highest authority are so discordant as to the genus to which this animal should be referred, we do not feel ourselves at liberty to disturb the arrangement adopted by Lacépède, Illiger, and Desmarest, but leave the ultimate decision of the question to future naturalists, who may possess more unequivocal data for its solution. One thing, indeed, is pretty obvious, namely, that if Major Denham’s animal be not the identical species described by Bruce, it certainly belongs to the same genus; for as it does not appear that Bruce himself ever possessed a detached skull of the Fennec, it is very easy to imagine that he could not accurately ascertain the number of molar teeth in the head of a living animal of such vivacity and quickness, and which was so impatient of being handled, that he could not obtain a correct measurement of its ears, or even count the number of paps on its belly. With such an animal it is not unlikely, moreover, that the two last tubercular grinders should escape the notice of any one attempting to examine the mouth under circumstances so disadvantageous, those teeth being in some measure concealed by the large projecting carnivorous tooth immediately before them. That it cannot be a Galago, as M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire imagines, is sufficiently evident; and M. Desmarest has given no less than six distinct, and, we think, conclusive reasons against that opinion, through which, however, we must not follow him at present. The subject has already grown under our hands to a far greater bulk than we intended, and we conclude it by taking leave to question the validity of M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire’s argument respecting the general veracity of Mr. Bruce, and consequently to enter our protest against his Fennec being classed with the Quadrumana.

We retain, provisionally, the generic name of Fennecus, first proposed by Lacépède, and the specific one of Cerdo, adopted by Gmelin; but should the animal ultimately prove to be a different species from Canis cerdo, M. Desmarest’s specific appellation of Brucii may with propriety be assigned to it.

Genus. RYZÆNA. Ill.

Species 2.—Ryzæna tetradactyla.

Viverra tetradactyla. Gmel. I. 85.

Suricate. Buff. xiii. t. 8.

This animal was found on the banks of the rivers in the neighbourhood of Lake Tchad.

Tribus. PLANTIGRADES. Cuv.

Genus. GULO. Storr.

Species 3.—Gulo capensis.

Gulo Capensis. Desm. Mamm. p. 176.

Viverra mellivora. Gmel. I. 91.

Ratel. Sparman.

Ratel weesel. Penn. Quad. II. 66.

The natives, from whom Major Denham had all the following particulars, informed him, that during the rutting season the Ratel is very fierce, not hesitating to attack a man. Each male has two or three females, whom he scarcely suffers to be a moment out of his sight; if either of them escape his jealous vigilance, and leave him for a short time, she is sure to receive severe chastisement at her return. This animal is very easily killed; a single blow on the nose, which seems peculiarly sensible of the slightest injury, instantly despatches him.

Ordo. QUADRUMANES. Cuv.

Genus. CERCOPITHECUS. Briss.

Species 4.—Cercopithecus ruber.

Cercopithecus ruber. Geoff. Ann. du Mus. xix. 96.

Simia rubra. Gmel. I. 34.

Le Patas. Buff. xiv. pl. 25 and 26.

Red Monkey. Penn. Quad. I. 208.

Ordo. RUMINANS. Cuv.

Genus. CAMELOPARDALIS. Gmel.

Species 5.—Camelopardalis Giraffa.

Camelopardalis Giraffa. Gmel. I. 181.

Cervus Camelopardalis. Linn. I. 92.

Giraffe. Buff. XIII. p. 1.

Camelopard. Penn. Quad. I. 65.

The Giraffes were found on the south-eastern side of Lake Tchad, generally in parties of from two to five or six. They are tolerably numerous, but not very common. The motion of these animals is not elegant; their pace is a short canter, in which they seem to drag their hind legs after them, in an awkward fashion: their speed, however, is such as to keep a horse at a pretty smart gallop. The skin brought home by Major Denham is that of a young animal, not above a year and a half or two years old; the colours are very much lighter than on the skin of an adult animal. In its wild state, the Giraffe carries its head remarkably erect; a character which, Major Denham remarks, is not faithfully preserved in any figure he has seen of this animal.

Genus. ANTILOPE. Pall.

Species 6.—Antilope Senegalensis.

Antilope Senegalensis. Desm. Mamm. p. 457.

Le Koba. Buff. xii. pl. 32. f. 2.

Senegal Antelope. Penn. Quad. I. 103.

Only the head and horns of this animal were brought home by Major Denham; it was found on the plains of central Africa. The natives call this species Korrigum.

Species 7—Antilope bezoartica.

Antilope gazella. Gmel. I. 190.

Capra bezoartica. Linn. I. 96.

Algazelle. Buff. xii. pl. 33. f. 1, 2.

Algazel Antelope. Penn. Quad. I. 77.

Linnæus’s description of Capra bezoartica speaks of the horns as being “entirely annulated;” but Brisson, to whom Linnæus refers, says they are annulated nearly to the end. In our specimens, a considerable extent from the apex is without the rings. This difference may probably arise from age. In other respects, the horns before us perfectly answer the description of those of Linnæus’s Capra bezoartica. M. Gmelin seems to have made some confusion between the Capra Gazella and C. bezoartica of Linnæus. He has changed the specific name of Gazella into that of oryx, and he has made Linnæus’s bezoartica the Gazella of himself.

Only two horns of this species, and those apparently not fellows, were sent home. This animal was found on the south side of the River Shary, in central Africa.

Species 8.—Antilope cervicapra.

Antilope cervicapra. Pall.

Capra cervicapra. Linn. I. 96.

Antilope. Buff. xii. pl. 35 and 36.

Common Antelope. Penn. Quad. I. 89.

We have only the horns of this animal. Its African name is El Buger Abiad, or the White Cow.

Genus. BOS. Linn.

Species 9.—Bos taurus.

Bos taurus. Linn. t. I. 98.

Major Denham brought home a pair of horns of enormous size, belonging evidently, from their form, texture, and mode of insertion, to a variety of the common Ox, of which he states that two kinds exist in central Africa, one with a hump before, and very small horns; the other altogether of a larger size, also with a hump, and immense horns.

The circumference of one of the horns before us, at the largest part near the base, is twenty-three inches and a quarter; its length, following the line of curvature, three feet, six inches and a half. It has two curves; and weighs six pounds and seven ounces. Internally it is extremely cellular, or rather cavernous.

Species 10.—Bos bubalis.

Bos bubalis. Linn. I. 99.

Le Buffle. Buff. xi. pl. 25.

Buffalo. Penn. Quad. I. 28.

We possess the head, with the horns. The name by which the native Africans call this animal is Zamouse.

Ordo. PACHYDERMES. Cuv.

Genus. RHINOCEROS. Linn.

Species 11.—Rhinoceros bicornis.

Rhinoceros bicornis. Gmel. I. 57.

Rhinoceros unicornis. var. β. bicornis. Linn. I. 104.

Rhinoceros Africanus. Cuv.

Rhinoceros d’Afrique. Buff. Supp. vi. pl. 6.

Two-horned Rhinoceros. Penn. Quad. i. 150. pl. 29.

Here again we have the horns only. The local name of this animal is Gargatan.

Ordo. RONGEURS. Cuv.

Genus. SCIURUS. Linn.

Species 12.—Sciurus Dschinschicus.

Sciurus Dschinschicus. Gmel. I. 151.

Sciurus albovittatus. Desm. Mamm. p. 338.

Our species agrees exactly with M. Desmarest’s account of his S. albovittatus, except that the tail is rather more decidedly distich than that of the individual he describes; but the dried state of the skin before us prevents our ascertaining its form very minutely. M. Desmarest refers to pl. 89 of Sonnerat’s Voyage, vol. ii. for a figure of his Ecurieul de Gingi, which he quotes as a variety of this species; on looking into Sonnerat, we do not find any figure at all of this animal referred to by that author. Plate 89 is a figure of the Maquis à Bourres.

Genus. HYSTRIX. Linn.

Species 13.—Hystrix cristata.

Hystrix cristata. Linn. I. 74.

Porc-épic. Buff. xii. pl. 51.

Crested Porcupine. Penn. Quad.

* * * * *

Classis. AVES. Auct.

Ordo. RAPTORES. Ill.

Fam. VULTURIDÆ. Vigors. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. VULTUR. Auct.

Species 1.—Vultur fulvus.

Vultur fulvus. Briss. I. 462, sp. 7.

Gyps vulgaris. Sav. Ois. d’Egypte.

Le Percnoptere. Pl. Enl. 426.

Vautour Griffon. Temm. Manuel d’Orn. p. 5.

Alpine Vulture. Var. B. Lath. Gen. Hist. I. p. 17.

This species was observed by Major Denham in the neighbourhood of all the large towns through which he passed. It was attracted by the offal, and refuse of every description, which the inhabitants were accustomed to throw out for its use. For the services which these birds thus performed, they met with protection in return from the natives, who did not permit them to be destroyed.

Fam. FALCONIDÆ. Leach.

Subfam. ACCIPITRINA. V. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. ASTUR. Auct.

Species 2.—Astur musicus.

Falco musicus. Daud. Orn. II. 116, sp. lxxxviii.

Le Faucon chanteur. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. I. 117, pl. 27.

Chanting Falcon. Lath. Gen. Hist. I. p. 178.

This beautiful Hawk was met with occasionally in most parts of central Africa, but not in any abundance. It was the only species of the family which the officers of the expedition were enabled to preserve and bring home.

Ordo. INSESSORES. V. in Linn. Trans.

Tribus. FISSIROSTRES. Cuv.

Fam. TODIDÆ. V. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. EURYSTOMUS. Vieill.

Species 3.—Eurystomus Madagascariensis.

Coracias Madagascariensis. Gmel. I. 379.

Le Rolle de Madagascar. Pl. Enl. 501.

Madagascar Roller. Lath. Gen. Hist. III. p. 79.

Fam. HALCYONIDÆ. V. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. HALCYON. Swains.

Species 4.—Halcyon erythrogaster.

Alcedo erythrogaster. Temm.

Alcedo Senegalensis, var. γ. Lath. Ind. Orn. 249.

Martin Pecheur du Senegal. Pl. Enl. 356, fig. inf.

The birds of this species were met with in abundance in those situations near rivers which form the usual resort of the species of this family. They were more particularly observed in the tamarind trees.

Tribus. CONIROSTRES. Cuv

Fam. CORVIDÆ. Leach.

Genus. CORACIAS. Linn.

Species 5.—Coracias Senegalensis.

Coracias Senegalensis. Gmel. I. 379.

Rollier du Senegal. Pl. Enl. 326.

Swallow-tailed Indian Roller. Edw. t. 327.

Senegal Roller. Lath. Gen. Hist. III. p. 75.

These splendid Rollers were very abundant in the thick underwoods throughout central Africa.

Tribus. SCANSORES. Auct.

Fam. PSITTACIDÆ. Leach.

Genus. PSITTACUS. Auct.

Species 6.—Psittacus erythacus.

Psittacus erythacus. Linn. i. 144.

Perroquet cendrée de Guinée. Pl. Enl. 311.

Ash-coloured Parrot. Alb. i. t. 12.

Several specimens of this species were brought over alive to this country, which are now honoured with a place in His Majesty’s collection.

Genus. PALÆORNIS. V. in Zool. Journ.

Species 7—Palæornis torquatus.

Palæornis torquatus. V. in Zool. Journ. vol. II. p. 50.

Psittaca torquata. Briss. IV. 323.

La perruche à collier. Pl. Enl. 551.

Perruche à collier rose. Le Vaill. Hist. des Perr. pl. 22, 23.

This species, whose chief habitat is said to be in India, which is the main resort of the group to which it belongs, appears to have a very wide geographical distribution. It has been found on the coast of Senegal, as well as by the officers of the present expedition in central Africa. The specimen before us is very much mutilated, but enough of the bird remains to enable us to identify the species.

Ordo. RASORES. Ill.

Fam. TETRAONIDÆ. Leach.

Genus. PTEROCLES. Temm.

Species 8.—Pterocles exustus.

Pterocles exustus. Temm. Pl. Col. ♂ 354. ♀ 360.

These birds were found in great numbers in the neighbourhood of Bornou. They frequented the low sand hills which were scantily covered with shrubs. Like most of the family, they were found to be excellent eating.

Genus. FRANCOLINUS. Steph.

Species 9.—Francolinus Clappertoni.

Franc. supra brunneus fulvo-variegatus; subtus fulvo-albidus, maculis longitudinalibus brunneis aspersus; strigâ superciliari subocularique, gulâ, genisque albis, his brunneo-lineatis.

Pileus brunneus, ad frontem nigrescens. Striga nigra interrupta extendit a rictu ad genas. Genarum plumæ, anteriores lineis gracilibus, posteriores maculis ovalibus brunneis in medio notatæ. _Colli, pectoris, abdominis_que plumæ in medio brunneæ marginibus fulvo-albidis, rhachibus pallidis. Dorsi superioris, _scapularium, tectricum_que plumæ pallido-fulvo marginatæ partimque fasciatæ. Dorsi inferioris _uropygii_que plumæ pallidè brunneæ in medio fusco-brunneo leviter notatæ. Remiges exteriores pogonio externo ad basin fulvo-fasciato, pogonio interno ad basin brunneo, versus apicem rufo-fulvo; interiores utrinque fulvo-fasciatæ. Ptila inferiora in medio brunnea, fulvo ad margines notata. Pteromata inferiora in medio fusca, marginibus fulvis. Femorum plumæ fulvæ in medio brunneæ. Rectrices brunneæ fasciis plurimis fulvis undulatæ. Rostrum superné nigrum, infra ad basin rubro tinctum. Pedes, ad frontem nigri, poné rubescentes: tarsis bicalcaratis, calcare superiore obtuso, inferiore acuto. Longitudo corporis, 14 unc.; alæ a carpo ad remigem 5tam, 7⅕; caudæ, 3⅘; rostri, 1¹⁄₂₈; tarsi, 2³⁄₁₀.

This species of Francolin, which appears to us to be hitherto undescribed, was met with in tolerable abundance. It frequented sand hills, covered with low shrubs; and was very difficult to be procured in consequence of the great speed with which it ran. We have named the species after Captain Clapperton, R. N. the intrepid and intelligent companion of Major Denham.

Fam. STRUTHIONIDÆ. V. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. STRUTHIO. Auct.

Species 10.—Struthio camelus.

Struthio camelus. Linn. I. 265.

L’Autruche. Pl. Enl. 457. ♀

The Black Ostrich. Brown’s Illust. of Zool. pl. 16.

Major Denham succeeded in bringing alive to this country four of these noble birds, which are at present in His Majesty’s menagerie at Windsor.

Genus. OTIS. Linn.

Species 11.—Otis Denhami.

O. fusco-brunneo et pallido-fulvo undulatim punctulata, capite brunnescenti-nigro, superciliis genis gulâque albidis, collo rufo, pectore cinereo; pteromatibus remigibus rectricibusque nigris, istis albo-maculatis, his albo-fasciatis; corpore subtus rufescenti-albo.

Capitis pileus parsque superior nuchæ brunnescenti-nigri. Regionis auricularis plumæ elongatæ, decompositæ, cinerascenti-albæ. Colli inferioris plumæ frontales elongatæ. _Dorsi, uropygii, scapularium, ptilorum_que plumæ fusco-brunneæ, pallido-fusco undulatim punctulatæ. Pteromata nigra maculis albis grandibus irregulariter notata. Tectrices inferiores albæ ad marginem alarum fusco-variegatæ. Rectrices nigræ; duæ exteriores pogonio interno fasciis duabus albis, externo tribus, notatæ; cæteræ tribus fasciis ejusdem coloris utrinque notatæ, fasciâ sub-apicali nigro sparsâ: duæ mediæ ad apicem fusco-brunneæ, pallido-fusco undulatim punctulatæ. Irides flavæ. Rostrum corneum. Pedes nigri. Longitudo corporis, 3 ped. 9 unc.; caudæ, 1 pes, 4 unc.; rostri, ad frontem, 3¾ unc., ad rictum, 4½ unc.; tarsi, 7 unc.; digiti medii, ungue incluso, 2¾ unc.; exterioris, 1⁷⁄₀ unc.

African Bustard? Lath. Gen. Hist. Vol. VIII. p. 361.

We have hitherto seen no description that exactly accords with the bird before us. The African Bustard described by Dr. Latham, in the second edition of his “Synopsis,” lately published under the title of “A General History of Birds,” appears to be the most allied to it. But the head of that bird is described as being bare; and such a marked difference prevents us from referring our bird to that species, with which it generally agrees in other points, without some note of doubt. Our specimen is unfortunately very defective: in the quill feathers, and fore parts of the neck, more particularly. These latter are described by Major Denham as singularly beautiful, being elongated and swelling out into a kind of ruff. We are happy to have the opportunity of distinguishing this bird by the name of the enterprising traveller to whose zeal we are indebted for the species itself, and many other valuable acquisitions to science.

This species was met with, in the rainy season, near the larger towns, but not in any great abundance. It frequented moist places, where the herbage was pure and fresh. In such places it was taken in snares by the natives, who used it for food. It was almost invariably met with singly, Major Denham never having observed a pair together more than once. It is singular, also, that it was always found in company with Gazelles whenever a Bustard was observed, it was certain that the Gazelles were not far distant. Major Denham describes the eye of this bird as large and brilliant. In like manner as is recorded of the Gazelle, with which this bird seems to have so close a sympathy, the Arabs are accustomed to compare the eyes of their most beautiful women to those of the Oubara[86].

Ordo. GRALLATORES. Ill.

Fam. GRUIDÆ. V. in Linn. Trans.

Genus. BALEARICA. Briss.

Species 12. Balearica pavonina.

Ardea pavonina. Linn. I. 233.

Balearica. Briss. v. 511.

Oiseau royal. ♀ Id. Ib. pl. 41.

L’oiseau royal. ♂ Pl. Enl. 265.

Crowned African Crane. Edw. t. 192.

Crowned Heron. Lath. Gen. Hist. IX. p. 26.

These birds were found in the neighbourhood of the smaller lakes. They were generally observed in flocks of six or eight. A single pair was sometimes met with, but a single bird scarcely ever.

Genus. PLATALEA. Linn.

Species 13.—Platalea leucorodia.

Platalea leucorodia. Linn. I. 231.

La Spatule. Pl. Enl. 405.

Spatule blanche. Temm. Manuel d’Orn. p. 595.

White Spoonbill. Penn. Brit. Zool. App. t. 9.

These birds were found in the smaller lakes, and in grounds which were overflowed. They were met with in tolerable plenty.

Fam. ARDEIDÆ. Leach.

Genus. ARDEA. Auct.

Species 14.—Ardea Coromandelensis.

Ardea Coromandelensis. Steph, in Sharts Gen. Zool. XI. p. 577.

Ardea russata. Temm. Manuel d’Orn. p. 506.

Ardea affinis? Horsf. Linn. Trans. Vol. XIII. p. 189.

Ardea comata. var. β. Lath. Ind. Orn. 687.

Crabier de la côté de Coromandel. Pl. Enl. 910.

This bird was shot in the neighbourhood of Alph, a town situated in the middle of a swamp, described at page 233 of these travels. They were seen in some abundance in that neighbourhood, and were noticed by Major Denham as remarkable for their beauty and gracefulness.

Species 15.—Ardea melanocephala.

Ard. cinerea; capite cristato, colli parte posteriore lateribusque, regione interhumerali, remigibus, rectricibusque nigris, gulâ collique parte anteriore albis.

Colli inferioris plumæ elongatæ cinerascentes. Dorsi pars anterior inter humeros nigra, posterior saturatè cinerea. Ptila pallidè cinerea. Tectrices inferiores albæ. Rostrum nigrum, mandibulâ inferiore flavescente, apicem versus nigro marginatâ. Pedes nigri. Longitudo corporis, 2 ped. 9 unc.; alæ, 15 unc.; rostri, 4; tarsi, 6.

We feel much hesitation in characterizing the bird before us as a distinct species. In a family like the present, where there is so much variation both in age and sex in the same species, it is almost impossible to decide upon the identity or distinction of species, unless by actual observation of the birds themselves in their native haunts, and in their different ages and states of plumage. On the whole, however, it is perhaps the most eligible plan to keep those species separate which show evident marks of distinction; leaving it to more accurate observation to ascertain whether they may be identical with described species, and differing merely by age, sex, or the variations of plumage according to the different seasons of the year.

The bird before us might, at first sight, be supposed to be the common Ardea cinerea, Linn. But that bird, as far as we have observed, never possesses the entirely black head which distinguishes the specimen before us; nor has it the black on the hind part of the neck, nor on the back between the shoulders. The younger bird of our common species has those parts cinereous which are black in the adult: and the crest and lower feathers of the neck are never so much elongated as in the old bird. The strength of the black markings in Major Denham’s species, moreover, and the developement of the crest, neck, and scapular feathers, prevent us from concluding it to be an immature bird. If we allow it to be adult, it is decidedly distinct from the adult of A. cinerea. We know no other allied species to which we might consider it referable.

These birds were found in great abundance in all the lakes and marshes throughout the route of our travellers. They were met with in company with numberless other species of the family, specimens of which our officers were prevented from preserving, or bringing home, in consequence of the difficulties attending the expedition, to which we have before alluded.

Genus. SCOPUS. Briss.

Species 16.—Scopus umbretta.

Scopus umbretta. Gmel. I. 618.

L’Ombrette du Senegal. Pl. Enl. 796.

The Umbre. Brown’s Illust. of Zool. pl. 35.

Tufted Umbre. Lath. Gen. Hist. Vol. IX. p. 23.

Major Denham informs us, that this bird was very rarely seen. The few he observed were met with in the Mimosa trees.

Genus. IBIS. Lacep.

Species 17—Ibis Æthiopicus.

Tantalus Æthiopicus. Lath. Ind. Orn. 706.

Ibis religiosa. Cuv. Regne Anim. I. 483.

Abou Hannez. Bruce’s Trav. Append. pl. p. 172.

This bird, which is of exceeding interest as being one of the two species of Ibis which were the objects of sacred worship among the Egyptians, was met with by Major Denham on the west borders of the Lake Tchad. He observed them in flocks, and in considerable numbers. Hitherto they have been sparingly seen by travellers, and few specimens have reached our collections.

Genus. CICONIA. Briss.

Species 18.—Ciconia Marabou.

Ciconia Argala. Temm. Pl. Col. 301.

This bird was met with rather plentifully in the neighbourhood of large towns, in company with the Vultures, to the manners of which we have already referred, page 195. Like them, they were protected by the natives, in consideration of the services they performed in clearing away all the offensive substances which were thrown out to them from the towns. In India, we find that the corresponding species, Ardea Argala, Lath., is held in equal estimation for similar services. Major Denham mentions his having frequently been a witness of their voracious and omnivorous habits.

M. Temminck first figured and characterized this African species as distinct from that of India. He has given it the name of Argala, while for the Indian bird, which had already received that name from Dr. Latham, he proposes the name of Marabou. We have ventured to reverse the order of these names; and while we retain for the Indian species the original name conferred on it by Dr. Latham, which, it is to be recollected, is an Indian word, we have assigned the African species the title of Marabou, which, it is equally to be observed, is a word peculiar to Africa.

The specimen brought home by the present expedition appears to be a young bird, and answers to the description given of the young of this species by M. Temminck. The colours are nearly black in the bird before us, which are grey in the adult bird figured by that gentleman. Major Denham mentions his having noticed some birds nearly allied to this species, which were larger, and different in colour, and which he conceived to be distinct. They probably were the adult birds of this species.

Ordo. NATATORES. Ill.

Fam. ANATIDÆ. Leach.

Subfam. ANSERINA. V. in Zool. Journ.

Genus. PLECTROPTERUS. Leach.

Species 19.—Plectropterus Gambensis.

Plectropterus Gambensis. Steph. in Shaw’s Zool. XII. Part 2. p. 7. pl. 36.

Anas Gambensis. Linn. I. 195.

Spur-winged Goose. Lath. Gen. Hist. X. 241.

This bird was found in flocks of great numbers on all the lakes. The flesh was very coarse, and of a fishy taste, and afforded very bad eating.

Species 20.—Plectropterus melanonotus.

Plectropterus melanotos. Steph. in Shaw’s Zool. XII. Part 2. p. 8.

Anser melanonotus. Forst. Zool. Ind. p. 21. t. 11.

Anas melanonotus. Lath. Ind. Orn. 839.

Oye de la côté de Coromandel. Pl. Enl. 937.

Black-backed Goose. Penn. Ind. Zool. p. 12. t. 11.

This species, of which fine specimens of the male and female are preserved in the collection, was met with on the lake Tchad. It was not seen in any abundance, and was found in company with other species of the family. The protuberance on the bill of the male is much more enlarged and prominent than is represented in the “Planches Enluminées.”

Subfam. ANATINA. V. in Zool. Journ.

Genus. ANAS. Auct.

Species 21.—Anas viduata.

Anas viduata. Linn. I. 205.

Canard du Maragnan. Pl. Enl. 808.

Spanish Duck. Penn. Gen. of Birds, p. 65. t. 13.

This species was very common, both on Lake Tchad and on all the smaller lakes. It was excellent eating. Mr. Pennant has described the species as an inhabitant of America and Africa. Linnæus says only, that it is found in the lakes of Carthagena; those, it is supposed, of New Spain. Our bird accords very accurately with his description of the species, and also with the figure quoted above from the “Planches Enluminées.” We have every reason to conclude with Mr. Pennant, that the species inhabits both the Old and New Continent. The bend of the wing exhibits the rudiments of a spur.

Fam. PELECANIDÆ. Leach

Genus. ONOCROTALUS. Briss.

Species 22.—Onocrotalus Brissonii.

Pelicanus Onocrotalus. Linn. I. 215.

Le Pelican. Pl. Enl. 87.

White Pelican. Edw. t. 92.

This well known species has been described to us by Major Denham as very abundant on the borders of Lake Tchad. The genus Onocrotalus was first instituted by M. Brisson; but, according to his custom, he left the present species without any specific name. M. Cuvier, in his “Regne Animal,” acknowledges the genus; but neither has he specifically distinguished the bird. We feel much pleasure in now assigning it a name, in memory of the first characterizer of the group; an ornithologist, whose works cannot be studied without the highest advantage, but whose labours have never as yet been sufficiently appreciated.

Genus. PHALACROCORAX. Briss.

Species 23.—Phalacrocorax pygmæus.

Pelecanus pygmæus. Pall. Reise. II. 712. t. G.

Dwarf Shag. Lath. Gen. Hist. X. 431.

Cormoran pygmée, jun. Temm. Man. d’Orn. p. 901.

This bird, which agrees very accurately with M. Temminck’s description of the young of his Cormoran pygmée, was met with by Major Denham on one of the smaller lakes in central Africa. He describes the species as very rarely occurring.

Genus. PLOTUS. Linn.

Species 24.—Plotus melanogaster.

Plotus melanogaster. Gmel. I. 580.

Anhinga melanogaster. Forst. Zool. Ind. p. 22. t. 12.

Anhinga de Cayenne. Pl. Enl. 959.

Black-bellied Anhinga. Penn. Ind. Zool. p. 13. t. 12.

Black-bellied Darter. Lath. Gen. Hist. X. 451.

This bird was seen but once or twice during the course of the expedition. It was met with on one of the smaller lakes. It seems to have a very extensive geographical distribution, being found in the New World, in the islands of Java and Ceylon, and now in the interior of Africa.

There are remnants of several other species of birds in the collection, consisting chiefly of bills, legs, and wings. Among them we can trace the apparent remains of the Ciconia alba, Briss.; Ardea garzetta, Linn.; different species of the genus Lamprotornis, Temm.; with various others, of which we regret that we cannot venture to give any description. The foregoing twenty-four species are all that we can undertake to determine upon with accuracy.

* * * * *

Classis. REPTILIA. Auct.

Ordo. SAURIENS. Cuv.

Tribus. LACERTIENS. Cuv.

Genus. MONITOR. Cuv.

Species 1.—Monitor Niloticus.

Lacerta Nilotica. Linn. I. 360.

Varanus Dracæna. Merr. Syst. Amph. p. 59.

Tupinambis Niloticus. Daud. Rept. III. 51.

Monitor du Nile, ou Ouaran. Cuv. Reg. Anim. II. 25.

Tribus. CAMELEONIENS. Cuv.

Genus. CHAMÆLEO. Lacép.

Species 2.—Chamæleo vulgaris.

Chamæleo vulgaris. Daud. Rept. IV. 181.

Chamæleo carinatus. Merr. Syst. Amph. p. 162.

Lacerta chamæleon. Linn. I. 364.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 82: Voyage, ii. 20.]

[Footnote 83: Desmarest states, (Ency. Meth. note), that he cannot find any work of Lacépède in which the genus Fennecus is proposed.]

[Footnote 84: Perhaps M. Cuvier was led into this mistake by an error of the pen or press, in M. Desmarest’s translation of Bruce’s description of the animal. Bruce says, “from the snout to the anus, he was about ten inches long;” the translation, “Ce Fennec avoit six pouces de longueur, depuis le bout du nez jusqu’ à l’origine de la queue.” The same mistake occurs in M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire’s quotation of Bruce; but this cannot be a misprint, for the length is not expressed by the word six, but by the Arabic cypher 6.]

[Footnote 85: Taken as the stuffed specimen stands.]

[Footnote 86: Oubara seems to be a general name for the Bustards in Africa. A smaller species than the present, of that country, has received this name as a specific title from M. Gmelin.]

No. XXII.

BOTANICAL APPENDIX.

BY ROBERT BROWN, ESQ. F.R.SS. L. & E., F.L.S.

The Herbarium formed during the expedition, chiefly by the late Dr. Oudney, contains specimens, more or less perfect, of about three hundred species. Of these one hundred belong to the vicinity of Tripoli; fifty were collected in the route from Tripoli to Mourzuk, thirty-two in Fezzan, thirty-three on the journey from Mourzuk to Kouka, seventy-seven in Bornou, and sixteen in Haussa or Soudan.

These materials are too inconsiderable to enable us to judge correctly of the vegetable productions of any of the countries visited by the mission, and especially of the more interesting regions, Bornou and Soudan.

For the limited extent of the herbarium, the imperfect state of many of the specimens, and the very scanty information to be found respecting them, either in the herbarium itself, or in the Journal of the collector, it is unfortunately not difficult to account.

Dr. Oudney was sufficiently versed in Botany, to have formed collections much more extensive and instructive, had the advancement of natural history been the principal purpose of his mission. His time and attention, however, were chiefly occupied by the more important objects of the expedition: as a botanist he had no assistant; and the state of his health during his residence in Bornou must, in a great degree, have rendered him unable to collect or observe the natural productions of that country.

For the few specimens belonging to Soudan, we are indebted to Captain Clapperton, who, after the death of Dr. Oudney, endeavoured to preserve the more striking and useful plants which he met with. His collection was originally more considerable; but before it reached England, many of the specimens were entirely destroyed. It still includes several of the medicinal plants of the natives; but these being without either flowers or fruit, cannot be determined.

In the whole herbarium, the number of undescribed species hardly equals twenty; and among these not one new genus is found.

The plants belonging to the vicinity of Tripoli were sent to me by Dr. Oudney, before his departure for Fezzan. This part of the collection, amounting to one hundred species, was merely divided into those of the immediate neighbourhood of Tripoli, and those from the mountains of Tarhona and Imsalata.

It exceeds in extent the herbarium formed by Mr. Ritchie near Tripoli, and on the Gharian hills, which, however, though containing only fifty-nine species, includes twenty-seven not in Dr. Oudney’s herbarium.

The specimens in Mr. Ritchie’s collection are carefully preserved, the particular places of growth in most cases given, and observations added on the structure of a few; sufficient at least to prove, that much information on the vegetation of the countries he visited might have been expected from that ill-fated traveller.

In these two collections united, hardly more than five species are contained not already published in the works that have appeared on the botany of North Africa; particularly in the Flora Atlantica of M. Desfontaines, in the Flore d’Egypte of M. Delile, and in the Floræ Libycæ Specimen of Professor Viviani, formed from the herbarium of the traveller Della Cella.

The plants collected in the Great Desert and its oases, between Tripoli and the northern confines of Bornou, and which somewhat exceed a hundred, are, with about eight or ten exceptions, also to be found in the works now mentioned. And among those of Bornou and Soudan, which fall short of one hundred, very few species occur not already known as natives of other parts of Equinoctial Africa.

A complete catalogue of the herbarium, such as I have now described it, even if the number and condition of the specimens admitted of its being satisfactorily given, would be of but little importance, with reference to the geography of plants. Catalogues of such collections, if drawn up hastily, and from imperfect materials, as must here have been the case, are indeed calculated rather to injure than advance this department of the science, which is still in its infancy, and whose progress entirely depends on the scrupulous accuracy of its statements. To produce confidence in these statements, and in the deductions founded on them, it should in every case distinctly appear, that in establishing the identity of the species enumerated, due attention has been paid to the original authorities on which they depend, and, wherever it is possible, a comparison actually made with authentic specimens.

In the account which I am now to give of the present collection, I shall confine myself to a slight notice of the remarkable known plants it contains, to characters or short descriptions of the more interesting new species, and to some observations on such of the plants as, though already published, have either been referred to genera to which they appear to me not to belong, or whose characters require essential alteration.

In proceeding on this plan, I shall adopt the order followed in the botanical appendix to Captain Tuckey’s Expedition to the River Congo. And as there will seldom be room for remarks on the geographical distribution of the species I have to notice, I shall chiefly endeavour to make my observations respecting them of some interest to systematic botanists.

CRUCIFERÆ. Fifteen species belonging to this family exist in the collection, one of which only appears to be undescribed, and of this the specimens are so imperfect, that its genus cannot with certainty be determined. Of those already published, however, the generic characters of several require material alterations, some of which suggest observations relative to the structure and arrangement of the natural order.

SAVIGNYA ÆGYPTIACA, (De Cand. Syst. 2. p. 283,) is the first of these. It was observed near Bonjem, by Dr. Oudney, whose specimens slightly differ from those which I have received from M. Delile, by whom this plant was discovered near the pyramid of Saqqârah, and who has well figured and described it in his Flore d’Egypte, under the name of Lunaria parviflora. By this name it is also published by M. Desvaux. Professor Viviani, in giving an account of his Lunaria libyca, a plant which I shall presently have occasion to notice more particularly, has remarked[87], that Savignya of De Candolle possesses no characters sufficient to distinguish it as a genus from Lunaria; and still more recently, Professor Sprengel has referred our plant to Farsetia[88]. The genus Savignya, however, will no doubt be ultimately established, though not on the grounds on which it was originally constituted; for the umbilical cords certainly adhere to the partition, the silicule, which is never absolutely sessile, is distinctly pedicellated in Dr. Oudney’s specimens, the valves are not flat, and the cotyledons are decidedly conduplicate. In describing the cotyledons of his plant as accumbent, M. De Candolle has probably relied on the external characters of the seed, chiefly on its great compression, its broad margin or wing, and on the whole of the radicle being visible through the integuments. It would appear, therefore, that the true character of the cotyledons of Savignya has been overlooked, chiefly from its existing in the greatest possible degree. To include this degree of folding, in which the margins are closely approximated, and the radicle consequently entirely exposed, a definition of conduplicate cotyledons somewhat different from that proposed in the “Systema Naturale” becomes necessary. I may here also observe, that the terms Pleurorhizæ and Notorhizæ, employed by M. De Candolle, to express the two principal modifications of cotyledons in Cruciferæ, appear to me so far objectionable, as they may seem to imply that in the embryo of this family, the position of the radicle is variable, and that of the cotyledons fixed. It is at least deserving of notice, that the reverse of this is the fact; though it is certainly not necessary to change these terms, which are now generally received.

On the subject of Savignya, two questions naturally present themselves. In the first place: Is this genus, solely on account of its conduplicate cotyledons, to be removed from Alyssineæ, where it has hitherto been placed, to Velleæ, its affinity with which has never been suspected, and to whose genera it bears very little external resemblance? Secondly: In dividing Cruciferæ into natural sections, are we, with M. De Candolle, to expect in each of these subdivisions an absolute uniformity in the state of the cotyledons? As far as relates to the accumbent and flatly incumbent states, at least, I have no hesitation in answering the latter question in the negative; and I believe that in one case, namely Hutchinsia, these modifications are not even of generic importance; for it will hardly be proposed to separate H. alpina from petræa, solely on that ground. I carried this opinion farther than I am at present disposed to do, in the second edition of Mr. Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis, where I united in the genus Cakile plants which I then knew to differ from each other, in having accumbent and conduplicate cotyledons; and I included Capsella bursa pastoris in the genus Thlaspi, although I was aware, both from my own observations, and from Schkuhr’s excellent figure[89], that its cotyledons were incumbent. I am at present, however, inclined to adopt the subdivision of both these genera, as proposed by several authors, and received by M. De Candolle; but to this subdivision the author of the Systema Naturale must have been determined on other grounds than those referred to; for in these four genera, in which the three principal modifications of cotyledons occur, he has taken their uniformity for granted.

As to the place of Savignya in the natural family, I believe, on considering the whole of its structure and habit, that it ought to be removed from Alyssineæ to a subdivision of the order that may be called Brassiceæ, but which is much more extensive than the tribe so named by M. De Candolle; including all the genera at present known with conduplicate cotyledons, as well as some others, in which these parts are differently modified.

There are two points in the structure of Savignya, that deserve particular notice. I have described the æstivation of the calyx as valvular; a mode not before remarked in this family, though existing also in Ricotia. In the latter genus, however, the apices of the sepals are perhaps slightly imbricate, which I cannot perceive them to be in Savignya.

The radicle is described by M. De Candolle as superior, with relation to the cotyledons. I am not sure that this is the best manner of expressing the fact of its being horizontal, or exactly centrifugal, the cotyledons having the same direction. This position of the seed is acquired only after fecundation; for at an earlier period the foramen of the testa, the point infallibly indicating the place of the future radicle, is ascendant. From the horizontal position of the radicle in this and some other genera, especially Farsetia, we may readily pass to its direction in Biscutella, where I have termed it descendant; a character which I introduced to distinguish that genus from Cremolobus. But in Biscutella the embryo, with reference to its usual direction in the family, is not really inverted, the radicle being still placed above the umbilicus. On the contrary, in Cremolobeæ, a natural tribe belonging to South America, and consisting of Cremolobus and Menonvillea, though the embryo at first sight seems to agree in direction with the order generally, both radicle and cotyledons being ascendant, it is, in the same sense, not only inverted, but the seed must also be considered as resupinate: for the radicle is seated below the umbilicus, and also occupies the inner side of the seed, or that next the placenta,—peculiarities which, taken together, constitute the character of the tribe here proposed. It appears to me singular that M. De Candolle, while he describes the embryo of these two genera as having the usual structure of the order, should consider that of Iberis, in which I can find no peculiarity, as deviating from that structure[90].

LUNARIA LIBYCA of Viviani[91] is the second plant of Cruciferæ, on which I have some observations to offer. This species was described and figured, by the author here quoted, in 1824, from specimens collected in 1817 by Della Cella. The specimens in the herbarium were found near Tripoli, where the plant had also been observed in 1819 by Mr. Ritchie, who referred it to Lunaria, and remarked that the calyx was persistent. Professor Sprengel, in his Systema Vegetabilium, considers it a species of Farsetia.

That this plant ought not to be associated either with the original species of Lunaria, or with Savignya, as now constituted, is sufficiently evident. And if it is to be included in Farsetia, it can only be on the grounds of its having a sessile silicule, with compressed valves, an indefinite number of seeds in each cell, and accumbent cotyledons. But in these respects it accords equally with Meniocus, a genus proposed by M. Desvaux, and with some hesitation received by M. De Candolle, and with Schivereckia of Andrzejowski, which he has also adopted. It does not, however, agree with either of those genera in habit, and it is easily distinguished from both by its simple filaments and other characters, which I shall notice hereafter. Is this plant, then, sui generis? ought it to be united with Alyssum, the character of that genus being modified to receive it? or does not Alyssum require subdivision, and may not our plant be referred to one of the genera so formed? A brief result of the examination of these questions, so far as they are connected with the subject under consideration, will be found annexed to the character which is given of the genus formed by the union of Lunaria libyca with Alyssum maritimum, a plant also in the collection, from the neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Alyssum maritimum, which is described both as an Alyssum and as a Clypeola by Linnæus, is the Konig of Adanson, who founded his generic distinction on the monospermous cells and supposed want of glands of the receptacle; and M. Desvaux, admitting Adanson’s genus, has named it Lobularia. In the second edition of Hortus Kewensis I included this plant in Alyssum, which M. De Candolle has also done in his great work.

For the genus here proposed I shall adopt Adanson’s name, altering only the termination, and wishing it to be considered as commemorating the important services rendered to botany by my friend Mr. Konig, of the British Museum[92]. In comparing these two species of Koniga, their agreement is very striking in habit, in leaves, in the closely pressed bipartite pubescence, in the calyx, petals, stamina, and stigma. They correspond also in some other points, less obvious but equally important, which I shall separately notice. The first of these is in having eight glands on the receptacle; a character peculiar, I believe, to these plants, and which first suggested the generic name Octadenia. The glands in Alyssum maritimum were entirely overlooked by Adanson, are not noticed by M. Desvaux, and M. De Candolle has described only the four that subtend the longer stamina. These certainly are much more conspicuous than the remaining four, which, however, occupy the place of the only glands existing in several of the most nearly related genera.

The number and position of the glands in this genus give some support, perhaps, to the hypothesis which I have formerly advanced, of the divisions of an hypogynous disk being in most cases formed of abortive filaments; an opinion more strikingly confirmed, however, in this family of plants, by their form and texture in Alyssum calycinum, and minimum.

The second point in which the two species of Koniga agree is in the structure of the septum. On this, which I consider as a new source of character in Cruciferæ, I shall offer some remarks in speaking of Farsetia.

The third point of agreement is the adhesion of the funiculi umbilicales to the septum. This adhesion, though really existing, is not very obvious in the monospermous cells of Koniga maritima; but in the supposed variety of this species from Teneriffe, in which the cells are occasionally dispermous, it is manifest, and is very remarkable in all states of Koniga libyca.

I first introduced this adhesion of the funiculi to the septum, as a generic character, in distinguishing Petrocallis from Draba. It has since been advantageously employed in the character of Lunaria by M. de Candolle, who, however, supposes this structure of much rarer occurrence in Cruciferæ than it really is. According to my observations, it is neither unfrequent, nor always of generic importance. Thus, I find it to exist in some species only of Arabis, namely A. Turrita, pendula, and canadensis, and hence I did not introduce it into my generic character of Parrya, though I have noticed it in my description of the species.

The principal difference existing between these two species of Koniga is that the cells of the ovarium and silicula of K. maritima are monospermous, while those of libyca are polyspermous, the number being variable, apparently indefinite, but not exceeding six. There are, however, other instances in this family, in which the mere difference between definite and indefinite number of seeds is of specific importance only, as in Draba and Meniocus, in each of which a species exists with dispermous cells; and the objection arising from the apparently still greater difference between unity and indefinite number in the two species of Koniga is removed by a supposed third species or variety of K. maritima, in which two seeds are occasionally produced in each cell. It may even be observed, that from unity to the indefinite number in this case, where the ovula in the different cells are alternate, the transition is perhaps more easy than from the binary to the indefinite, in cases where, as in Alyssum properly so called, the ovula are placed opposite in the different cells, and are in the same cell equidistant from its apex; this symmetry, probably, admitting of addition only by fours.

The next genus of Cruciferæ to be noticed is FARSETIA, a fragment of the original species of which is in the collection. There are also several specimens of a plant, found in the desert, supposed to be new, and which, though without flowers, and considerably different in the form of its stigma, I am inclined, from the resemblance in habit, in pubescence, in silicula, in seeds, and especially from the exact similarity in the structure of the septum, to refer to the same genus[93].

As the introduction of the structure of the dissepiment into the generic characters of Cruciferæ is now proposed for the first time, and as I believe that its texture and appearance should always be attended to in constituting genera in this family of plants, I shall here offer a few remarks respecting it.

According to the particular view which I briefly but distinctly published in 1818, and which M. de Candolle first adopted in 1821, of the composition of the pistillum in Cruciferæ[94], the dissepiment in this family is necessarily formed of two lamellæ, derived from the parietes of the fruit. These lamellæ are in many cases easily separable, and where their union is more intimate, their existence is still evident from the want of correspondence, and consequent decussation, of their areolæ. The lamellæ, which are usually very thin and transparent, have their surface divided into areolæ, in different genera of very different forms, some of which may, with sufficient clearness, be described. In many cases no other appearance exists; in some, however, the axis of the septum resembles either a single nerve, or two distinct parallel nerves; and from this axis, whether formed of one or two nerves, tubes having the appearance and ramification of the veins of a leaf, and which generally terminate within the margin, not unfrequently proceed. This is remarkably the case in Farsetia, as I here propose to limit that genus; the central vessels in both its species being closely approximated, so as to form a single cord, extending from the apex to the base of the septum, and the veins being numerous and uncommonly distinct. Approaches more or less manifest to this structure of Farsetia exist in several other genera, as in Parrya, Savignya, and Koniga. But in this last mentioned genus the nerve, which originates, as in all cases, at the apex, hardly extends, even in the polyspermous species, beyond the middle of the septum, and the veins, which are much less distinct, are descendent.

As far as my observations on this subject at present extend, I expect, with great confidence, uniformity in the structure of the septum of strictly natural genera, and in many cases, though certainly not in all, I have found a resemblance in this respect in more extensive groups. Thus Draba, Arabis, and Aubrietia, agree in having amorphous areolæ, bounded by flexuose tubes or lines; while Alyssum, Berteroa, and Fibigia, have narrow linear areolæ, bounded by parallel or slightly arched lines. Capsella bursa differs from Thlaspi and Æthionema, as Draba from Alyssum, and agrees with Lepidium procumbens, Linn. improperly referred to Hutchinsia, and which equally has incumbent cotyledons. Cochlearia differs in like manner from Kernera. And numerous other examples of the same agreement in nearly related plants, and of differences where the usual sources of distinction are less available, might be noticed.

HESPERIS NITENS of Viviani is sparingly in the herbarium, both in flower and fruit. The seeds, though not ripe, are sufficiently advanced to show that the direction of the cotyledons is in this stage accumbent; and, as I have found in Cruciferæ generally that the ultimate agrees with the early state of cotyledons, I conclude they are likewise accumbent in the ripe seed. The plant is also abundantly different from Hesperis in other respects, and does not appear to be referrible to any genus yet published. This new genus[95] I have dedicated to the memory of Dr. Oudney, who found the present species in many of the wadeys between Tripoli and Mourzuk, and remarks that camels and mules eat it.

HESPERIS RAMOSISSIMA, which is also in the herbarium, was found in Fezzan. This plant differs in aspect from most of the other species of Hesperis, approaching in some points to Malcomia, in others to Mathiola; and as its cotyledons are very obliquely incumbent, it may form a section or subgenus, with a name, Hesperis (Plagiloba) ramosissima, indicating that character.

CAPPARIDEÆ, of which eight species occur in the collection, is the family next to be noticed. I consider this order as belonging to the same natural class with Cruciferæ; and that this class includes also Resedaceæ, Papaveraceæ, and Fumariaceæ.

M. de Candolle, in defining Capparideæ, appears to regard the ovarium as having in all cases only two placentæ, and therefore formed of two pistilla or carpella. But to this, which is certainly the more usual number, there are many exceptions. These exceptions occur chiefly in the genus Capparis, which, as it is at present constituted, includes species differing from each other in having an ovarium with from two to eight placentæ, and, consequently, composed of an equal number of pistilla. Capparis spinosa is the most decided instance of the increased number of placentæ, and this, as well as some other nearly related species, are also remarkable in having septa subdividing the placentæ, and uniting in the centre of the compound ovarium.

In the herbarium there are three species of the genus Cleome. Two of these, C. pentaphylla and arabica, are in many respects well known plants; the third I believe to be an undescribed species, but nearly related to monophylla.

If the very natural group, formed by the Linnæan genus Cleome, is not to be preserved entire, its subdivision must be carried much farther, and established on other grounds, than has been done by M. de Candolle, whose genera and sections appear to me to have been equally founded on partial considerations. Thus, his Polanisia, uniting all the Cleomes whose stamina exceed six, contains in its first section, in addition to the species from which the genus was formed, at least two sets of plants, having very little affinity either with each other, or with the original species, whose only congener is placed in a second section.

Gynandropsis also consists of two groups not very intimately connected: the first is composed of species belonging to South America, and having the usual æstivation of the family: the second, of which C. pentaphylla may be taken as the type, is chiefly African, and is readily distinguished by its very different æstivation,—the great peculiarity of which consists in the petals not covering the stamina at any period. To this mode of æstivation of petals, which has never before been noticed, though it equally exists in Crateva and in Resedaceæ, I shall apply the term aperta. It is constantly conjoined, and, perhaps, necessarily connected with the early opening of the calyx, whose segments are originally connivent and slightly imbricate: for it may here be remarked, that in all the modifications of what I have termed imbricate æstivation of petals, they are, I believe, in the very early stage in like manner erect, and the sexual organs equally exposed.

If the expediency of preserving the genus Cleome entire were admitted, a question which I do not pretend at present to decide, it would still be of the greatest importance to arrange its numerous species according to their affinities, and carefully to distinguish the subordinate groups that compose it. To such inferior groups, whether termed subgenera or sections, names, in fact, have been of late years very generally assigned, both by zoologists and botanists.

It has not yet been proposed, however, that these subgeneric names should form an essential part of the name of the species; although, by employing them in this manner, while the principal groups would be kept in view, their subdivision would be carried to the same extent, and the subordinate groups as well expressed as if they had been actually separated into distinct genera.

The adoption of this method, which would not materially disturb names already existing, would probably lead to a greater consistency in the formation of genera, with reference to the natural orders of which they are subdivisions. In this way also the co-operation of two classes of naturalists, at present opposed to each other on the question of the construction of genera, might to a certain extent be expected, and greater uniformity in nomenclature consequently secured.

These advantages appear to me so important, that some expedient for obtaining them will, I am persuaded, at no distant period, be generally adopted.

In favour of the present plan it may be remarked, that it is analogous to the method followed by the Romans in the construction of the names of persons, by which not only the original family, but the particular branch of that family to which the individual belonged was expressed. Thus the generic name corresponds with the nomen (Cornelius), the name of the section with the cognomen (Scipio), and that of the species with the prænomen (Publius).

Without attempting at present to obviate the objections to which the proposed innovation is no doubt liable, I shall proceed to apply it to Cleome pentaphylla. According to my view the genus Cleome would include Gynandropsis, a name which, as that of a section, may be continued to those species of M. de Candolle’s genus belonging to equinoctial America, and having the common æstivation of the family: while Gymnogonia, derived from its remarkable æstivation, may be employed for the section that includes C. pentaphylla, of which the name might be given in the following manner:—

CLEOME (GYMNOGONIA) PENTAPHYLLA. This plant, the earliest known species of Cleome, and that on which the genus was chiefly constituted, was found in Bornou. The species is regarded by M. de Candolle as a native of the West India islands, and he doubts whether it may not also belong to Egypt and India. On the other hand I consider it a native of Africa and India, and am not satisfied with the evidence of its being also indigenous to the American islands, where, though now very common, it has probably been introduced by the negroes, who use it both as a potherb and in medicine. It is not unlikely that M. de Candolle, in forming his opinion of the original country of this plant, has been in part determined by finding several species of his Gynandropsis decidedly and exclusively natives of the new continent. But if I am correct in separating these species from the section to which Cleome (Gymnogonia) pentaphylla belongs, this argument, which I have formerly applied to analogous cases[96], would be clearly in favour of the opinion I have here advanced; those species of the section with which I am acquainted being undoubtedly natives of Africa or of India.

CLEOME (SILIQUARIA) ARABICA, (Linn. sp. pl. ed. 2. p. 939. De. Cand. prodr. 1. p. 240), a supposed variety of which was found both in the neighbourhood of Tripoli and in Soudan, belongs to another subdivision of the genus, equally natural, and readily distinguishable. The species of this subdivision are included in M. De Candolle’s second section of Cleome, but are there associated with many other plants, to which they have very little affinity.

All the species of Cleome Siliquaria are indigenous to North Africa and Middle Asia, except violacea, which is a native of Portugal. Cleome deflexa of M. De Candolle (prodr. 1. p. 240.), founded on specimens in Mr. Lambert’s herbarium, which were sent by Don Joseph Pavon as belonging to Peru, seems to present a remarkable exception to this geographical distribution of the section. But on examining these specimens I find them absolutely identical with some states of violacea. I think it probable, therefore, either that they are erroneously stated to have come from Peru, or that this species may have been there introduced from European seeds.

CADABA FARINOSA (Forsk. Arab. p. 68. De Cand. prodr. 1. p. 244) is in the herbarium from Bornou. The specimen is pentandrous, and in other respects agrees with all those which I have seen from Senegal, and with Strœmia farinosa of my catalogue of Abyssinian plants, collected by Mr. Salt, and published in his travels. M. De Candolle, who had an opportunity of examining this Abyssinian plant, refers it to his C. dubia, a species established on specimens found in Senegal, and said to differ from farinosa, slightly in the form of the leaves, and in being tetrandrous. Of the plant from Abyssinia I have seen only two expanded flowers, one of which is decidedly pentandrous, the other apparently tetrandrous. Mr. Salt, however, from an examination of recent specimens, states it to be pentandrous. It is probably, therefore, not different from C. farinosa of Forskal, whose specimens M. De Candolle has not seen. And as the form of leaves is variable in the specimens from Senegal, and not elliptical, but between oval and oblong, in those of Abyssinia, C. dubia is probably identical with, or a variety merely of farinosa, as M. De Candolle himself seems to suspect.

CRATEVA ADANSONII (De Cand. prodr. 1. p. 243) is in the collection from Bornou. This species is established by M. De Candolle upon a specimen in M. de Jussieu’s herbarium, found in Senegal by Adanson, and is supposed to differ from all the other species in having its foliola equal at the base. I have examined the specimen in M. de Jussieu’s herbarium, in which, however, the leaves not being fully developed, I was unable to satisfy myself respecting their form. But in a specimen, also from Senegal, which I received from M. Desfontaines, the lateral foliola, though having manifestly unequal sides, are but slightly unequal at the base, and the inequality consists in a somewhat greater decurrence of the lamina on the anterior or inner margin of the footstalk. As well as can be determined, in very young leaves, this is also the case in the specimen from Bornou; and it is manifestly so in my specimen of C. læta, which appears to belong to the same species.

Crateva læta was founded by M. De Candolle on a plant from Senegal, communicated by M. Gay, from whom I also received a specimen in 1824, with the remark, that it was not different from C. Adansonii. In that specimen the flowers are male with an imperfect pistillum; in the plant from Bornou they are hermaphrodite, with elongated filaments; and in the specimen received from M. Desfontaines they are also hermaphrodite, but the stamina, though apparently perfect, are fewer in number and shorter than the stipes of the ovarium. I have observed, however, the flowers to be in like manner polygamous in some other species of Crateva, belonging both to India and America, a fact which materially lessens the dependence to be placed on characters taken from the number and length of the stamina in this genus.

Crateva Adansonii, it would appear, then, is the only known species of the African continent, for C. fragrans does not belong to the genus. And it will be difficult to distinguish this African Crateva from a plant which seems to be the most general species of India; except that in the latter, as in all the other species of the genus, the inequality of the lateral foliola, which is also more marked, consists in the greater decurrence of the lamina being on the outer or posterior margin of the footstalk. This Indian species, which may be named C. Roxburghii, is the Capparis trifoliata of Dr. Roxburgh’s manuscripts, but not Niirvala of Hortus Malabaricus (vol. 3. p. 49. t. 42), as he considers it. I have little doubt of its being also the plant described as C. Tapia, by Vahl, (symb. 3. p. 61.) his specific character well according with it, and not applying, as far as relates to the petals, to any known species of America. But as this character is adopted by Sir James Smith (in Rees’s Cyclop.), it may likewise be C. Tapia of the Linnæan herbarium; a conjecture the more probable as Linnæus has distinguished his Tapia by its ovate petals from gynandra, in which they are said to be lanceolate (Sp. pl. ed. 2. p. 637). This celebrated herbarium, however, is here of no authority, for Linnæus was never in possession of sufficient materials to enable him to understand either the structure and limits of the genus Crateva, or the distinctions of its species; and the specific name in question, under which he originally included all the species of the genus, ought surely to be applied to an American plant, at least, and if possible to that of Piso, with whom it originated. It is hardly to be supposed that the plant intended by Piso can now with certainty be determined; the only species from Brazil, however, with which I am acquainted, well accords with his figure and short description. This Brazilian species is readily distinguishable both from C. Adansonii and Roxburghii, by the form of its petals, which, as in all the other American species, are narrow-oblong or lanceolate; and from C. gynandra by the shortness of its stipes genitalium, or torus.

Crateva Tapia so constituted, is, on the authority of a fragment communicated by Professor Schrader, the Cleome arborea of that author, (in Gœtt. Anzeig. 1821, p. 707. De Cand. Prodr. 1. p. 242.); nor is there any thing in the character of C. acuminata of De Candolle (Prodr. 1. p. 243) which does not well apply to our plant.

C. Tapia, as given by M. De Candolle (op. cit.), is characterized chiefly on the authority of Plumier’s figure, in the accuracy of which, either as to the number or length of stamina, it is difficult to believe, especially when we find it also representing the petals inserted by pairs on the two upper sinuses of the calyx.

The genus Crateva agrees, as I have already stated, in the remarkable æstivation of its flower with Cleome Gymnogonia, by which character, along with that of its fruit, it is readily distinguished from every other genus of the order. Although this character of its æstivation has never before been remarked, yet all the species, referred to Crateva by M. De Candolle, really belong to it, except C. fragrans, which, with some other plants from the same continent, forms a very distinct genus, that I shall name RITCHIEA, in memory of the African traveller, whose botanical merits have been already noticed.

CAPPARIS SODADA nob. Sodada decidua, Forsk. Arab. p. 81. Delile, Flore d’Egypte, p. 74. tab. 26. De Cand. Prodr. 1. p. 245.

The specimen in the herbarium is marked by Dr. Oudney as belonging to a tree common on the boundaries of Bornou. It is probably the Suag, mentioned in his journal, observed first at Aghedem, and said to be “a tetrandrous plant having a small drupa, which is in great request in Bornou and Soudan, for removing sterility in females: it is sweetish and hot to the taste, approaching to Sisymbrium Nasturtium;” and that “in passing the plant a heavy narcotic smell is always perceived.”

I have here united Sodada with Capparis, not being able to find differences sufficient to authorise its separation even from the first section of that genus, as given by De Candolle.

Forskal describes his plant as octandrous, and M. De Candolle has adopted this number in his generic character. M. Delile (op. cit.), however, admits that the stamina vary from eight to fifteen; and, in the specimen which I received from M. Jomard, I have found from fourteen to sixteen. But were the number of stamina even constantly eight, this alone would not justify its separation from Capparis, several octandrous species of which, belonging to the same section, are already known.

Another species of Capparis, also from Bornou, exists in the herbarium. It appears to be undescribed, and to belong to M. De Candolle’s first section of the genus; but the specimen is too imperfect to be satisfactorily determined.

Both these species have aculei stipulares, and it may here be remarked that all the plants belonging either to Capparis, or to any of the genera of the order whose fruit is a berry, in which these aculei are found, are indigenous either to Asia, Africa, or Europe; while all the aculeated Cleomes, with the exception of perhaps a single African species, are natives of equinoxial America.

MÆRUA RIGIDA. This plant, of which flowering specimens were collected at Aghedem, certainly belongs to Forskal’s genus Mærua, adopted by Vahl and De Candolle; and I believe it to be a species distinct from the three already published. It is very nearly related, however, to a fourth species (M. Senegalensis nob.), of which I received a specimen from M. Desfontaines. M. De Candolle has placed the genus Mærua at the end of Capparideæ, between which and Passifloreæ he considers it intermediate. This view of its relation to these two orders I cannot adopt. To me it appears truly a Capparidea, having very little affinity with Passifloreæ, to which it seems to approach in one point only, namely, the corona of the calyx. But of a similar corona rudiments exist in several other African Capparideæ, and from some of these the genus Mærua is with difficulty distinguished[97].

RESEDACEÆ. The herbarium contains two species of Reseda. The specimens of one of these are too imperfect to be determined. The other is probably undescribed, though very nearly related to R. suffruticulosa, and undata of Linnæus. This supposed new species (Reseda propinqua) was found near Tripoli by Mr. Ritchie, and between Tripoli and Mourzuk by Dr. Oudney. It is remarkable in having the ungues of all the petals simple; that is, neither dilated, thickened, nor having any process or appendage at the point of union with the trifid lamina, into which they gradually pass. We have here therefore a species of Reseda with petals not different in any respect from those of many other families of plants; and, although this is an exception to their usual structure in the genus, I shall endeavour to show that all the deviations existing, however complex in appearance, are reducible to this more simple state of the organ.

RESEDACEÆ, consisting of Reseda, divisible into sections or subgenera, and Ochradenus, which may perhaps be regarded as only one of these subdivisions, I consider very nearly related to Capparideæ, and as forming part of the same natural class. It differs, in the variable number of the parts of its floral envelopes, from the other orders of the class, in which the quaternary or binary division is without exception; and it is especially remarkable in having the ovarium open even in its earliest state. From Cruciferæ and Capparideæ, the two families of the class to which they most nearly approach, Resedaceæ also differ in the apparent relation of the stigmata to the placentæ. The stigmata in this order terminate the lobes of the pistillum, and as these lobes are open sterile portions of the modified leaves, from the union of which in the undivided part I suppose the compound ovarium to originate, they necessarily alternate with the placentæ. I have generally found, however, the upper part of each placenta covered by a fleshy or fungous process, which is connected with the margins of the lobes, and therefore with the stigmata, and is probably essential to the fecundation of the ovula. The singular apparent transposition of the placentæ in Sesamoides of Tournefort, so well described by M. Tristan in his ingenious Memoir on the Affinities of Reseda[98], appears to me necessarily connected with the extreme shortness of the undivided base of the ovarium; for in supposing this base to be elongated, the placentæ would become parietal, and the ovula, which are actually resupinate, would assume the direction usual in the order.

M. De Jussieu, in his Genera Plantarum, has included Reseda in Capparideæ, and to this determination I believe he still adheres. M. Tristan, in the memoir referred to, is inclined to separate it as a family intermediate between Passifloreæ and Cistineæ, but more nearly approaching to the latter. M. De Candolle, who first distinguished Reseda as an order under the name here adopted, in 1819[99] placed it between Polygaleæ and Droseraceæ, and consequently at no great distance from Capparideæ. He must, since, however, have materially altered his opinion respecting it; for the order Resedaceæ is not included in the first or second part of his Prodromus, and I can find no observation respecting it in these two volumes. It is probable, therefore, that he may either intend to place it near Passifloreæ, as suggested by M. Tristan, or, which is more likely, that he has adopted the hypothesis lately advanced, and ingeniously supported, by Mr. Lindley, respecting its structure and affinities[100].

According to this hypothesis, in Reseda the calyx of authors is an involucrum, its petals neutral flowers, and the disk or nectary becomes the calyx of a fertile floret in the centre: and, as a deduction from this view of its structure, the genus has been placed near Euphorbiaceæ.

The points in the structure of Reseda, which appear to have led Mr. Lindley to this hypothesis, are the presence and appearance of the hypogynous disk, the anomalous structure of the petals, and the singular æstivation of the flower; but it is no slight confirmation of the correctness of M. de Jussieu’s opinion, that all these anomalies occur in a greater or less degree in Capparideæ, and have been found united in no other family of plants. The remarkable æstivation of Reseda equally exists in Crateva, and in more than one subdivision of the genus Cleome; the hypogynous disk is developed in as great a degree in several Capparideæ; and an approximation to the same kind of irregularity in the petals occurs in two sections of Cleome.

The analogical argument alone then might, perhaps, be regarded as conclusive against the hypothesis. But the question, as far as relates to the petals, and consequently to the supposed composition of the flower, may be decided still more satisfactorily on other grounds. Both M.M. Tristan and Lindley regard the upper divided membranaceous part of the petal as an appendage to the lower, which is generally fleshy. On the other hand, I consider the anomaly to consist in the thickening, dilatation, and inner process of the lower portion, and that all these deviations from ordinary structure are changes which take place after the original formation of the petal. To establish these points, and consequently to prove that the parts in question are simple petals, and neither made up of two cohering envelopes, as M. Tristan supposes, nor of a calyx and abortive stamina, according to M. Lindley’s hypothesis, I shall describe their gradual development, as I have observed it in the common Mignonette; a plant in which all the anomalies that have led to this hypothesis exist in a very great degree.

The flower-bud of Reseda odorata, when it first becomes visible, has the divisions of its calyx slightly imbricate and entirely enclosing the other parts. In this stage the unguis of each of the two upper petals is extremely short, not broader than the base of the lamina, and is perfectly simple; there being no rudiment of the inner process so remarkable in the fully expanded flower. The lamina at the same period may be termed palmato-pinnatifid, its divisions are all in the same plane, the terminating or middle segment is whitish or opake, and several times longer than the lateral segments, which are semitransparent.

Of the remaining four petals, the two middle are dimidiato-pinnatifid, their lateral segments existing only on the upper side; and the two lower are undivided, being reduced to the middle segment or simple lamina. All the petals are erect, and do not cover the stamina in the slightest degree, either in this or in any other stage. The disk is hardly visible. The Antheræ are longer than their filaments, of a pale-green colour; those on the upper or posterior side of the flower being manifestly larger, and slightly tinged with brown. The Pistillum is very minute and open at the top. In the next stage, the calyx is no longer imbricate, but open: the petals have their segments in nearly the same relative proportions; the interior margin of the unguis is just visible; but the transition from unguis to lamina is still imperceptible; the apex of the former not being broader than the base of the latter. It is unnecessary to follow the development through the more advanced stages of the flower, the facts already stated being, in my opinion, absolutely conclusive as to the real nature of the parts in question: and I may remark, that similar observations on certain genera of Caryophylleæ, especially Dianthus, Lychnis and Silene, clearly establish the analogy between their petals and those of Reseda.

I am aware that it has lately been proposed to include Datisca in Resedaceæ, to which it is nearly similar in the structure of its ovarium, as M. de Jussieu has long since remarked. But this is the only point of resemblance between them; for the calyx of Datisca is certainly adherent, and in most of its other characters it differs widely both from Reseda, and from every other genus yet published. Among the numerous discoveries made by Dr. Horsfield in Java, there is a genus, (TETRAMELES nob.) however, manifestly related to Datisca, and remarkable in the regular quaternary division of every part of its diœcious flowers. These two genera form an order very different from every other yet established, and which may be named DATISCEÆ.

CARYOPHYLLEÆ. Five species only of this family were collected near Tripoli, none of which are new.

Of ZYGOPHYLLEÆ, six species exist in Dr. Oudney’s herbarium, namely, Tribulus terrestris, found in Bornou; Fagonia cretica, from Tripoli to Benioleed; Fagonia arabica, at Aghedem; Fagonia Oudneyi nob. with Zygophyllum simplex in Fezzan; and Zygophyllum album every where in the desert.

This family, so distinct in habit from Diosmeæ or Rutaceæ, with which it was formerly united, is not easily characterized by any very obvious or constant peculiarities in its parts of fructification.

The distinguishing characters in its vegetation or habit are the leaves being constantly opposite with lateral or intermediate stipulæ, being generally compound, and always destitute of the pellucid glands, which universally exist in true Diosmeæ, though not in all Rutaceæ properly so called.

M. Adrien de Jussieu, in his late very excellent Memoir on the great order or class Rutaceæ, in distinguishing Zygophylleæ from the other subdivisions of that class in which he has included it, depends chiefly on the endocarp, or inner lamina of the pericarp, not separating from the outer lamina or united epicarp and sarcocarp, and on the texture of the albumen. His first section of Zygophylleæ, however, is characterised by the want of albumen; and in his second section I find exceptions to the remaining character, especially in Fagonia Mysorensis, in which the two laminæ of the ripe capsule separate as completely as in Diosmeæ. Another plant, in my opinion referrible to the same order, and which, in memory of a very meritorious African traveller, I have named Seetzenia africana, has in its ripe capsule the epicarp, or united epicarp and sarcocarp, confined to the dorsal carina of each cell, the endocarp being the only membrane existing on the sides, which are exposed long before the bursting of the fruit. The plant in question has indeed many other peculiarities, some of which may, perhaps, be considered sufficient to authorise its separation from the order to which I have referred it; for the æstivation of its calyx is valvular, it has no petals, its five styles are distinct to the base, and the cells of its ovarium appear to me to be monospermous. It completely retains, however, the characters of vegetation on which I chiefly depend in distinguishing Zygophylleæ; and I have no doubt of its being Zygophyllum lanatum of Willdenow[101], by whom it is stated to be a native of Sierra Leone; I suppose, however, on insufficient authority, for the specimens in the Banksian Herbarium, from which I have made my observations, were found in South Africa, near Olifant’s River, by Francis Masson.

In all the species of Fagonia, and in the two species of Zygophyllum in Dr. Oudney’s collection, a character in the fructification still remains, which is not found in Diosmeæ or Rutaceæ, and which, were it general in Zygophylleæ, would satisfactorily distinguish this order from all the families it has usually been compared with. This character consists in the direction of the embryo with relation to the insertion of the funiculus, its radicle being seated at the opposite extremity of the seed, or to express, in the unimpregnated ovarium, the infallible indication of this position, the direction of the inner membrane and nucleus of the ovulum corresponds with that of its testa.

But this character, in general very uniform in natural families, and which, equally existing in Cistineæ, so well defines the limits of that order, as I have long since remarked[102], would seem to be of less importance in Zygophylleæ.

M. Adrien de Jussieu, who, in his memoir already cited, admits its existence in Fagonia, and in both our species of Zygophyllum, considers it as an exception to the general structure of the latter genus, in the definition of which he retains the character of “radicula hilo proxima.” I believe, however, that in all the species of Zygophyllum, except Fabago, which possesses, also, other distinguishing characters, this opposition of the radicle to the external hilum will be found; for in addition to the two species contained in the herbarium, in both of which it is very manifest, I have observed it in Z. coccineum, and in all the species of South Africa that I have had an opportunity of examining. In some of these species, indeed, it is much less obvious, partly from the greater breadth of the funiculus, and also from its being closely applied, or even slightly adhering, to the testa of the seed. But hence it is possible to reconcile the structure of these species with that of Fabago itself, in which the raphe seems to me to be external: and if this be really the case, Fabago differs from those Zygophylla of South Africa alluded to, merely in the more intimate union of the funiculus with the surface of the testa. Whether this observation might be extended to the other genera of the order, I have not yet attempted to ascertain.

BALANITES ÆGYPTIACA, though not belonging to Zygophylleæ, may be here mentioned. The specimen is from Bornou, but like all the other plants of that country, has no particular place of growth indicated, nor is there any observation respecting it. For a very full and interesting history of this plant, I may refer to M. Delile’s Flore d’Egypte (p. 77. tab. 28).

Of CISTINEÆ, three species were observed between Tripoli and Mourzuk.

The GERANIACEÆ of the collection consist of four species of Erodium, all of which were found on the same journey.

Of MALVACEÆ, considered as a class, there are twelve species in the herbarium. Only two of these are particularly deserving of notice. The first, Adansonia digitata, found in Soudan, where the tree is called Kouka, is described by Captain Clapperton; the second, Melhania Denhamii, a new and remarkable species of the genus, differing from all the others in having its bracteæ regularly verticillated, and, at the same time, longer and much broader than the divisions of the calyx.

A single species of VITIS is in the collection, from Bornou.

NEURADA PROSTRATA, generally referred to Rosaceæ, was found in Wady Ghrurbi.

TAMARISCINEÆ. A species of Tamarix, apparently not different from T. gallica, is the Attil, common in Fezzan, where, according to Dr. Oudney, it is the only shady tree.

LORANTHEÆ. A species of Loranthus, parasitical on the Acacia nilotica, was observed very commonly from Fezzan to Bornou.

LEGUMINOSÆ. Of this class the herbarium contains thirty-three species, among which there are hardly more than two undescribed, and these belonging to a well-established genus.

Of the order or tribe MIMOSEÆ only three species occur, namely, Acacia nilotica, Mimosa Habbas, and Inga biglobosa, or a species very nearly related to it. Of this last named plant, I judge merely from ripe fruits adhering to the singular club-shaped receptacle, or axis of the spike. The specimens were collected in Soudan, and belong to a tree of considerable importance to the inhabitants of that country, by whom it is called Doura. According to Captain Clapperton, “The seeds are roasted as we roast coffee, then bruised, and allowed to ferment in water; when they begin to become putrid, they are well washed and pounded; the powder made into cakes, somewhat in the fashion of our chocolate; they form an excellent sauce for all kinds of food. The farinaceous matter surrounding the seeds is made into a pleasant drink, and they also make it into a sweetmeat.” The Doura of Captain Clapperton is probably not specifically different from the Nitta mentioned by Park, in his First Journey; nor from Inga biglobosa of the Flore d’Oware of M. de Beauvois, according to whom it is the Nety of Senegal; and he also well remarks, that Inga biglobosa, described by Jacquin as a native of Martinico, has probably been introduced into that island by the Negroes, as he himself found it to have been in St. Domingo.

Inga Senegalensis of M. De Candolle (Prodr. 2. p. 442) may also belong to the same species.

It is possible, however, that some of the plants here mentioned, though very nearly related to each other, and having all the same remarkable club-shaped spike, may be specifically distinct; for it appears from specimens collected at Sierra Leone by Professor Afzelius, that two plants having this form of spike are known in that colony; and two species, with similar inflorescence, probably distinct from those of Africa, are described in the manuscript Flora Indica of Dr. Roxburgh. All these plants possess characters fully sufficient to distinguish them from Inga, to which they have hitherto been referred. The new genus which they form, one of the most striking and beautiful in equinoxial Africa, I have named PARKIA[103], as a tribute of respect to the memory of the celebrated traveller, by whom the fruit of this genus was observed in his first journey, and who, among other services rendered to botany, ascertained that the plant producing Gum Kino is a species of Pterocarpus[104]. I have formerly endeavoured to distinguish Mimoseæ from Cæsalpineæ, by the valvular æstivation of both its floral envelopes, and by the hypogynous insertion of its stamina. Instances of perigynous insertion of stamina have since been noticed by MM. Kunth and Auguste de St. Hilaire; but no exception has been yet pointed out to the valvular æstivation of their calyx and corolla. Parkia, however, differs from other Mimoseæ not only in its æstivation, which is imbricate, but in the very manifest irregularity of its calyx, and in the inequality of its petals, which, though less obvious, is still observable.

Erythrophleum, another genus indigenous to equinoxial Africa, which I have elsewhere[105] had occasion to notice, and then referred to Cæsalpineæ, more properly belongs to Mimoseæ, although its stamina are perigynous. In this genus, both calyx and corolla are perfectly regular, and their æstivation, if not strictly valvular, is at least not manifestly imbricate, though the flower-buds are neither acute nor angular. In Erythrophleum and Parkia, therefore, exceptions to all the assumed characters of Mimoseæ are found, and there is some approach in both genera to the habit of Cæsalpineæ. It is still possible, however, to distinguish, and it will certainly be expedient to preserve, these two tribes or orders. Abandoning divisions strictly natural, and so extensive as the tribes in question, merely because we may not be able to define them with precision, while it would imply, what is far from being the case, that our analysis of their structure is complete, would, at the same time, be fatal to many natural families of plants at present admitted, and among others to the universally received class to which these tribes belong. No clear character, at least, is pointed out in the late elaborate work of M. De Candolle[106], by which Leguminosæ may be distinguished from Terebintaceæ and Rosaceæ, the orders supposed to be the most nearly related to it. It is possible, however, that such characters, though hitherto overlooked, may really exist; and I shall endeavour to show that Leguminosæ, independent of the important but minute differences in the original structure and developement of its ovulum, may still be distinguished at least from Rosaceæ.

In the character of Polygaleæ, which I published in 1814[107], I marked the relation of the parts of the floral envelopes to the axis of the spike, or to the subtending bractea. I introduced this circumstance chiefly to contrast Polygaleæ with Leguminosæ, and to prove, as I conceived, that Securidaca, which had generally been referred to the latter family, really belonged to the former.

M. de Jussieu, who soon after published a character of Polygaleæ, entirely omitted this consideration, and continued to refer Securidaca to Leguminosæ. M. De Candolle, however, in the first volume of his Prodromus, has adopted both the character and limits of Polygaleæ, which I had proposed, though apparently not altogether satisfied with the description he himself has given of the divisions of the calyx and corolla.

The disposition of the parts of the floral envelopes, with reference to the axis of the spike, in Polygaleæ, namely, the fifth segment of the calyx being posterior or superior and the fifth petal anterior or inferior, is the usual relation in families the division of whose flower is quinary. This relation is in some cases inverted; one example of which I have formerly pointed out in Lobeliaceæ[108], as I proposed to limit it, and a similar inversion exists in Leguminosæ. But this class also deviates from the more general arrangement of the parts of the flower with regard to each other. That arrangement consists, as I have long since remarked[109], in the regular alternation of the divisions of the proximate organs of the complete flower. To this arrangement, indeed, many exceptions are well known; and M. De Candolle has given a table of all the possible deviations, but without stating how many of these have actually been observed[110].

In Leguminosæ the deviation from the assumed regular arrangement consists in the single pistillum being placed opposite to the lower or anterior segment of the calyx.

In these two characters, namely, the relation of the calyx and corolla both to the simple pistillum and to the axis of the spike or to the bractea, Leguminosæ differ from Rosaceæ, in which the more usual arrangements are found.

But in those Rosaceæ, in which the pistillum is solitary and placed within the anterior petal, its relation to the axis of the spike is the same as that of Leguminosæ, in which it is within the anterior division of the calyx. And in all families, whether dicotyledonous or monocotyledonous, this, I believe, is uniformly the position of the simple solitary pistillum with regard to the spike or bractea.

The frequent reduction of Pistilla, in plants having the other parts of the flower complete in number, must have been generally remarked. But the order in which these abstractions of pistilla take place, or the relations of the reduced series to the other parts of the flower, have, as far as I know, never yet been particularly attended to. It will probably appear singular, that the observation of these relations in the reduced series of pistilla should have suggested the opinion, that in a complete flower, whose parts are definite, the number of stamina and also of pistilla is equal to that of the divisions of the calyx and corolla united in Dicotyledones, and of both series of the perianthium in Monocotyledones.

This assumed complete number of stamina is actually the prevailing number in Monocotyledones; and though in Dicotyledones less frequent than what may be termed the symmetrical number, or that in which all the series are equal, is still found in decandrous and octandrous genera, and in the greater part of Leguminosæ. The tendency to the production of the complete number, where the symmetrical really exists, is manifested in genera belonging or related to those pentandrous families in which the stamina are opposite to the divisions of the corolla, as by Samolus related to Primulaceæ, and by Bæobotrys, having an analogous relation to Myrsineæ; for in both these genera, five additional imperfect stamina are found alternating with the fertile, and consequently occupying the place of the only stamina existing in most pentandrous families. Indications of this number may also be said to exist in the divisions of the hypogynous disk of many pentandrous orders.

With respect to the Pistilla, the complete number is equally rare in both the primary divisions of phænogamous plants. In Monocotyledones, the symmetrical number is very general, while it is much less frequent in Dicotyledones, in which there is commonly a still farther reduction.

Where the number of Pistilla in Dicotyledones is reduced to two, in a flower in which both calyx and corolla are present and their division quinary, one of these pistilla is placed within a division of the calyx, the other opposite to a petal or segment of the corolla. In other words, the addition to the solitary pistillum, (which is constantly anterior or exterior), is posterior or interior. This is the general position of the component parts of a bilocular ovarium, or an ovarium having two parietal placentæ; and in flowers whose division is quinary, I can recollect no other exceptions to it, than in some genera of Dilleniaceæ.

It is particularly deserving of notice, that the common position of the cells of the bilocular pericarpium with relation to the axis of the spike was well known to Cæsalpinus, who expressly distinguished Cruciferæ from all other bilocular families by their peculiarity in this respect, the loculi in that family being placed right and left, instead of being anterior and posterior[111].

On the subject of the position of the Pistilla in the other degrees of reduction from the symmetrical number, I shall not at present enter. But in reference to Leguminosæ, I may remark, that it would be of importance to ascertain the position of the Pistilla in the pentagynous Mimosea, stated to have been found in Brazil by M. Auguste de St. Hilaire[112]. Are these Pistilla placed opposite to the divisions of the calyx, as might probably be inferred from the position of the solitary Legumen in this class? Or are we to expect to find them opposite to the petals, which is the more usual relation, and their actual place in Cnestis, though the single ovarium of Connarus, a genus belonging to the same family, is seated within the anterior division of the calyx?

In the very few Leguminosæ in which the division of the flower is quaternary, namely, in certain species of Mimosa, the ovarium is still placed within one of the divisions of the calyx.

As to Moringa, which was originally referred to this class from a mistaken notion of its absolutely belonging to Guilandina, it is surely sufficiently different from all Leguminosæ, not only in its compound unilocular ovarium with three parietal placentæ, but also in its simple unilocular antheræ; and it appears to me to be an insulated genus, or family (Moringeæ), whose place in the natural series has not yet been determined.

CÆSALPINEÆ. Of this tribe, four species only occur in the collection. One of these is Bauhinia rufescens of Lamarck (Illustr. 329, f. 2.); another is Cassia (Senna) obovata, which, according to Dr. Oudney, grows wild in small quantities in Wady Ghrurbi.

PAPILIONACEÆ. Twenty-six species of this tribe are contained in the herbarium, none of which form new genera, and the only two species that appear to be unpublished belong to Indigofera.

Alhagi Maurorum, or Agoul, is abundant in Fezzan, where it forms excellent food for camels.

COMPOSITÆ. Of this class, thirty-six species exist in the collection. The far greater part of these were found in the vicinity of Tripoli and in the Desert. All of them appear to belong to established genera, and very few species are undescribed.

RUBIACEÆ. The herbarium contains only six species of this family, five of which, belonging to Spermacoce and Hedyotis, were found in Bornou and Soudan; the sixth, a species of Galium, near Tripoli.

Of ASCLEPIADEÆ only three plants occur. One of these is a new species of Oxystelma, exactly resembling in its flowers O. esculentum of India, from which it differs in the form of its leaves, and in that of its fruit[113]. A species of Dœmia was found in the Desert; but the specimens are too imperfect to be ascertained.

Of Apocineæ, strictly so called, there is no plant whatever in the collection; and of Gentianeæ, a single species only of Erythræa.

SESAMEÆ. An imperfect specimen of Sesamum pterospermum, of the catalogue of Mr. Salt’s Abyssinian plants[114], is in the collection from Bornou.

SAPOTEÆ. The only plant of this family in the herbarium is the Micadania, or Butter Tree of Soudan, particularly noticed by Captain Clapperton. The specimen, however, is very imperfect, consisting of detached leaves, an incomplete fruit, and a single ripe seed. On comparing these leaves with the specimen of Park’s Shea Tree[115], in the Banksian Herbarium, I have little doubt that they both belong to one and the same species. Whether this plant is really a Bassia, is not equally certain; and the seed at least agrees better with Vitellaria paradoxa of the younger Gærtner, (Carpol. tab. 205.) than with that of Bassia, figured by his father, (de Fruct. et Sem. Pl. tab. 104.)

That the woody shell in the nuts of all Sapoteæ is really formed of the testa or outer membrane of the seed, as I have elsewhere stated[116], and not of a portion of the substance of the pericarpium, according to the late M. Richard and the younger Gærtner, is proved not only by the aperture or micropyle being still visible on its surface, as M. Turpin has already shown in one case, (Ann. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. 7, tab. 11, f. 3.); but also by the course and termination of the raphe, as exhibited in the younger Gærtner’s figures of Calvaria and Sideroxylum, (Carpol. tabb. 200, 201, et 202.) and by the origin and ramification of the internal vessels.

SCROPHULARINÆ. Only six species of this family occur, none of which are unpublished.

OROBANCHE COMPACTA of Viviani was observed between Fezzan and Bornou.

Of CONVOLVULACEÆ there are five species, four of which belong to Bornou; the fifth is an aquatic Ipomœa, found creeping on the borders of a small lake near Tintuma. Possibly this plant may be Ipomœa aquatica of Forskal, and consequently Convolvulus repens of Vahl, (symb. 1, p. 17.) It is not, however, the plant so called by Linnæus, which proves, as I have elsewhere stated, (Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. 1, p. 483.) to be Calystegia sepium; nor does it belong to either of his synonymes. Our plant differs also from Vahl’s description of his Convolvulus repens, in having constantly single-flowered peduncles, and leaves whose posterior lobes are rather acute than obtuse, and are quite entire. It is probably, therefore, distinct; and I have named it Ipomœa Clappertoni[117].

Among the few Labiatæ, there is a species of Lavandula, possibly distinct from but very nearly related to L. multifida. It was found on the mountains of Tarhona.

Of BORAGINEÆ, the herbarium includes eleven species, the greater part of which were collected near Tripoli, and all of them belong to well established genera.

PRIMULACEÆ. Of this family two species of Anagallis occur in the collection, and of these A. cærulea was observed both near Tripoli and in Bornou.

SAMOLUS VALERANDI was also found near Tripoli, in Wady Sardalis in Fezzan, and in Bornou.

Of Dicotyledonous, or even of all phænogamous plants, S. valerandi is perhaps the most widely diffused. It is a very general plant in Europe, has been found in several parts of North Africa, in Dr. Oudney’s herbarium it is from Bornou, I have myself observed it at the Cape of Good Hope and in New South Wales, and it is also indigenous to North America.

The geographical distribution of the genus Samolus is equally remarkable. At present eight species are known, of which S. Valerandi is the only one indigenous to Europe, or which, indeed, has been found in the northern hemisphere, except the nearly related S. ebracteatus of Cuba. All the other species belong to the southern hemisphere, where S. Valerandi has also a very extensive range.

Of PLUMBAGINEÆ, there are three species of Statice Taxanthema; for the latter name may be preserved as belonging to a section, though hardly as that of a genus, so far at least as depends on inflorescence, which in both subdivisions of Statice is essentially similar; that of Statice Armeria being only more condensed. Of the three species in the herbarium, one appears to be unpublished.

Among the plants of the Apetalous orders in the collection, there are very few remarkable, and hardly any new species.

Gymnocarpus decandrum was observed by Dr. Oudney very commonly in gravelly deserts, on the route from Tripoli to Fezzan; and Cornulaca monacantha of M. Delile is said to be widely extended from Tripoli to Bornou, and to be excellent food for camels.

MONOCOTYLEDONES. The number of species belonging to this primary division contained in the herbarium is altogether seventy. But Gramineæ and Cyperaceæ being excluded, thirteen only remain, namely, three species of Juncus, a single Commelina, three Melanthaceæ, three Asphodeleæ, one species of Iris, and two Aroideæ, of which Pistia Stratiotes is one.

Of these thirteen plants, two appear to be unpublished, both of them belonging to Melanthaceae. The first, a congener of Melanthium punctatum, which is also in the collection, was found in Fezzan.

The second is a species of Colchicum, very different from any hitherto described; and which yet, by Mr. Ritchie, who first observed it, is said to be common in the desert near Tripoli, where it was also found by Dr. Oudney.

This species, which I have named Colchicum Ritchii, is easily distinguished from all its congeners by having two cristæ or membranous processes which are generally fimbriated, at the base of each segment of the perianthium, parallel to each other, and to the intermediate filament. But this character, though excellent as a specific difference, is neither of generic importance, nor sufficient to authorise the formation of a separate section[118].

Bulbocodium and Merendera, however, which, following Mr. Ker[119], I consider as belonging to Colchicum, appear to me decidedly to form subgenera or sections; and in this opinion I am confirmed by having found a fourth section of the same genus. This fourth subgenus is established on HYPOXIS FASCICULARIS, a plant which has been seen by very few botanists, and which Linnæus introduced into his Species Plantarum, and referred to Hypoxis, solely on the authority of the figure published in Dr. Russell’s History of Aleppo. In the Banksian Herbarium I have examined part of the original specimen of this species, found by Dr. Alexander Russell, and figured by Ehret in the work referred to, as well as more perfect specimens collected by Dr. Patrick Russell; and am satisfied that its ovarium is not in any degree adherent to the tube of the perianthium. I find, also, that Hypoxis fascicularis differs from Colchicum merely in having a simple unilocular ovarium with a single parietal placenta and an undivided style, instead of the compound trilocular ovarium with distinct or partially united styles, common to all the other sections of that genus.

A reduction, as in this case, to the solitary simple pistillum[120], though existing in all Gramineæ and in certain genera of several other families of Monocotyledones, is yet comparatively rare in that primary division of phænogamous plants, and in the great class Liliaceæ, the present species of Colchicum offers, I believe, the only known example. Yet this remarkable character is here so little influential, if I may so speak, that Hypoxis fascicularis very closely resembles some states of Colchicum Ritchii, and in the Banksian herbarium has actually been confounded with another species of the first or trigynous section of the genus.

To the first section, which includes Colchicum Ritchii, the subgeneric name Hermodactylum may, perhaps, be applied; while that established on Hypoxis fascicularis may be called Monocaryum.

The position of the pistillum in Colchicum (Monocaryum) fasciculare is not easily determined. I believe it to be placed within the anterior segment of the outer series of the perianthium, but, from the great length of the tube, it is difficult to ascertain such a point in dried specimens. This, however, is the position in which I should expect it, both in reference to the usual relation of the solitary simple pistillum to the axis of the spike, or to the subtending bractea in all phænogamous plants; and also with regard to the constant relation of the parts of the compound pistillum to the divisions of the perianthium in Monocotyledones: for it is worthy of remark, that a difference in this relation may be said to exist in the two primary divisions of phænogamous plants—the pistilla when distinct, or their component parts when united, being in Dicotyledones usually placed opposite to the petals, when these are of equal number; while in Monocotyledones the cells of the trilocular ovarium are, I believe, uniformly opposite to the divisions of the outer series of the perianthium.

CYPERACEÆ. Of twelve species of this family existing in the herbarium, six are referrible to Cyperus, three to Fimbristylis, and three to Scirpus. Among these there is no remarkable, nor, I believe, any undescribed species. Of C. Papyrus, which, according to Captain Clapperton, grows in the Shary, there is no specimen in the collection.

GRAMINEÆ. Of this extensive family, with which Dr. Oudney was more conversant than with any other, and to which, therefore, during the expedition, he probably paid greater attention, the herbarium contains forty-five species: and in dividing the order into two great tribes, as I have formerly proposed[121], thirty of these species belong to Poaceæ, and fifteen to Paniceæ. This relative proportion of these two tribes is considerably different from what might have been expected, in the climates in which the collection was formed: it seems, however, to be connected with the nature of the surface, for in the Great Desert the reduction of Paniceæ is still more remarkable; this tribe being to Poaceæ, in that region, in the proportion of only five to eighteen.

Dr. Oudney remarks with respect to the grasses of the desert, that he observed no species with creeping roots; for a species of Arundo related to Phragmites, which he notices as the only exception, is not properly a desert plant.

Among the very few Gramineæ deserving particular notice, the first is AVENA FORSKALII of Vahl. The specimens in the herbarium which were collected in the desert of Tintuma in some respects differ from all the others that I have seen of this variable species. In the Banksian herbarium there is an authentic specimen from Forskal; I have received from M. Delile specimens both of his A. Forskalii and arundinacea, described and figured in his Flore d’Egypte; and am also in possession of others in somewhat different states, collected in Egypt by M. Nectoux and Dr. Sieber. From a comparison of all these specimens, I am led to believe, that A. Forskalii and arundinacea are not specifically distinct; and it is at least evident, that arundinacea more nearly approaches to the plant of Forskal than that to which M. Delile has applied the name Forskalii.

This grass, which does not belong to Avena, is referrible to Danthonia, from the structure of the outer valve of its perianthium. But Danthonia requires subdivision into several sections, of which, perhaps, our plant may be considered as forming one.

The character of the section established on Danthonia Forskalii would chiefly consist in the very remarkable obliquity of the joints of the locusta, which is, indeed, so great, that after their separation each flower seems to have at the base an almost vertically descendent spur; and as the inferior extremity of the upper joint is produced beyond the lower, a short calcar actually exists before separation, and this calcar is equally manifest in the terminal rudiment of the locusta. The present, therefore, is a case of more remarkably oblique articulation in grasses than even that existing in Holcus acicularis (Andropogon acicularis, Retz) which led to the formation of Centrophorum; a genus still admitted by Professor Sprengel[122], and respecting the structure of which a very singular explanation has been lately offered by M. Raspail[123]. In one respect, the two cases differ. In Danthonia (Centropodia) Forskalii, the articulations being in the axis of the locusta or spicula, each flower appears to have this spur-like process; while in Holcus (Rhaphis) acicularis, the joint being in the peduncle or branch of the racemus, the spur is common to three locustæ.

Dr. Fischer, in whose herbarium the specimen was observed which led to the formation of Centrophorum, will probably recollect the communication made to him on the subject of that plant, of which Dr. Trinius himself has since corrected the characters. He retains it, however, as a distinct genus, for which he has adopted the name Rhaphis, given to it by Loureiro, by whom it was originally proposed, on other, but not more satisfactory grounds.

TRIRAPHIS PUMILIO is the second plant of this family to be noticed. It is undescribed, and belongs to a genus of which the only two published species were found in the intratropical part of New Holland[124]. In several points of structure the African plant is very different from T. pungens, the first of these species; in some respects it approaches to mollis, the second species, especially in the inequality of its setæ or aristæ, but it differs from both in habit, and in having only one perfect flower in each locusta[125].

Of PENNISETUM DICHOTOMUM, (Delile, Flore d’Egypte, p. 15, tab. 8, f. 1.), which, in several different states, is in the collection, it is remarked by Dr. Oudney, that “it is a great annoyance to man and beast, from the prickly calyx (involucrum);” and by Major Denham, that from Aghedem to Woodie “it covered the surface of the country, and annoyed the travellers to misery;” he observes, also, that the seed is called Kasheia, and is eaten.

PANICUM TURGIDUM, (Forsk. Arab. p. 18; Delile, Flore d’Egypte, p. 19, tab. 19, f. 2.), is also one of the most common grasses from Tripoli to Bornou.

Of ACOTYLEDONES, the only plant in the collection is Acrostichum velleum, found on the Tarhona mountains. Mr. Ritchie’s herbarium contains, also, a single plant of the same family, namely Grammitis Ceterach.

The foregoing observations have extended much beyond the limits which the number and importance of the plants they relate to may seem to require. I still regret, however, that I cannot add a few remarks on such species as, although not in the herbarium, were observed, either indigenous or cultivated, in the countries visited by the mission, and for information respecting which I am indebted to Major Denham and Captain Clapperton. But it being determined no longer to delay the publication of the very interesting Narrative, to which the observations already made will form an Appendix, I am unable at present to enter on this part of my subject.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 87: Floræ Libycæ Specim. p. 35.]

[Footnote 88: Syst. Vegetab. 2. p. 871.]

[Footnote 89: Handb. tab. 180.]

[Footnote 90:

SAVIGNYA.

Savignya. De Cand. Syst. 2. p. 283. Lunariæ sp. Delile. Desvaux. Viviani.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx basi æqualis; æstivatione valvata. Silicula oblonga, septo conformi, valvis convexiusculis. Semina biseriata imbricata marginata. Cotyledones conduplicatæ.

Herba annua, glabra (quandoque pube rara simplici). Folia crassiuscula, inferiora obovata in petiolum attenuata grosse dentata, media sæpe incisa, superiora linearia. Racemi oppositifolii, ebracteati. Flores parvi erecti, petalis violaceis venis saturatioribus. Siliculæ racemosæ, divaricatæ, inferiores sæpius deflexæ.

Calyx erectus, æstivatione valvata, ipsis apicibus vix imbricatis. Petala unguiculata, laminis obovatis sub æstivatione mutuo imbricatis. Stamina distincta, edentula, singulum par longiorum glandula subquadrata extus stipatum; breviora, quantum e speciminibus observare licuit, eglandulosa. Ovarium brevissime pedicellatum, ovulis adscendentibus nec horizontalibus. Stylus brevis. Stigma capitatum vix bilobum. Silicula breviter manifeste tamen stipitata, oblonga nunc oblongo-elliptica. Valvulæ uninerviæ reticulato-venosæ. Dissepimentum e lamellis duabus separabilibus uninerviis venis anastomozantibus obsoletis: areolis subtransversim angustato-linearibus, parietibus (tubulis) rectis subparallelis. Funiculi horizontales, dimidio inferiore septo arcte adnato superiore libero.]

[Footnote 91: Flor. Lib. Specim. p. 34. tab. 16. f. 1.]

[Footnote 92:

KONIGA.

Konig. Adans. fam. 2. p. 420. Lobularia. Desvaux in Journ. de Botan. appl. 3. p. 172. Alyssi sp. Hort. Kew. ed. 2. vol. 4. p. 95. De Cand. Syst. Nat. 2. p. 318. Lunariæ sp. Viv. Libyc. p. 34. Farsetiæ sp. Spreng. Syst. Veg. 2. p. 871.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx patens. Petala integerrima. Glandulæ hypogynæ 8! Filamenta omnia edentula. Silicula subovata, valvis planiusculis, loculis 1-polyspermis, funiculis basi septo (venoso, nervo deliquescenti,) adnatis. Semina (sæpissime) marginata. Cotyledones accumbentes.

Herbæ (annuæ v. perennes) pube bipartita appressa incanæ. Folia integerrima sublinearia. Racemi terminales, nunc basi foliati. Flores albi.

Calyx basi subæqualis. Petalorum laminæ dilatatæ. Antheræ ovatæ. Glandularum quatuor per paria filamenta longiora lateraliter adstantes; reliquæ quatuor abbreviatæ geminatim filamenta breviora stipantes. Dissepimentum, præter areolas ultimas (laminæ duplicis) transversim lineares parietibus (tubulis) rectis subparallelis, venis crebre anastomozantibus a nervo descendenti e duobus arcte approximatis formato supra basin evanescenti in monospermis obsoleto ortis descendentibus. Funiculi in dispermis polyspermisque in diversis loculis alterni.

OBS. Koniga ad Alyssinearum tribum De Cand. pertinens, hinc Alysso auctorum inde Farsetiæ accedit. Sed Alyssum, uti in Hort. Kew. et De Cand. Syst. Nat. constitutum sit, certe divisionem eget.

ALYSSUM nob. facile distinguendum sequentibus notis. Silicula subrotunda, disco convexo, limbo compresso, apice retuso, loculis dispermis, funiculis basi septo adnatis et post lapsum seminum persistentibus, supra liberis et cum iisdem deciduis, in diversis loculis oppositis, in eodem a styli basi equidistantibus: Petalis emarginatis: Filamentis omnibus nonnullisve appendiculatis in speciebus omnibus præter A. calycinum in quo filamenta filiformia simplicia sunt et glandularum loco setulæ quatuor filamenta nana æmulantes exstant.

Ad Alyssum sic constitutum et herbas plerumque annuas pube stellari foliisque integerrimis complectens pertinent A. campestre et calycinum Linn. strigosum Russell. minimum Willd. et strictum ejusd. a quo densiflorum Desfont. vix differt; fulvescens Smith, umbellatum Desv. rostratum Stev. micropetalum Fisch. hirsutum Bieb. aliasque species ineditas.]

[Footnote 93:

FARSETIA.

Farsetia. Turra Farsetia, p. 5. Farsetiæ sp. Hort. Kew. ed. 2. vol. 4. p. 69. De Cand. Syst. 2. p. 286.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx clausus, basi vix bisaccatus. Filamenta omnia edentula. Antheræ lineares. Silicula ovalis v. oblonga, sessilis, valvis planiusculis, loculis polyspermis (raro 1-2-spermis), funiculis liberis. Dissepimentum uninerve, venosum. Semina marginata. Cotyledones accumbentes.

Herbæ suffruticosæ ramosæ, pube bipartita appressa incanæ. Folia integerrima. Racemi subspicati.

OBS. Dissepimentum in omnibus exemplaribus utriusque speciei a nobis visis completum, sed in F. ægyptiaca quandoque basi fenestratum, fide D. Desfontaines. (Flor. Atlant. 2. tab. 160.)

F. ægyptiaca species unica certa est, nam F. stylosa, cujus flores ignoti, ob stigmatis lobos patentes non absque hæsitatione ad hoc genus retuli.

FARSETIA? stylosa, ramosissima, siliculis oblongis polyspermis passimque brevè ovalibus 1-2-spermis, stylo diametrum transversum siliculæ subæquante, stigmatis lobis patentibus.

Obs. Exemplaria omnia foliis destituta, sed illorum cicatrices ni fallor obviæ.]

[Footnote 94: In a work published in 1810, the following passage, which has some relation to this subject, occurs. “Capsulas omnes pluriloculares e totidem thecis conferruminatas esse, diversas solum modis gradibusque variis cohæsionis et solubilitatis partium judico.”—(Prodr. Flor. Nov. Holl. 1. p. 558.) This opinion, however, respecting the formation of multilocular ovaria, might be held, without necessarily leading to the theory in question of the composition of the fruit in Cruciferæ, which I first distinctly stated in an Essay on Compositæ, read before the Linnean Society in February 1816, and printed in the 12th volume of their Transactions, published in 1818. In this volume (p. 89), I observe that “I consider the pistillum of all phænogamous plants to be formed on the same plan, of which a polyspermous legumen, or folliculus, whose seeds are disposed in a double series, may be taken as the type. A circular series of these pistilla disposed round an imaginary axis, and whose number corresponds with that of the calyx or corolla, enters into my notion of a flower complete in all its parts. But from this type, and number of pistilla, many deviations take place, arising either from the abstraction of part of the complete series of organs, from their confluence, or from both these causes united, with consequent abortions and obliterations of parts in almost every degree. According to this hypothesis, the ovarium of a syngenesious plant is composed of two confluent ovaria, a structure in some degree indicated externally by the division of the style, and internally by the two cords (previously described), which I consider as occupying the place of two parietal placentæ, each of these being made up of two confluent chordulæ, belonging to different parts of the compound organ.”

In endeavouring to support this hypothesis by referring to certain natural families, in which degradations, as I have termed them, are found, from the assumed perfect pistillum to a structure equally simple with that of Compositæ, and after noticing those occurring in Goodenoviæ, I add, “The natural order Cruciferæ exhibits also obliterations more obviously analogous to those assumed as taking place in syngenesious plants; namely, from a bilocular ovarium with two polyspermous parietal placentæ, which is the usual structure of the order, to that of Isatis, where a single ovulum is pendulous from the apex of the unilocular ovarium; and, lastly, in the genus Bocconia, in the original species of which (B. frutescens), the insertion of the single erect ovulum has the same relation to its parietal placentæ, as that of Compositæ has to its filiform cords, a second species (B. cordata) exists, in which these placentæ are polyspermous.”

From this quotation it is, I think, evident, that in 1818 I had published, in my Essay on Compositæ, the same opinion, relative to the structure of the pistillum of Cruciferæ, which has since been proposed, but without reference to that essay, by M. de Candolle, in the second volume of his “Systema Naturale;” and I am not aware that when the essay referred to appeared, a similar opinion had been advanced by M. de Candolle himself, or by any other author; either directly stated of this family in particular, or deducible from any general theory of the type or formation of the pistillum. I am persuaded, however, that neither M. de Candolle, when he published his Systema, nor M. Mirbel, who has very recently adverted to this subject, could have been acquainted with the passage above quoted. This, indeed, admits of a kind of proof; for if they had been aware of the concluding part of the quotation, the former author would probably not have supposed that all the species referred to Bocconia were monospermous, (Syst. Nat. 2. p. 89); nor the latter that they were all polyspermous. (Mirbel in Ann. des Scien. Nat. 6. p. 267). Respecting Bocconia cordata, though it is so closely allied to Bocconia as to afford an excellent argument in favour of the hypothesis in question, it is still sufficiently different, especially in its polyspermous ovarium, to constitute a distinct genus, to which I have given the name (MACLEAYA cordata) of my much valued friend, Alexander Macleay, Esq. Secretary to the Colony of New South Wales, whose merits as a general naturalist, a profound entomologist, and a practical botanist, are well known.]

[Footnote 95:

OUDNEYA.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx clausus, basi bisaccatus. Filamenta distincta, edentula. Stigmata connata apicibus distinctis. Siliqua sessilis linearis rostrata, valvis planis uninerviis, funiculis adnatis, septo avenio areolarum parietibus subparallelis. Semina uniseriata. Cotyledones accumbentes.

Suffrutex (O. Africana nob. Hesperis nitens, Viv. lib. p. 38. tab. 5. f. 3.) glaberrimus, ramosus. Folia integerrima sessilia avenia, inferiora obovata, superiora sublinearia. Racemi terminales, ebracteati. Flores mediocris magnitudinis, petalorum laminis obovatis venosis.

Obs. Oudneya ab Arabidi differt stigmatis forma, siliquæ rostro, et dissepimenti areolarum figura. Parrya ad quam genus nostrum accedit diversa est dissepimento binervi venoso! calyce haud clauso, siliquæ forma, et seminibus biseriatis testa corrugata.]

[Footnote 96: Tuckey’s Congo, p. 469.]

[Footnote 97:

MÆRUA.

Mærua. Forsk. Arab. p. 104. Vahl symb. 1. p. 36. _De Cand. Prodr._ 1. p. 254.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx tubulosus: limbo 4-partito, æstivatione simplici serie valvata: corona faucis petaloidea. Petala nulla. Stipes genitalium elongatus. Stamina numerosa. Pericarpium (siliquiforme?) baccatum.

Frutices inermes, pube, dum adsit, simplici. Folia simplicia coriacea: petiolo cum denticulo rami articulato: stipulis minutissimis setaceis.

MÆRUA rigida, corymbis terminalibus paucifloris, foliis obovatis crassis rigidis aveniis nervo obsoleto, corona lacero-multipartita.

DESC. Frutex? Rami stricti teretes tenuissime pubescentes. Folia sparsa, obovata cum mucronulo brevissimo, plana semiunguicularia, utrinque pube tenuissima brevissima simplici, nervo obsoleto, venis fere inconspicuis. Petioli lineam circiter longi. Stipulæ laterales, setaceæ, petioli dimidio breviores, ramulo appressæ, post lapsum folii persistentes. Ramuli floriferi sæpius laterales abbreviati, e foliis confertis floribusque corymboso-fasciculatis (3-6.), quorum exteriores folio subtensi; quandoque corymbus ramum terminat. Pedunculi teretes, tenuissime pubescentes, ebracteati excepto foliolo florali dum adsit ejusque stipulis vix conspicuis. Calyx infundibuliformis, extus tenuissime pubescens: tubus subcylindraceus, 8-striatus striis elevatis æqualibus, intus lineis duabus prominulis subcarnosis, cum limbi laciniis alternantibus, altera crassiore: limbus tubo paulo longior, 4-partitus laciniis æqualibus, ovatis acutiusculis, obsolete venosis, 5-nerviis, nervis extimis margini approximatis, e furcatione costarum quatuor tubi cum laciniis alternantium ortis; æstivatione simplici serie valvata marginibus tamen paulo inflexis. Corona faucis monophylla, laciniis limbi multoties brevior, lacero-multipartita lacinulis subulatis inæqualibus. Stipes genitalium liber, cylindraceus, glaber, altitudine tubi. Stamina: Filamenta indeterminatim numerosa, viginti circiter, filiformia glabra, æstivatione contortuplicata. Antheræ incumbentes, ovali-oblongæ obtusæ, basi semibifidæ, loculis parallelo-approximatis, intus longitudinaliter dehiscentibus, æstivatione erectæ. Ovarium e centro filamentorum stipitatum, cylindraceum, glabrum, uniloculare placentis duabus parietalibus polyspermis. Stylus nullus. Stigma depresso-capitatum.

OBS. Species hæcce proxime accedit Mæruæ senegalensi nob. quæ vix pubescens et foliis venosis distincta; in multis quoque convenit, fide descriptionis Forskalii, cum Mærua uniflora Vahl, a nobis non visa. Mærua angolensis, De Cand. (in Museo Parisiensi visa) cui flores pariter corymbosi et corona lacero-multipartita, satis diversa est foliis ovalibus.]

[Footnote 98: Annal. du Mus. d’Hist. Nat. 18. p. 392.]

[Footnote 99: Théor. Elem. ed. 2. p. 244.]

[Footnote 100: Collect. Bot. tab. 22.]

[Footnote 101: Sp. plant. 2. p. 564.]

[Footnote 102: In Hooker’s Flora Scotica, p. 284.]

[Footnote 103:

PARKIA.

ORD. NAT. Leguminosæ-Mimoseæ: Cæsalpineis proximum genus.

CHAR. GEN. Calyx tubulosus ore bilabiato (⅔); æstivatione imbricata! Petala 5. subæqualia, supremo (paulo) latiore; æstivatione conniventi-imbricata. Stamina decem, hypogyna, monadelpha. Legumen polyspermum: epicarpio bivalvi; endocarpio in loculos monospermos sarcocarpio farinaceo tectos solubili.

Arbores (Africanæ et Indiæ orientalis) inermes. Folia bipinnata, pinnis foliolisque multijugis; stipulis minutis. Spicæ axillares, pedunculatæ, clavatæ floribus inferioribus (dimidii cylindracei racheos) sæpe masculis.

PARKIA Africana, pinnis sub-20-jugis, pinnulis sub-30-jugis obtusis intervalla æquantibus, cicatricibus distinctis parallelis, glandula ad basin petioli, rachi communi eglandulosa, partialium jugis (2-3) summis glandula umbilicata.

Inga biglobosa, Palis de Beauv. Flore d’Oware, 2. p. 53. tab. 90. Sabine in Hortic. Soc. Transact. 5. p. 444. _De Cand. Prodr._ 2. p. 442.

Inga Senegalensis. De Cand. Prodr. 2. p. 442.

Mimosa taxifolia. Pers. Syn. 2. p. 266. n. 110.

Nitta. Park’s First Journey, p. 336-337.]

[Footnote 104: Park’s Second Journey, p. cxxiv. where it is stated to be an undescribed species of that genus. Soon after that Narrative appeared, on comparing Mr. Park’s specimen, which is in fruit only, with the figure published by Lamarck in his Illustrations (tab. 602. f. 4.), and with M. Poiret’s description (Encyc. Meth. Botan. 5. p. 728.), I referred it to that author’s P. erinacea, a name which is, I believe, adopted in the last edition of the Pharmacopœia of the London College. Dr. Hooker has since published a drawing of the same plant by the late Mr. Kummer, and considering it a new species, has called it Pterocarpus Senegalensis. (Gray’s Trav. in Western Africa, p. 395, tab. D.)]

[Footnote 105: Tuckey’s Congo, p. 430.]

[Footnote 106: Memoires sur la Famille des Legumineuses.]

[Footnote 107: Flinders’s Voy. to Terra Austr. 2. p. 542.]

[Footnote 108: Flinders’s Austr. 2, p. 559.]

[Footnote 109: Prodr. Flor. Nov. Holl. 1, p. 558.]

[Footnote 110: Theor. elem. ed. 2. p. 183.]

[Footnote 111: Cæsalp. de Plantis, p. 327. cap. xv. et p. 351. cap. liii.]

[Footnote 112: De Cand. Legum. p. 52.]

[Footnote 113: OXYSTELMA Bornouense, floribus racemosis, corollæ laciniis semiovatis, folliculis inflatis, foliis lanceolatis basi cordatis.

Obs.—Inflorescentia et corolla omnino O. esculenti, a quo differt folliculis inflatis, et foliis omnibus basi cordatis.]

[Footnote 114: Salt’s Voy. to Abyss. append. p. lxiii.]

[Footnote 115: Park’s First Journey, p. 202 and 352.]

[Footnote 116: Prod. Flor. Nov. Holl. 1, p. 528.]

[Footnote 117: IPOMŒA Clappertoni, glaberrima repens, foliis sagittatis: lobis posticis acutiusculis integerrimis, pedunculis unifloris.]

[Footnote 118: Colchicum (Hermodactylus) Ritchii, limbi laciniis basi intus bicristatis! fasciculo 2-multifloro, foliis linearibus.

Obs.—Spathæ 2-8-floræ; limbi laciniæ vel lanceolatæ acutiusculæ vel oblongæ obtusæ; cristæ laciniarum omnium sæpe fimbriato-incisæ, exteriorum nunc integerrimæ. Ovula in singulis ovarii loculis biseriata, placentarum marginibus approximata; nec ut in C. autumnali quadriseriata.]

[Footnote 119: Botan. Magaz. 1028.]

[Footnote 120: The late celebrated M. Richard, in his excellent “Analyse du Fruit,” in pointing out the distinctions between a simple and compound pericarpium, produces that of Melanthaceæ as an example of the compound, in opposition to that of Commelineæ or of Junceæ, which, though equally multilocular, he considers as simple. A knowledge of the structure of Colchicum Monocaryum would, no doubt, have confirmed him in his opinion respecting Melanthaceæ.

It has always appeared to me surprising, that a carpologist so profound as M. Richard, and whose notions of the composition of true dissepiments, and even of the analogy in placentation between multilocular and unilocular pericarpia, were, in a great degree, equally correct and original, should never have arrived at the knowledge of the common type of the organ or simple pistillum, to which all fruits, whether unilocular or multilocular, were reducible; and that he should, in the instance now cited, have attempted to distinguish into simple and compound two modifications of the latter so manifestly analogous, and which differ from each other only in the degree of coalescence of their component parts.]

[Footnote 121: Flinders’s Voy. to Terra Austr. 2. p. 582.]

[Footnote 122: Syst. Veg. 1. p. 132.]

[Footnote 123: Annal. des Scien. Nat. 4. p. 425.]

[Footnote 124: Prodr. Flor. Nov. Holl. 1. p. 185.]

[Footnote 125: Triraphis Pumilio, panicula coarctata abbreviata, locusta glumam vix superante 3-4-flora: flosculo infimo hermaphrodito; reliquis neutris univalvibus.]

No. XXIII.

Letter to Major Denham, on the Rock Specimens brought from Africa. By Charles Konig, Esq. F.R.S.

British Museum, Feb. 25th, 1826.

My dear Sir,

I have great pleasure in transmitting to you, for whatever use you may think proper to make of it in the Appendix to your forthcoming work, the little I have to advance on the geological and a few other objects, that were collected by you, the late Dr. Oudney, and Captain Clapperton, on your journey through the great African desert, and are now deposited in the British Museum. It chiefly consists of the descriptive catalogue of a small series of rock specimens, originally drawn up by me without particular regard to their geognostic occurrence; to which I now prefix a few desultory remarks that occurred to me, when, with a view to its publication, I subjected that list to a second perusal. My materials are, indeed, very scanty; but their description may, nevertheless, (in conjunction with the observations dispersed in the body of the work, of which I have not been able to avail myself) lead some of your geological readers to more or less important results relative to the structure of the tract of country in which they were collected.

There are among the specimens I have examined none that might be referred to the primitive formations, except those gathered south and west of Kouka. The principal specimen of granite (No. 1.) brought by you from the Mandara mountains strongly resembles some of the fresh large-grained varieties of the same from the Fetish rocks in Congo. Those from Soudan, with feldspar, in its progress to kaolin, (No. 5.) betray the principal cause of the striking appearance of the granite mountains in that part of central Africa. The effects of atmospheric influence on that component, spreading chiefly in the direction of the natural rifts of the rock, are, in the Soudan mountains as well as in those of the Hartz, the Riesengebirge, and other European granitic districts, manifested partly by the immense and numberless blocks, wholly or partially detached, and confusedly piled up on the sides of the mountains, or strewed over the plains in fantastic groups; and partly by the almost total disintegration of the masses into gravel at the foot of the ridges. The former of these effects is illustrated by the sketch of a granite mountain in Soudan, which you were so good as to show me. There are a few other specimens of granite from Soudan; but they present no characters from which any useful information is likely to be derived; the less so, as they appear to be casual fragments, not found in situ. The mica slate (No. 9.), as Captain Clapperton informed me, occurs at the upper part of the ridges between Quarra and Zurma; and a ticket, accompanying a micaceous rock specimen, (No. 11.) from the same locality, as I suppose, states it to be “used for glazing earthen ware.”

These are all the specimens of primitive rocks. As to those of secondary and tertiary formations, which have been brought home, it will appear from the subjoined catalogue, (as, indeed, with regard to part of the kingdoms of Tripoli and Fezzan, has already been pointed out by Dr. Buckland), that they may be referred to three formations, viz. 1. to the fletz-trap or basaltic formation; 2. to a formation analogous to the Paris limestone, (calcaire grossier, grob-kalk); and 3. to some members of the secondary formation from the chalk to the alpine limestone inclusively.

The few specimens of the first mentioned of these formations are specified under Nos. 14 to 18. To the second I would refer the sandstone No. 26. with fragments of small univalve shells, not unlike a species of Paludina, and the plastic clay of Cano, of which, I suppose, are made the light pipe bowls, brought from thence; together with some other specimens of clay, and also some fragments of shells, apparently from the tertiary limestone, but the localities of which are not mentioned.

But by far the greater proportion of the specimens brought home by you belongs to that series of the secondary formations of which the variegated sandstone is the principal member. Subordinate to this is the ferruginous sandstone, (Nos. 47, &c.) with its beds of brown hydrous oxide, into which, as also into ochrey ironstone, (Nos. 84—90.) it appears to pass by gradual transition. The white sandstone, called quader-sandstein by most German geologists, and sandstone of Konigstein by Baron Humboldt, is not specified as such in the list; I am, however, inclined to think it is not entirely wanting in several parts of the tract you have traversed, especially to the southward of the boundary of Fezzan. I conclude it, from what you have mentioned to me of the picturesque and ruin-like appearance of many of the mountain ranges in those parts, which is peculiar to that sandstone; from the external character of some of the specimens, which, however, have no localities affixed to them; as also from the impressions of small bivalves on one or two of them. No stress is perhaps to be laid on the occurrence of fibrous limestone, which substance is known to be among the mineral contents of quader-sandstone at the foot of the Hartz, where this link of the fletz sandstone formation rests on the red marle sandstone, without the intervention of shell limestone, of which latter I have seen no specimens among those from North Africa.

More characteristic are the specimens of the variegated sandstone, properly speaking. The varieties, which, by their patches, stripes, and flamed delineations, are more particularly entitled to that denomination, are Nos. 31—36. The friable sandstone of Traghen (No. 23.) probably owes its green colour to oxide of nickel: the colouring matter seems chiefly to reside in the clay by which the grains are held together.

Particularly remarkable are those varieties of sandstone in which the cement is quartz, both with and without ferruginous admixture (Nos. 37—46). They are all (with the exception of a few of more loose texture, which belong to a tertiary formation) referable to the variegated sandstone series. In some of these the cement of various colours, yellowish, red, brown, bluish, is so completely conferruminated with the grains, that, upon breaking a specimen, the fracturing plane invariably passes through them, producing a uniformly smooth and frequently conchoidal surface. Sometimes both cement and grains are united into one homogeneous quartzy mass, in which, especially when thoroughly impregnated with oxide of iron, scarcely the slightest vestiges of former granulation remain perceptible. Such an extraordinary transformation of the cementing mass, observable not only in this but likewise in the quader-sandstone, the iron sand, and the variety of the newest sandstone called molasse, presupposes a state of liquefaction, and is but imperfectly accounted for by those who ascribe it to infiltration.

The result of another, equally enigmatical, liquefaction of siliceous matter, (which is, however, generally, though gratuitously, attributed to the agency of lightning) we see in the tubular concretions that have been found near Drigg in Cumberland, on the Senner heath in Westphalia, at Pillau in the vicinity of Konigsberg, at Halle upon the Saale, and, lastly, on the plains near Dibla in the Tibbou country. The African sand tubes differ from those of Drigg, as the sands themselves differ from each other in the two localities; the texture of the former is more homogeneous and pure, some being translucent and almost colourless; and, when cylindrical, not unlike some tubular varieties of stalactic carbonate of lime. Others are internally of a light-grey colour, here and there marked with white specks from semi-fused grains of sand: their outer surface is either approaching to smooth, or studded with snow-white opaque grains of sand, sunk in the vitrified substance; but they are not coated by the agglutinated sand which, in the English tubes, forms a rough crust, gradually passing into the vitreous substance of the sides. The stem, to judge from the short fragments I have seen, is very irregular in its circumference, and (except in the small cylindrical tubes, whose surface is even) polymorphously jagged, compressed, and contorted. Their interior lustre is superior to that observable in the European Fulgurite, Astraphyalite, Ceraunian Sinter, Blitzröhren,—names under which these tubular concretions have been introduced into our systems of mineralogy.

In most of the specimens of the variegated series described in the catalogue, the presence of common salt is obvious to the eye or the taste, or at least discoverable on the application of chemical re-agents. The tickets placed with No. 35. and some others, are inscribed “Aluminous slate;” but these specimens belong to the micaceous variety into which the red marle sandstone so frequently passes, and which sometimes forms distinct beds in it, overlaid by variegated and white marle slate; neither is the salt with which they are impregnated any other than muriate of soda.

The gypsum, of which some varieties are among the specimens found in the red marle, both at the most northern and the most southern points where Dr. Oudney collected, is of course referable to the newer, and some even to the newest, formation: it is mostly foliated-fibrous, and, in several specimens, intermixed with red clay.

I have little to say on the specimens of limestone enumerated in the list: most of them agree perfectly well with our new magnesian limestone; but external as well as chemical characters in detached fragments, not observed in situ, are but uncertain guides to the determination of the various modifications of Werner’s older fletz limestone, to which, I suppose, those specimens must all be referred.

There are only two specimens of common salt brought home, neither of which exhibit any thing peculiar in their appearance: but were they ever so numerous or remarkable in their exterior, they would not contribute greatly towards illustrating the history of the saline deposites and saliferous formations of the regions from which they come. The excessive abundance of salt in the variegated sand all over the central part of northern Africa, indicates either the existence of an extensive deposition of that substance beneath the prevailing rock formation, or the uninterrupted operation of causes by which those superficial saline masses, crusts, and efflorescences (the last of these observable in most specimens of sandstone brought from thence), are produced independently of briny waters emanating from such deposits of rocksalt. Mr. Keferstein, who has collected a multitude of instances of the occurrence of salt springs in situations which would seem to preclude the possibility of an immediate connexion between them and extensive beds of rock salt, has by ingenious reasoning and a number of interesting facts endeavoured to prove, that, in contact with waters circulating in the earth, the members of the saliferous formation (especially the clay to which, as an inseparable concomitant of salt, the name of salzthon has been given) are endowed with the power of generating salt by means of a chemical process, of which the rationale (as that of many others) remains among the desiderata of the science.

Those who are of opinion that brine springs are, under all circumstances, derived from great salt formations, and that their rise and presence, in any given situation, may be satisfactorily accounted for, by hydrostatic pressure alone, will probably find nothing extraordinary in the peculiar occurrence of that substance in the clay of the extensive salt fields of Mafen, Hamera, &c.; they will consider the various forms under which it presents itself in those tracts merely as the result of aggregation of saline particles conveyed from the great depot to the crevices of the clay, gypsum, and sandstone, and left there by the simple process of evaporation. I shall not attempt examining which of the two theories derives most support from the different phenomena relative to the production of salt observed by you on your journey, or to the occurrence of fresh water springs in the centre of salt hills, dwelt upon by Herodotus, and other circumstances belonging to halurgic geology; but refer you, for materials necessary for this inquiry, to the important facts detailed by the abovementioned author in the second volume of his periodical work (Teutschland, geognostisch-geologisch dargestellt, Weimar, 1823), as also to those opposed to them by no less an authority than Mr. V. Langsdorff in his last work (Anleitung zur Salzwerkskunde, Heidelberg, 1824).

The specimens of trona (carbonate of soda), collected on the expedition, exhibit this salt in various degrees of purity. In some, it is mechanically mixed with muriate and sulphate of soda; in others, it appears, when divested of the casually adhering substances, to be perfectly pure. Of the latter, we have two very distinct varieties, as far, at least, as external characters are concerned. The one consists of layers, or crusts, of about one-third of an inch in thickness, opaque, and of a white colour, generally with an almost imperceptibly slight tinge of red; and yellowish stains are sometimes observable. These layers, when broken, display distinct concretions between lamellar and granular; the lower surface is rough, and more or less impure, the small interstices being partly filled up with reddish earthy matter; the distinct concretions terminate at the upper surface, in small, slightly cuneiform, apparently four-sided compressed prisms, acuminated by two planes which meet under an angle of about 95°; but both the lateral and terminal edges are constantly rounded off, and the planes uneven and striated. These crystals, not much inferior in hardness to carbonate of lime, are internally splendent, externally dull, and generally covered by a fine efflorescence, and also often studded with small limpid cubical crystals of muriate of soda. This variety is formed in the lakes of Ghraat, apparently in the same manner as the carbonate of soda (urao) of the Lagunilla lake of Venezuela, or that of the S. Macarius lake in Egypt, but appears to be less contaminated with other salts than either of these.

The other variety of carbonate of soda (the locality of which is doubtful, two tickets having been found accompanying the specimen, the one with “Kanem,” the other with “hills of Traghen,”) occurs in pieces which appear to have been part of a vein or layer. They are composed of groups of divergingly radiated acicular crystals, closely grown together, intermixed with indeterminable capillary crystals, confusedly aggregated. Some of these crystals appeared as very compressed four-sided prisms, indistinctly acuminated by two planes set on the acute lateral edges. Its fracture is lamellar-fibrous, passing into splintery; fragments wedge-shaped. Its colour is a dingy greenish, or yellowish-white, appearing brownish in the more compact parts of the pieces. The internal lustre is splendent; the external surface covered by a yellowish white powder. In the crystalline state, both these varieties of trona appear to be perfectly pure; it is, however, possible that they may differ from each other in the proportion of the water and carbonic acid with which the soda is combined in them. If, as Berthollet thinks, the origin of native carbonate of soda is to be looked for in the decomposition of common salt by carbonate of lime, we may farther conjecture, from the traces of bituminous matter found with the trona, that the rock instrumental to it is fetid limestone, beds of which are frequent concomitants of saliferous formations.

The following is the catalogue of the specimens of which I have been able to determine the localities.

1. Large grained granite; the deep-flesh-coloured feldspar in greater proportion than the greyish quartz, and the black, small-scaly mica. “From the Mandara mountains.”

2. The same; with feldspar of dirty-yellowish colour. From the Mandara range, and two similar varieties from the “hills of Dutchie Zangia, Soudan.”

3. Similarly coloured variety, but of smaller grain. From the same places.

4. Large grained variety of the same; the feldspar of a yellowish colour, and in a state of incipient decomposition, with little black mica. Mandara.

5. Variety similar to the preceding; in a state of disintegration: the feldspar decomposing into a reddish earth. From Quarra and Zurmee, Soudan.

6. Granite, both fine and coarse-grained, almost entirely composed of flesh-red feldspar, with indeterminable particles of a black substance, apparently mica. “From the high ridges of Zurma.”

7. The same, small-grained, rather slaty, approaching to gneiss, composed of greyish-white feldspar and quartz, with predominant black small-scaly mica. From Nansarena, Soudan.

8. Portion of a boulder, chiefly composed of fine-grained dirty-grey semicompact feldspar and some quartz; with disseminated particles of magnetic iron ore (a syenitic rock). “Found near Agutefa.”

9. Greenish-grey mica slate, with little admixed quartz and feldspar. “It forms the upper part of the ridges between Quarra and Zurma, Soudan.”

10. Yellowish-grey, soft, and friable mica slate. “From between Duakee and Sackwa, Soudan.”

11. A hard slaty mass, composed of brilliant silvery small scales of mica, penetrated by, or mixed with, brown and yellow hydrous oxide of iron. From the same.

12. White, massive, and irregularly crystallized fat quartz, stained by oxide of iron. “From a vein in the rocks of Quarra and Zurmee.”

13. The same, out of the granite of the Mandara mountains.

13. a. Yellowish and bluish-white quartz in large grains, as gravel. “From the bed of the river Yaou, seven days on the road to Soudan[126].”

14. Greyish-black close-grained basalt. “From the hills in the Sebha district.”

15. The same; with rarely disseminated grains of decomposing olivine. From the same.

16. The same; vesicular (basaltic amygdaloid), cells empty. Benioleed.

17. The same as the preceding, with disseminated granular particles, and minute acicular crystals of specular iron, which also mostly invest the irregularly shaped cells. “Benioleed; used for grindstones.”

18. The same, of a greyish-brown colour; cells elliptic, and partly filled with carbonate of lime. “Black mountains near Sockna.”

19. Greenish and yellowish grey, fine-grained crumbling sandstone. “Found with the gypsum of the hills to the northward of Om-el-Abeed.”

20. The same, brownish-yellow; “occurring in beds near Om-el-Abeed.”

21. The same, reddish and yellowish, fine-grained, rather friable. Wady Kawan.

22. Similar, reddish-brown variety of sandstone, but more friable than the preceding. Tadrart ridge.

23. The same, of a colour between grass and leek-green, fine-grained, very crumbling. “Traghen, under a gypsum crust; often in beds of from ten to twelve feet. It has the appearance of some of the soft sandstone in the mountain range near Tripoli.”

24. Yellowish-white friable sandstone, and fine sand, strongly impregnated with salt. “Under a calcareous crust, Fezzan.”

25. Similar sand of a very fine rounded grain. “From the Wady, in which is the Trona lake.”

26. Yellowish clayey sandstone, filled with small rounded quartz grains and minute white particles of small univalve shells, (Paludina?) “Gaaf.”

27. Fine and close-grained yellowish-white sandstone, of a thin stratified structure, which is distinctly seen at the disintegrated parts of the fragment. “Wady Katefa, under the basalt; forming fine precipitous walls in the middle of the range.”

28. Brownish-red friable sandstone; the rounded grains of various sizes, loosely united by clay. “Sandstone of the hills of Wady Ghrarbi. There is a finer and tender species, and also a stratiform one; but my specimens are lost.”

29. The same, of a similar colour, intermixed with yellowish, less crumbling, and containing pebbles. “From the hills to the westward of Hamera, on which the town is built.”

30. Sandstone of yellowish colour and fine-grained, faintly variegated with purple. Aghadem.

31. The same, fine-grained, white, with linear purplish streaks, being the edges of horizontal filmy depositions of iron ochre of that colour. Wady Kawan.

32. A similar variety, exhibiting purplish-yellow and red variegations, thoroughly impregnated with salt, which is also seen efflorescent on the surface. “Hills of Wady Ghrarbi.”

33. Similarly coloured sandstone, in laminar fragments, passing, by decomposition, into soft clay variegated with the same colours. Wady Kawar.

34. Tabular fragment of very close-grained nearly compact variegated sandstone; colours, purplish and two shades of yellow, in irregular stripes. “Sebha district.”

35. Purplish-brown slaty sandstone, micaceous on the planes of separation, passing into cream yellow and white clay-stone of the same structure. “Aluminous slate (sic) in different states, forming a considerable part of the mountain range, Tadrart, Tuarick country.”

36. A tabular fragment, like the preceding; micaceous on the rifts, of reddish-brown colour, being thoroughly penetrated by oxide of iron. Aghadem.

37. Yellowish sandstone, composed of round grains of quartz, with white clayey cement, which, towards the surface of the rolled piece, becomes quartzy. From ditto.

38. A similar large-grained variety, of reddish-yellow colour with brown streaks, in which the cementing clay, become quartzy, is scarcely distinguishable from the grains. “Forming the eastern boundary of the hills near Traghen.”

39. A large fragment of the same quartzy sandstone, of yellow colour, with red streaks and brown nucleus, nearly compact, so as to exhibit on its conchoidal fractural surfaces the traces only of a granular structure. “Strewed over the plain between Ghudwa and Mourzuk.”

40. The same, brownish-red, in the shape of a rolled amorphous fragment, having acquired a uniform glossy surface like red jasper. From ditto.

41. Yellowish variety of the same, the granular passing into compact structure. “Thick exposed beds from Om el Abeed to Sebha.”

42. Yellowish-grey variety of the same, as perfectly compact tabular fragments, having their surfaces studded with small polymorphous bodies imitating the appearance of parts of secondary fossils. From ditto.

43. The same as the preceding, having its surface marked by small bivalve shells, converted into the mass of the sandstone. From ditto.

44. Sharp-edged fragments, of a variety like No. 39., of a deep chocolate-brown colour and flat conchoidal fracture. “Between Sebha and Timinhint; rocks about 250 feet high.”

45. The same, in which the quartz grains are very firmly cemented by dark-red or brown siliceous iron-stone, sometimes enclosing larger rounded grains and small pebbles; the whole forming a very hard compact conglomerate with conchoidal shining fractural surface. “From between Om el Abeed to Sebha, and near Zuela.”

46. Fragment of a mass of quartzy sandstone and compact brown ironstone, externally stalactic reed-like, with black glossy surface. “From the hills of Wady Ghrarby.”

47. Brown ferruginous sandstone, nearly compact, and with drused cavities, enclosing yellowish nodules of magnesian limestone. “Forms the upper part of numerous low hills, and the surface of exposed parts on the road from Hamera to Zuela.”

48. A mass of yellow and brown ferruginous sandstone with amorphous botryoidal surface, unequally penetrated by siliceous brown oxide of iron, which produces the appearance of a mixture of brown ochrey clay-ironstone. “Near Timinhint, forming the summit of hills.”

49. Wood-hornstone; dark brown, with lighter coloured centre, being part of a cylindrical stem or branch of a dicotyledonous tree. “From between Mestoota and Gatrone.”

50. Flint composed of conchoidal distinct concretions, some of them forming nuclei; the layers of alternating brown and white colours, irregularly curved. “Quantities strewed over the plain from Temasta to Bonjem.”

51. Yellowish-grey flint passing into hornstone, in irregularly angular pieces, with brown glossy corroded surface. “La Saila; hills of silex and opal.”

52. White hornstone; a boulder with corroded glossy surface. “Strewed in large quantities between Wady el Beny and Wilkna, and on the summit of gypsum hills.”

53. Yellowish-white substance intermediate between hornstone and calcedony, in angular pieces, with cream-coloured cacholong on the surface. “On the way from Gatrone to Tegerhy.”

54. Brownish-red carnelian; a fragment, with irregularly botryoidal yellowish decomposed surface. From ditto.

55. Several fragments of variously shaped rough sand tubes; internal surface highly glazed. “From the sands near Dibla.”

56. Lithomarge, reddish-brown, here and there variegated with bluish-green and greyish, in fragments with rather tuberculated surface. “Aghadem, beds in the sandstone.”

57. The same, but penetrated by iron ochre, and much harder; with small imbedded pyriform concretions. From ditto.

58. Brownish-red and yellowish-grey variegated slaty clay, very soft and unctuous to the touch. From ditto.

59. Small-foliated amorphous gypsum, confusedly crystallized, with adhering red marl. “From the curiously formed gypsum hills of Bonjem to Hormut and Takui, with large quantities of opal on the top.”

60. Some specimens of white, granular, and foliated gypsum; one of the varieties composed of wedge-shaped laminæ. Bonjem.

61. Large-foliated white selenite. “Close to the Tchad, Kanem.”

62. Compact limestone, of bluish-grey colour, divisible into tabular fragments. “Benioleed, under the basalt.”

63. Light cream-coloured nearly compact limestone, in tabular fragments; fracture even, fractural surface slightly glimmering. Benioleed.

64. Fragment of a similar variety of limestone, with conchoidal fracture. “Benioleed, lowest observable stratum except one.”

65. Compact limestone, of a reddish and cream yellow colour, variegated with pale brown, of very close texture, and small-conchoidal fracture. “Hills to the north of Benioleed.”

66. Fragment of a greenish-grey tabular magnesian limestone, splendent on the fractural surfaces, the lustre produced by a curved-lamellar, though (in one direction) apparently compact structure. “On the ridges between Meshroo and Tegerhy.”

67. Yellowish-red, close-grained, nearly compact limestone, here and there with minute scales; external exposed surface uneven, glossy. “Temedetan, forming thick strata.”

68. Rolled fragment, of a reddish-yellow variety of magnesian limestone, with glossy surface, and of earthy fracture, including some dark-coloured grains, (oxide of manganese?) “Found in the deserts, sometimes finely dendritic.”

69. Light cream-coloured hard (magnesian) limestone, with earthy uneven fracture; the exposed surface shining, partly corroded, partly smooth. “Hills of Gaaf.”

70. A similar variety. “From the Assoud, Wady el Malagi.”

71. A rolled fragment of yellowish-grey compact limestone (magnesian), of even and dull fracture; the surface shining, wrinkled by decomposition. “To the north and south of the Wells of Mafrass.”

72. The same variety as the preceding, in the shape of a large conical lump, with uneven and corroded glossy surface, enclosing rounded pieces of the same limestone. From ditto.

73. A similar variety of magnesian limestone, forming a botryoidal group of more or less globular concretions, from upwards of half an inch to half a line in diameter, and intimately grown together with each other. “Meshroo and El Wahr.”

74. Yellowish limestone, of curved-lamellar structure. “Forming veins in the basaltic rocks in Agutefa.”

75. Brownish-yellow limestone, in stalagmitical irregular layers. “On the desert, between Mushroo and El Wahr.”

76. Another fragment, apparently part of a large stalagmitic nodule, in layers on a yellow granular mass of carbonate of lime. From ditto.

77. Greyish-brown and hair-brown fibrous limestone, in tabular pieces; the fibres perpendicular, or in an oblique direction to the horizontal planes, straight or slightly curved. In some specimens, the hair-brown layer is sard-onyx and onyx-like, succeeded by a red and a white stratum, the former generally in the form of a crust, with superficial small acute rhombohedrons of carbonate of lime; in others, the hair-brown layer is traversed by white veins. “Boundaries of Fezzan and Tuarick country.”

78. Sulphate of barytes; a group of bluish and brownish prismatic crystals, (var. rétrécie of Haüy), covered by red marle.

79. Common salt, in white, opaque, granular aggregations, externally stained by ferruginous clay. “Road between Hamara and Zuela.”

80. A saline incrustation, of yellowish-white colour, partly solid, in thin tables, partly in powder, composed of carbonate, muriate, and sulphate of soda. “Near Germa.”

81. Carbonate of soda (trona), thick-fibrous foliated, in crusts of the thickness of one-fourth to one-third of an inch, indistinctly crystallized on the upper surface. “From the trona lakes in Wady Trona.”

82. The same, studded on the upper surface with small limpid cubical crystals of muriate of soda. From ditto.

83. Carbonate of soda, of yellowish and greenish-grey colour, in masses with diverging radiated fracture. Kanem?

84. A rolled piece of nearly compact brown ironstone. “Upper strata from Aghadem to the southward of El Wahr.”

85. Compact brown ironstone, of dark brown colour; an irregularly tubercular nodule, with surface, particularly that of the old fractural planes, glossy, the recent fracture exhibiting a dull earthy surface. “From plains to the southward of Bonjem.”

86. Compact brown ironstone, of deep chesnut-brown colour, in rounded oblong pieces of from one-half to upwards of an inch in diameter, the whole glossy as if varnished; fracture even, earthy. From ditto?

87. Fragment of compact brown ironstone, mixed with much quartzy matter. Wady Kawar and Aghadem.

88. Massive and granular brown ironstone, mixed with much yellow iron ochre and sand. “In loose masses or crusts, on the top of the ridges between Sockatoo and Kashna, and on the low hills around Sockatoo.”

89. Fragments of clayey brown ironstone with ochrey nodules. “Wady Shiati hills.”

90. A mass, mixed, of brown ironstone and red and yellow iron ochre. “From the soil of Wady Sandalion, Tuarick country.”

91. Cubic fragments of common galena, (sulphuret of lead). Kanem, Soudan.

92. Pure tin, cast in moulds, in the form of thick wire. Brought from Soudan.

I conclude this long letter with mentioning a specimen of Roman cement, taken from the ruins of Ghirza, which, in parts where the admixture of small stony fragments is not observable, has very much the appearance of, and might easily be mistaken for, a granular-crystalline variety of tertiary limestone. It has unquestionably undergone a transformation: a circumstance which may, in some measure, serve to justify the remark of Lepère—“C’est le temps seul et non l’art qui manque à la pétrification absolue de nos mortiers et cimens; nos neveux diront de nos constructions ce que nous disons de celles des anciens.”

I have the honour to be, my dear Sir,

Yours very faithfully,

CHARLES KONIG.

To Major Denham, &c.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 126: Three very interesting bivalve shells, distinct, it appears, from the other species of the genera to which they respectively belong, have been discovered in the above-mentioned river by Major Denham. The first, a species of ÆTHERIA, I distinguish as

ÆTHERIA Denhami: testa irregulariter rotundato-oblonga, ad cardinem gibbosa, utriusque valvæ callo cardinali basim versus oblique truncato.

Hab. in Africæ interioris fluvio Gammaroo.

The form of the cardinal callosity to which the semi-internal ligament is attached affords a distinction sufficiently characteristic of the species: its oblique truncating plane, which extends towards the rather indistinct umbo, is, in the closed state of the shell, in partial contact with that of the corresponding and similarly formed callus of the other valve. The general form of the shell is oblong or rounded, but appears to be subject to considerable variation: one of the specimens before me exhibits the exterior of Lamarck’s A. transversa, which latter is no doubt a casual variety only of the other species described and figured by that naturalist.

These shells are externally furnished with a blackish-brown epidermis; beneath this a white film is deposited, on the removal of which a beautiful pearly naker appears, similar to that of the internal surface of the valves. The blistered appearance of the interior of both the valves is constant in all specimens, and may, as intimately connected with the structure of the shell, be considered of sufficient importance to be admitted into the distinctive character of the genus.

Lamarck, imagining that these shells live at the bottom of the sea, named the genus, as he says, after one of the daughters of Oceanus. Though the Ætheriæ are now well known to be fluviatile shells, the emendators of zoological nomenclature may still be exonerated from framing a new name for this genus, since the old one is derivable from the original locality of its species; a part of central Africa having, according to Pliny, been anciently known by the appellation of Ætheria.

The second shell, a new species of IRIDINA, may be thus characterized:

IRIDINA Oudnæi: testa transversa ovato-lanceolata tumidiuscula, cardine stricto sub-edentulo, basis margine sinuato.

Hab. cum priore.

This species is very distinct from E. elongata in form and in the hinge line being without crenulation; and from E. nilotica, which it resembles in the latter of those characters, it differs by its form, inferior thickness, and iridescence. The length of the specimen before me is 4⅔, its greatest breadth at the umbo nearly two inches. Placed on the basal edge, which is concave, the anterior side presents a considerable slope from the umbo to the exterior margin, which gives the valves a tapering or ovate-lanceolate form. The external epidermis, of a greenish-brown colour, exhibits slightly undulating striæ of growth. The interior surface is slightly uneven-undulated, white, with delicate opalescent colours, green and faint pink; the former chiefly disposed in spots. The muscular impressions are more slightly marked than in the other species.

For the third shell, which I considered as a new species of ANODON, I propose the name of

ANODON Clappertoni: testa transversim oblonga, antice in extremo cardine acute excisa.

Hab. cum antecedentibus.

The notch at the anterior extremity of the hinge being always acute, never obtusangular or rounded, I have confined myself to it in the distinctive character of this species, which differs in several other respects from ANODON purpureus and rugosus of Swainson, to both of which it is, however, nearly related. The size of the shell, in the several specimens before me, varies from 1½ by ¾ of an inch to 3 inches by nearly 1½. Its form is transverse-oval, with a slight slope at the anterior end. The hinge margin is straight. Epidermis olive-green, appearing of a reddish-brown colour, owing to the pink colour of the surface underneath, which latter in one specimen passes into bluish-green at the umbones. Muscular impressions three; one of them, at the anterior end, oval, and continued in a faint tapering form towards the hollow of the umbo; of the two other impressions, which are both stronger marked, the one nearest to the edge of the valve is oval, with a small rounded sinus at the inner border, and close to it a smaller irregularly oval mark with notched margin: the two principal marks are connected by the edge of the impression of the mantle, the smaller mark being placed within the line. The tinge of the internal surface is pink, imperfectly painted over as it were with white. The several specimens, in different stages of growth, exhibit all these characters; there is, however, among them a single valve of rather larger dimensions and more rounded than the rest, with a fine bronze-coloured internal surface like that of IRIDINA nilotica. Whether this is to be considered as a distinct species, or only as a variety indicative of the full grown state of the shell, I must leave to the decision of conchologists more experienced in discriminating the ambiguous species of this genus.]

No. XXIV.

Thermometrical Journal kept at Kouka in Bornou.

+------------+--------+-------------------------+ | | | Fah. Thermometer. | | Date. | Winds. +--------+-------+--------+ | | | 6 a.m. | Noon. | 3 p.m. | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+ |March 1823. | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | E.N.E. | 70 | 98 | 103 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 16 | S.S.E. | 75 | 95 | 102 | | | | | | | | 17 | S.S.E. | 78 | 99 | 104 | | | | | | | | 18 | E.N.E. | 77 | | 104 | | | | | | | | 19 | S.E. | | | 98 | | | | | | | | 20 | E.N.E. | 78 | 95 | 101 | | | | | | | | 21 | N.E. | 82 | 100 | 105 | | | | | | | | 22 | E.N.E. | 80 | 97 | 100 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 23 | N.E. | 78 | 90 | 94 | | | | | | | | 24 | N.E. | 79 | 94 | 97 | | | | | | | | 25 | E.N.E. | 79 | 97 | 101 | | | | | | | | 26 | E.N.E. | 79 | 100 | 103 | | | | | | | | 27 | E.N.E. | 79 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 28 | E.N.E. | 82 | 97 | 98 | | | | | | | | 29 | E.N.E. | 80 | 97 | 100 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 30 | N.E. | 80 | 94 | 97 | | | | | | | | 31 | E.N.E. | 80 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | April. | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | N.E. | 77 | 98 | 101 | | | | | | | | 2 | N.E. | 80 | 95 | 100 | | | | | | | | 3 | S.E. | 80 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 7 | N.E. | 80 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 8 | N.E. | 80 | 99 | 103 | | | | | | | | 9 | E.N.E. | 78 | 98 | 102 | | | | | | | | 10 | E.N.E. | 77 | 97 | 99 | | | | | | | | 11 | N.E. | 72 | 100 | 100 | | | | | | | | 12 | N.E. | 78 | 104 | 107 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 13 | N.E. | 84 | 100 | 105 | | | | | | | | 14 | E.N.E. | 82 | 100 | 105 | | | | | | | | 15 | N.E. | 87 | 103 | 105 | | | | | | | | 16 | E.N.E. | 86 | 95 | 105 | | | | | | | | 17 | E.N.E. | 87 | 99 | 106 | | | | | | | | 18 | E.N.E. | 86 | 103 | 109 | | | | | | | | 19 | N.E. | 88 | 102 | 106 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 20 | E.N.E. | 87 | 102 | 107 | | | | | | | | 21 | E.N.E. | 85 | 100 | 100 | | | | | | | | 22 | E.N.E. | 86 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 23 | E.N.E. | 85 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 24 | N.E. | 83 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 25 | E.N.E. | 85 | 103 | 102 | | | | | | | | 26 | N.E. | 85 | 103 | 103 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 27 | N.E. | 86 | 102 | 102 | | | | | | | | 28 | N.E. | 83 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 29 | E.N.E. | 81 | 103 | 103 | | | | | | | | 30 | E.N.E. | 82 | 103 | 103 | | | | | | | | May. | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | E.N.E. | 85 | 106 | 106 | | | | | | | | 2 | N.E. | 85 | 103 | 105 | | | | | | | | 3 | N.E. | 83 | 105 | 98 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 4 | E.N.E. | 81 | 99 | 99 | | | | | | | | 5 | E.N.E. | 82 | 95 | 96 | | | | | | | | 6 | E.N.E. | 81 | 102 | 102 | | | | | | | | 7 | N. | 86 | 104 | 103 | | | | | | | | 8 | N.E. | 71 | 99 | 96 | | | | | | | | 9 | N.E. | 81 | 99 | 96 | | | | | | | | 10 | N.E. | 85 | 95 | 94 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 11 | N.E. | 86 | 101 | 95 | | | | | | | | 12 | Calm. | 81 | 99 | 95 | | | | | | | | 13 | W.S.W. | 75 | 98 | 98 | | | | | | | | 14 | W.S.W. | 75 | 95 | 98 | | | | | | | | 15 | W.S.W. | 74 | 97 | 97 | | | | | | | | 16 | W.S.W. | 72 | 92 | 95 | | | | | | | | 17 | S.W. | 74 | 97 | 98 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 18 | W.S.W. | 74 | 96 | 99 | | | | | | | | 19 | W.S.W. | 73 | 96 | 99 | | | | | | | | 20 | W.S.W. | 76 | 95 | 99 | | | | | | | | 21 | W.S.W. | 74 | 102 | 100 | | | | | | | | 22 | W.S.W. | 73 | 100 | 100 | | | | | | | | 23 | W.S.W. | 84 | 104 | 101 | | | | | | | | 24 | S.W. | 76 | 96 | 96 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 25 | S.W. | 73 | 96 | 96 | | | | | | | | 26 | S.W. | 81 | 98 | 100 | | | | | | | | 27 | S.W. | 76 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 28 | S.W. | 80 | 98 | 99 | | | | | | | | 29 | W.S.W. | 81 | 97 | 102 | | | | | | | | 30 | W.S.W. | 82 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 31 | W.S.W. | 80 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | June. | | | | | | | | | | | | Sunday, 1 | W.S.W. | 76 | 97 | 97 | | | | | | | | 2 | W.S.W. | 80 | 97 | 96 | | | | | | | | 3 | W.S.W. | 81 | 99 | 99 | | | | | | | | 4 | W.S.W. | 81 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 5 | W.S.W. | 80 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 6 | S.W. | 80 | 98 | 98 | | | | | | | | 7 | S.W. | 75 | 95 | 100 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 8 | S.W. | 78 | 98 | 98 | | | | | | | | 9 | S.W. | 79 | 95 | 97 | | | | | | | | 10 | S.W. | 78 | 89 | 90 | | | | | | | | 11 | W.S.W. | 75 | 89 | 93 | | | | | | | | 12 | W.S.W. | 79 | 87 | 95 | | | | | | | | 13 | W.S.W. | 80 | 95 | 95 | | | | | | | | 14 | W.S.W. | 81 | 97 | 97 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 15 | W.S.W. | 82 | 99 | 97 | | | | | | | | 16 | W.S.W. | 81 | 97 | 96 | | | | | | | | 17 | W.S.W. | 81 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 18 | W.S.W. | 80 | 97 | 99 | | | | | | | | 19 | W.S.W. | 79 | 89 | 93 | | | | | | | | 20 | W.S.W. | 78 | 92 | 93 | | | | | | | | 21 | W.S.W. | 77 | 92 | 95 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 22 | W.S.W. | 78 | 98 | 99 | | | | | | | | 23 | S.W. | 81 | 95 | 87 | | | | | | | | 24 | S.W. | 76 | 95 | 87 | | | | | | | | 25 | S.W. | 80 | 97 | 96 | | | | | | | | 26 | S.W. | 81 | 94 | 95 | | | | | | | | 27 | S.W. | 87 | 96 | 98 | | | | | | | | 28 | S.W. | 81 | 97 | 92 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 29 | S.W. | 82 | 96 | 97 | | | | | | | | 30 | S.W. | | | | | | | | | | | July. 1 | S.W. | 82 | 97 | 99 | | | | | | | | 2 | S.W. | 81 | 92 | 92 | | | | | | | | 3 | S.W. | 82 | 93 | 94 | | | | | | | | 4 | S.W. | 74 | 85 | 84 | | | | | | | | 5 | S.W. | 78 | 89 | 94 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 6 | S.W. | 78 | 89 | 96 | | | | | | | | 7 | S.W. | 78 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 8 | S.W. | 78 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 9 | W.S.W. | 81 | 87 | 92 | | | | | | | | 10 | W.S.W. | 77 | 92 | 95 | | | | | | | | 11 | W.S.W. | 75 | 85 | 97 | | | | | | | | 12 | S.W. | 75 | 85 | 88 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 13 | S.W. | 71 | 79 | 82 | | | | | | | | 14 | S.W. | 72 | 82 | 89 | | | | | | | | 15 | S.W. | 75 | 83 | 90 | | | | | | | | 16 | S.W. | 76 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 17 | S.W. | 72 | 84 | 93 | | | | | | | | 18 | S.W. | 76 | 83 | 89 | | | | | | | | 19 | S.W. | 75 | 86 | 90 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 20 | S.W. | 74 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 21 | S.W. | 72 | 83 | 86 | | | | | | | | 22 | S.W. | 73 | 84 | 87 | | | | | | | | 23 | S.W. | 73 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 24 | S.W. | 74 | 84 | 90 | | | | | | | | 25 | S.W. | 73 | 83 | 87 | | | | | | | | 26 | S.W. | 71 | 84 | 86 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 27 | S.W. | 80 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 28 | S.W. | 76 | 86 | 90 | | | | | | | | 29 | S.W. | 73 | 84 | 87 | | | | | | | | 30 | S.W. | 76 | 85 | 95 | | | | | | | | 31 | W. | 76 | 85 | 92 | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+

+-----------+-------------------+----------------------+ | | | Fah. Thermometer. | | Date. | State of Weather. +-------+------+-------+ | | |6 a.m. |Noon. |3 p.m. | +-----------+-------------------+-------+------+-------+ | 1823. | | | | | | | | | | | | Aug. 1 | Rain all night. | 75 | 82 | 86 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 73 | 78 | 79 | | | | | | | | 3 | Sunday. Rain in | 74 | 80 | 82 | | | evening. | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | 78 | 82 | 83 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 76 | 82 | 84 | | | | | | | | 6 | Rain much. | 73 | 77 | 78 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 74 | 78 | 81 | | | | | | | | 8 | Rain. | 76 | 80 | 81 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 75 | 81 | 82 | | | | | | | | 10 | Sunday. Rain, | 74 | 77 | 80 | | | loud thunder. | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | | 76 | 81 | 83 | | | | | | | | 12 | Rain and thunder | 79 | 83 | 85 | | | all night. | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | 75 | 80 | 81 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 76 | 80 | 85 | | | | | | | | 15 | Rain, thunder, | 77 | 84 | 87 | | | vivid lightning. | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | 76 | 82 | 85 | | | | | | | | 17 | Sunday. | 78 | 83 | 85 | | | | | | | | 18 | | 77 | 84 | 86 | | | | | | | | 19 | Rain and thunder | 79 | 85 | 86 | | | during the night. | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Rainy day. | 78 | 84 | 85 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 75 | 82 | 83 | | | | | | | | 22 | Much rain. | 74 | 79 | 83 | | | | | | | | 23 | Morning cloudy. | 74 | 80 | 84 | | | | | | | | 24 | Sunday. Drizzling | 76 | 83 | 85 | | | rain. | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | Night violent. | 75 | 77 | 79 | | | | | | | | 26 | Night. | 75 | 78 | 79 | | | | | | | | 27 | All night. | 74 | 78 | 79 | | | | | | | | 28 | Day and night, | 73 | 77 | 79 | | | showers. | | | | | | | | | | | 29 | Rain. | 74 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 75 | 80 | 82 | | | | | | | | 31 | Sunday. Rain, | 74 | 78 | 80 | | | much thunder. | | | | | | | | | | | Sep. 1 | | 74 | 79 | 81 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 76 | 84 | 86 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 79 | 85 | 89 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 80 | 85 | 88 | | | | | | | | 5 | Morning. Rain and | 80 | 80 | 81 | | | thunder. | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | 78 | 83 | 84 | | | | | | | | 7 | Sunday. | 78 | 85 | 86 | | | | | | | | 8 | Rain. | 79 | 80 | 81 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 78 | 83 | 85 | | | | | | | | 10 | Night, hurricane, | 80 | 86 | 88 | | | east. | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | South. | 78 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 80 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 79 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 14 | Sunday. | 78 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 80 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 16 | | 81 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 17 | Cloudy afternoon. | 81 | 88 | 89 | | | | | | | | 18 | | 80 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 19 | Hurricane, east | 80 | 87 | 85 | | | and a half south. | | | | | | Strong 3 p.m. | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | | 80 | 84 | 87 | | | | | | | | 21 | Sunday. | 78 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 79 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 23 | | 78 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 80 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 25 | | 82 | 89 | 92 | | | | | | | | 26 | Violent storm, | 80 | 89 | 90 | | | noon wind N. hail | | | | | | and rain. | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | 76 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 28 | Sunday. | 80 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 81 | 87 | 91 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 80 | 86 | 91 | | | | | | | | Oct. 1 | Rain and wind in | 80 | 87 | 91 | | | night. | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 78 | 84 | 85 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 80 | 85 | 88 | | | | | | | | 4 | Wind, thunder. | 81 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 5 | Sunday, rain and | 80 | 86 | 88 | | | wind. | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | 79 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 80 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 80 | 89 | 93 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 79 | 89 | 92 | | | | | | | | 10 | Breeze N.W. | 78 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 77 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 12 | Sunday, | 79 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 78 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 79 | 91 | 93 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 77 | 92 | 93 | | | | | | | | 16 | | 83 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 81 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 18 | | 80 | 90 | 93 | | | | | | | | 19 | Sunday, | 81 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 79 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 80 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 81 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 23 | | 75 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 76 | 85 | 88 | | | | | | | | 25 | | 77 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 26 | Sunday, | 77 | 88 | 91 | | | | | | | | 27 | | 78 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 28 | | 78 | 90 | 91 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 79 | 91 | 93 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 78 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 31 | | 79 | 89 | 92 | | | | | | | | Nov. 1 | | 78 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 2 | Sunday, | 76 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 75 | 88 | 89 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 76 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 77 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 6 | | 77 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 76 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 75 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 9 | Sunday, | 76 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 77 | 86 | 89 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 79 | 87 | 88 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 76 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 74 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 74 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 73 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 16 | Sunday, | 74 | 88 | 89 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 74 | 83 | 86 | | | | | | | | 18 | | 75 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 19 | | 75 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 75 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 75 | 86 | 88 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 69 | 78 | 81 | | | | | | | | 23 | Sunday, | 71 | 79 | 81 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 69 | 77 | 79 | | | | | | | | 25 | | 68 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 26 | | 67 | 79 | 81 | | | | | | | | 27 | | 66 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 28 | | 65 | 77 | 79 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 66 | 77 | 79 | | | | | | | | 30 | Sunday, | 67 | 79 | 80 | | | | | | | | Dec. 1 | | 66 | 79 | 81 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 67 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 66 | 79 | 81 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 65 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 67 | 80 | 82 | | | | | | | | 6 | | 68 | 80 | 82 | | | | | | | | 7 | Sunday, | 68 | 78 | 80 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 63 | 76 | 78 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 64 | 76 | 78 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 63 | 75 | 77 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 64 | 76 | 78 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 64 | 77 | 78 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 64 | 78 | 78 | | | | | | | | 14 | Sunday, | 63 | 75 | 77 | | | | | | | | 15 |{ }| 64 | 74 | 76 | | |{ }| | | | | 16 |{ }| 63 | 75 | 77 | | |{Dull cold days. }| | | | | 17 |{Wind N.N.E. and }| 64 | 75 | 76 | | |{E., but a cloudy }| | | | | 18 |{sun at noon. }| 63 | 74 | 76 | | |{ }| | | | | 19 |{ }| 63 | 72 | 74 | | |{ }| | | | | 20 |{ }| 63 | 71 | 72 | | | | | | | | 21 | Sunday, | 64 | 73 | 75 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 65 | 74 | 75 | | | | | | | | 23 | | 66 | 73 | 75 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 65 | 74 | 76 | | | | | | | | 25 | | 66 | 74 | 77 | | | | | | | | 26 | | 64 | 75 | 76 | | | | | | | | 27 | | 64 | 72 | 74 | | | | | | | | 28 | Sunday, | 65 | 73 | 75 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 64 | 74 | 76 | | | | | | | | 30 | N.E. cold. | 61 | 63 | 65 | | | | | | | | 31 | | 58 | 66 | 73 | | | | | | | | 1824. | | | | | | | | | | | | Jan. 1 | | 61 | 74 | 76 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 60 | 71 | 72 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 61 | 72 | 73 | | | | | | | | 4 | Sunday, | 60 | 70 | 74 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 61 | 73 | 75 | | | | | | | | 6 | | 63 | 75 | 77 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 65 | 77 | 79 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 65 | 82 | 84 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 66 | 84 | 86 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 65 | 83 | 85 | | | | | | | | 11 | Sunday, | 64 | 82 | 84 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 65 | 83 | 85 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 66 | 84 | 86 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 66 | 85 | 86 | | | | | | | | 15 | Elephant, | 70 | 85 | 87 | | | | | | | | 16 | | 75 | 86 | 87 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 74 | 85 | 86 | | | | | | | | 18 | Sunday, | 75 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 19 | | 75 | 90 | 91 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 74 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 75 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 74 | 86 | 87 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mar. 2 | | 80 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 77 | 94 | 95 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 78 | 95 | 97 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 78 | 95 | 96 | | | | | | | | 6 | | 80 | 95 | 97 | | | | | | | | 7 | Sunday, | 79 | 96 | 98 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 80 | 95 | 96 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 79 | 91 | 93 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 79 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 78 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 79 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 78 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 14 | Sunday, | 80 | 95 | 97 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 82 | 95 | 98 | | | | | | | | 16 | | 80 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 79 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 18 | Winds south. | 79 | 92 | 94 | | | | | | | | 19 | Heavy dull sky. | 78 | 91 | 93 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 79 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 21 | Sunday, | 79 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 78 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 23 | North breeze. | 75 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 76 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 25 | | 77 | 90 | 91 | | | | | | | | 26 | | 78 | 94 | 97 | | | | | | | | 27 | | 80 | 95 | 99 | | | | | | | | 28 | Sunday, | 83 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 85 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 84 | 98 | 100 | | | | | | | | 31 | | 85 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | Apr. 1 | | 86 | 97 | 99 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 85 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 84 | 95 | 96 | | | | | | | | 4 | Sunday, | 79 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 84 | 96 | 100 | | | | | | | | 6 | | 86 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 87 | 98 | 100 | | | | | | | | 8 | Slight rain with | 86 | 100 | 104 | | | lightning. | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | 90 | 101 | 104 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 87 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 11 | Sunday, | 88 | 100 | 103 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 86 | 102 | 105 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 87 | 103 | 105 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 86 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 87 | 101 | 102 | | | | | | | | 16 | | 86 | 100 | 103 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 85 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 18 | Sunday, | 86 | 101 | 105 | | | | | | | | 19 | | 84 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 85 | 100 | 105 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 86 | 100 | 106 | | | | | | | | 22 | N.W. wind, | 86 | 100 | 100 | | | | | | | | 23 | | 85 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 24 | Thick atmosphere. | 86 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 25 | Sunday, | 79 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 26 |} {| 86 | 103 | 103 | | |} Violent {| | | | | 27 |} N.W. {| 86 | 102 | 102 | | |} winds. {| | | | | 28 |} {| 83 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 80 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 82 | 103 | 103 | | | | | | | | May 1 | | 86 | 104 | 106 | | | | | | | | 2 | Dull and thick, | 83 | 100 | 104 | | | with wind. | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |} {| | | | | |} {| | | | | 4 |} Rain, {| 83 | 100 | 100 | | |} Thunder. {| | | | | 5 |} {| 81 | 100 | 100 | | |} {| | | | | 6 |} {| | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | 86 | 98 | 100 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 85 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 9 | Sunday, | 87 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 88 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 87 | 97 | 99 | | | | | | | | 12 | | 89 | 99 | 101 | | | | | | | | 13 | First day of | 88 | 99 | 106 | | | summer. | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | 80 | 99 | 104 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 81 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 16 | Sunday, | 86 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 17 | | 84 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 18 | | 86 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 19 | | 87 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 88 | 102 | 104 | | | | | | | | 21 | | 86 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 22 | | 85 | 99 | 104 | | | | | | | | 23 | Sunday, | 86 | 98 | 104 | | | | | | | | 24 |} {| 88 | 101 | 102 | | |} {| | | | | 25 |} Sun rises at {| 87 | 100 | 103 | | |} 5. 10. and {| | | | | 26 |} the day is {| 88 | 100 | 104 | | |} 13h. 10m. {| | | | | 27 |} sets 6. 10. {| 87 | 101 | 103 | | |} {| | | | | 28 |} {| 88 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 29 | Morning, thick | 89 | 101 | 102 | | | hot vapours. | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | Sunday. Night | 91 | 100 | 101 | | | stormy, no rain. | | | | | | | | | | | 31 | | 88 | 98 | 100 | | | | | | | | June 1 | | 90 | 101 | 102 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 89 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 90 | 103 | 105 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 90 | 102 | 104 | | | | | | | | 5 | Dull. | 89 | 103 | 104 | | | | | | | | 6 | Sunday, | 88 | 102 | 103 | | | | | | | | 7 | | 87 | 101 | 102 | | | | | | | | 8 | | 88 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 89 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 87 | 98 | 99 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 87 | 97 | 100 | | | | | | | | 12 | Wind S.S.E. | 89 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 13 | Sunday, | 88 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 89 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 15 | | 90 | 101 | 103 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | July 19 | | 80 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 20 | | 78 | 87 | 89 | | | | | | | | 21 | Much rain. | 79 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 22 | Dull. | 80 | 86 | 86 | | | | | | | | 23 | | 80 | 90 | 95 | | | | | | | | 24 | | 79 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 25 | Sunday, | 80 | 91 | 92 | | | | | | | | 26 | | 80 | 90 | 92 | | | | | | | | 27 | | 78 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 28 | | 79 | 87 | 91 | | | | | | | | 29 | | 78 | 88 | 92 | | | | | | | | 30 | | 80 | 89 | 91 | | | | | | | | 31 | | 80 | 89 | 90 | | | | | | | | Aug. 1 | Sunday, | 81 | 92 | 96 | | | | | | | | 2 | | 81 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 3 | | 80 | 90 | 91 | | | | | | | | 4 | | 78 | 87 | 90 | | | | | | | | 5 | | 79 | 89 | 92 | | | | | | | | 6 | Sultry. Aide | 80 | 94 | 95 | | | kebir. | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Night, rain. | 81 | 91 | 93 | | | | | | | | 8 | Sunday, | 78 | 84 | 87 | | | | | | | | 9 | | 79 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 10 | | 80 | 89 | 90 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 79 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 12 | Much rain. | 80 | 89 | 90 | | | | | | | | 13 | | 78 | 80 | 82 | | | | | | | | 14 | | 79 | 81 | 83 | | | | | | | | 15 | Sunday, | 76 | 82 | 81 | +-----------+-------------------+-------+------+-------+

* * * * *

Thermometrical Journal kept at Kano.

+------------+--------+-------------------------+ | | | Fah. Thermometer. | | Date. | Winds. +--------+-------+--------+ | | | 6 a.m. | Noon. | 3 p.m. | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+ | January | | | | | | 1824. | | | | | | | | | | | | Sunday, 25 | E.N.E. | 83 | 84 | 84 | | | | | | | | 26 | E.N.E. | 82 | 84 | 84 | | | | | | | | 27 | N.E. | 64 | 79 | 79 | | | | | | | | 28 | N.E. | 65 | 80 | 80 | | | | | | | | 29 | N.E. | 74 | 75 | 76 | | | | | | | | 30 | N.E. | 74 | 76 | 76 | | | | | | | | 31 | N.E. | 72 | 75 | 76 | | | | | | | | February | | | | | | | | | | | | Sunday, 1 | N.E. | 80 | 82 | 83 | | | | | | | | 2 | N.E. | 73 | 79 | 79 | | | | | | | | 3 | N.E. | 69 | 79 | 80 | | | | | | | | 4 | N.E. | 70 | 79 | 78 | | | | | | | | 5 | N.E. | 79 | 83 | 83 | | | | | | | | 6 | E.N.E. | 79 | 82 | 84 | | | | | | | | 7 | E.N.E. | 81 | 84 | 84 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 8 | N.E. | 79 | 84 | 84 | | | | | | | | 9 | N.E. | 75 | 79 | 80 | | | | | | | | 10 | N.E. | 77 | 80 | 80 | | | | | | | | 11 | N.E. | 74 | 74 | 74 | | | | | | | | 12 | N.E. | 70 | 73 | 73 | | | | | | | | 13 | N.E. | 69 | 73 | 74 | | | | | | | | 14 | N.E. | 72 | 74 | 74 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 15 | N.E. | 72 | 76 | 76 | | | | | | | | 16 | N.E. | 74 | 82 | 83 | | | | | | | | 17 | N.E. | 74 | 84 | 84 | | | | | | | | 18 | N.E. | 81 | 85 | 86 | | | | | | | | 19 | N.E. | 82 | 87 | 87 | | | | | | | | 20 | N.E. | 81 | 85 | 86 | | | | | | | | 21 | E.N.E. | 82 | 86 | 87 | | | | | | | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+

Thermometrical Journal kept at Sackatoo.

+------------+--------+-------------------------+ | | | Fah. Thermometer. | | Date. | Winds. +--------+-------+--------+ | | | 6 a.m. | Noon. | 3 p.m. | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+ |March 1824. | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | E.N.E. | 84 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | 17 | E.N.E. | 82 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 18 | E.N.E. | 84 | 91 | 95 | | | | | | | | 19 | E.N.E. | 86 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 20 | E.N.E. | 82 | 93 | 95 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 21 | E.N.E. | 83 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 22 | E.N.E. | 84 | 94 | 95 | | | | | | | | 23 | E.N.E. | 82 | 93 | 96 | | | | | | | | 24 | E.N.E. | 84 | 95 | 98 | | | | | | | | 25 | E.N.E. | 83 | 96 | 97 | | | | | | | | 26 | E.N.E. | 82 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 27 | E.S.E. | 82 | 94 | 99 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 28 | E.S.E. | 86 | 96 | 98 | | | | | | | | 29 | E.S.E. | 84 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 30 | E.S.E. | 84 | 96 | 100 | | | | | | | | 31 | E.S.E. | 81 | 96 | 99 | | | | | | | | April. | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | E.S.E. | 79 | 94 | 98 | | | | | | | | 2 | E.S.E. | 78 | 94 | 98 | | | | | | | | 3 | E.S.E. | 84 | 98 | 98 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 4 | E.N.E. | 74 | 95 | 98 | | | | | | | | 5 | E.N.E. | 83 | 92 | 96 | | | | | | | | 6 | E.N.E. | 76 | 98 | 101 | | | | | | | | 7 | E.N.E. | 77 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 8 | E.N.E. | 78 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 9 | E.N.E. | 85 | 98 | 99 | | | | | | | | 10 | E.N.E. | 84 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 11 | S.W. | 84 | 95 | 98 | | | | | | | | 12 | S.W. | 84 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 13 | S.W. | 84 | 99 | 103 | | | | | | | | 14 | S.W. | 84 | 104 | 108 | | | | | | | | 15 | S.W. | 86 | 103 | 106 | | | | | | | | 16 | S.W. | 87 | 102 | 106 | | | | | | | | 17 | S.W. | 89 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 18 | S.W. | 87 | 97 | 102 | | | | | | | | 19 | S.W. | 87 | 100 | 104 | | | | | | | | 20 | S.W. | 88 | 99 | 100 | | | | | | | | 21 | S.W. | 84 | 92 | 95 | | | | | | | | 22 | S.W. | 85 | 91 | 97 | | | | | | | | 23 | S.W. | 81 | 96 | 98 | | | | | | | | 24 | S.W. | 78 | 81 | 82 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 25 | S.W. | 74 | 92 | 91 | | | | | | | | 26 | S.W. | 79 | 94 | 96 | | | | | | | | 27 | S.W. | 76 | 92 | 98 | | | | | | | | 28 | S.W. | 79 | 89 | 94 | | | | | | | | 29 | S.W. | 74 | 100 | 102 | | | | | | | | 30 | S.W. | 76 | 91 | 94 | | | | | | | | May. | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | S.W. | 76 | 98 | 102 | | | | | | | | Sunday, 2 | S.W. | 76 | 99 | 102 | | | | | | | | 3 | S.W. | 78 | 100 | 102 | +------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+

NOTE.—The observations of the height of mercury in the barometer were mostly discontinued at Kouka, partly from the illness of Dr. Oudney, who took charge of the instrument, and partly from the uncertainty of its accuracy. At Tripoli it was regularly registered three times a day for about three months, the mean height during that period being 30,39 inches. About the middle of the desert, and indeed most of the way from Mourzuk to the Yeou, it generally stood about 28,50, and at Kouka from 28,72 to 29 inches.

THE END.

LONDON: PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.

Transcriber's note:

An entry for the Prefatory notice by John Barrow has been added to the table of contents.

pg xvi-xvii (footnote 1) Changed: poor in the grusses to: grasses

pg liii Changed: Mahomet ben Kaml to: Raml

pg lv Changed: a bowl of libau to: liban

pg 105 Changed: hung round ther necks to: their

plate 16 (caption) Changed: ATTACH IN MUSFEIA. to: ATTACK ON MUSFEIA.

pg 220 (in table, row: Ear) Changed: 2[ft.] 2 by 2 6[in.] to: 2 by 2[ft.] 6[in.] (changed as seen in French transl. of this edition, 1826)

pg 268 (footnote 52) Changed: flows near Darpoor to: Darfoor

After Denham's Narrative:

pg 77 Changed: expedition under Abdecachman to: Abderachman

pg 152 Changed: named Fair (Tyrwhit) to: Tair

pg 162 Changed: Amoug the provinces to: Among

pg 194 Changed: S. albovittalus to: albovittatus

pg 231 Changed: universall exist in to: universally

List of plates Changed: Salt Lake Tegishy to: Salt Lake at Tegerhy

The list of plates has been moved from the end of the book to after the table of contents.

Minor changes in punctuation and fixes of typographical errors have been done silently.

Other spelling inconsistencies have been left unchanged.

In the LETTERS table (Excursion to the Westward of Mourzuk), the Tuarick characters have been indicated as [Symbol] followed by the inferred Tifinagh equivalent, when possible.

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