Niger

NIGER, a great river of West Africa, inferior only to the Congo and Nile among the rivers of the continent. Rising within I5o m. of the sea in the mountainous zone which marks the north-east frontiers of Sierra Leone and French Guinea, it tra verses the interior plateaux in a vast curve, flowing north-east, east and south-east, until it finally enters the Gulf of Guinea through an immense delta. Its total length is about 2,600 miles. About 25o m. from its mouth it is joined by the Benue, coming from the east from the mountainous region of Adamawa. From its mouth to the limit of navigability from the sea the Niger is in British territory; above that point it flows through French ter ritory. The area of the Niger basin is calculated at 580,000 sq.m. at least.

The source of the Niger lies in 9° 5' N. and 47' W.; the most northerly point of the great bend is about 17° N. and the mouth is in 4° 30' N. 6° E. The river is known locally under various names, the most common being Joliba (a Mandigo word meaning great river) and Kworra or Quorra. By the last name the Niger was known in its lower reaches before its identity with the upper river was established. The Tembi, the stream considered the chief source of the Niger, issues from a deep ravine 2,800 ft. above sea-level where, from a moss-covered rock a spring issues and has made a pool below. The overflow forms the Tembi, which within a short distance is joined by two other rivulets, the Tamincono and Falico, which have their origin in the same mountainous district. After flowing north for about Ioo m., the river turns eastward and at its confluence with the Tankisso (a northern tributary), 210 m. from its source, has attained dimensions sufficient to earn for itself the title Joliba. Taking at this point a decided trend northward, the Niger, 1 oo m. lower down, at Bamako has a depth of 6 ft. with a breadth of 1,300 feet. Seven or eight miles below Bamako the Sotuba rocks mark the end of what may be considered the upper river. Thirty miles below Sotuba are the rapids of Tulimandio ; a little lower down is Kulikoro, from which point the bed of the stream for over i,000 m. is fairly free from impediments.

Middle Niger and Lake Region.

The Niger here turns more directly to the east and increases in volume and depth. Below Sansandig the banks of the river become low and the Niger is split up into a number of channels. Mopti is at the junction of the main stream with a large right-hand backwater or tributary, the Bani or Mahel Balevel, on which is situated the important town of Jenne. Below Mopti is a swampy and

treeless region and the first of a series of lakes (Debo) is reached. These lakes are chiefly on the left of the main stream, with which they are connected by channels conveying the water in one direc tion or the other according to the season. At high water most of these are united into one general inundation. The largest lake, Faguibini, is nearly 7o m. long by 12 m. broad, has high shores and reaches a depth exceeding, in parts, 16o feet. It is not until Kabara, the port of Timbuktu, is reached, a distance of 450 m. from Sansandig, that the labyrinth of lakes, creeks and back waters ceases. Below Kabara the river reaches its most northerly point. Here, and for some Soo m. down stream the river is bor dered on the north by the Sahara ; in places it is desert on both sides, with long lines of sand dunes. At Bamba it is shut in by steep banks, and narrows to from 600 to 700 yd., again spreading out some distance down. At Tosaye (about 25o m. from Tim buktu) the stream turns distinctly south-east and preserves that direction throughout the remainder of its course. Here, just be fore the bend becomes pronounced, the Baror and Chabar rocks reduce the width of the river to less than Soo ft., and at low water the strength of the current is a serious danger to navigation.

At Ansongo, 43o m. below Timbuktu, the navigable reach of the middle Niger, in all 1,o57 m., ends. Four huge flint rocks bar the river at Ansongo and effectually prevent further navigation except in very shallow draught vessels. From Ansongo to Say, some 25o m., the river presents a labyrinth of rocks, islands, reefs and rapids. From Say, where the stream is about 700 yd. in breadth, to Bussa, there is another navigable stretch extend ing 30o miles. After the desert region is past the Niger receives the waters of the river Sokoto, a considerable stream flowing from the north-east. Some distance below this confluence are the Bussa rapids. These rapids are of a more dangerous char acter than any encountered between Ansongo and Say. "In one pass, some 54 yd. wide, shut in between two large reefs, a good half of the waters of the Niger flings itself over with a tremen dous roar" (Hourst). The rapids extend for 5o m. or more; in a less obstructive form they continue to Rabba.