NIGER, the 'great river (tf" western Africa. Its mune, according to Dr. Barth, is a contracted form of one of the native tianies, .i.V-eghirrea, Which, as Well as all the other names, .Dkinit$2 (JoOa), Mayo, I sa, Kwara (Quorra), and Ilaki-n-rwwa, means simply "the river." The principal head-water rises on tile slopes of mount Loma, a peak of the Kong mountains, in a barren, desolate, and treeless region, in lat. 9' 25' n., long. 9° 45' w., about 1,600 it. above sea-la–el. It flows n.e. to Timbuktu, where it bends eastward, and after flowing in that direction for about 250 m., it curves toward the s., and pro ceeds in a general s.s.e. course, until arriving at the head of its delta, in hit. about 5' 30' n., it separates into many branches, and enters the gulf of Guinea, between the bights of Benin and Biafra. It is called the Timbri for the first 70 in. of its course, after which it receives the name of the J'liba, or more correctly Dhitilibii; and after passing Timbuktu, it is known principally as the Quorra. Little is known of its course until it reaches Sego (lat. 12° 30' n.), a distance of 350 in. from its source, but from that point it has been explored throughout nearly the whole of its course. From Sego to Timbuktu it flows through a fertile country, producing rice, maize, and vegetables, and abounding in good pasturage. In lat. 14° 10' n., the river separates into two branches; the western is called the Joliba or Mayo, the eastern the Bara-Isa. These, as they proceed, are known as the White and Black rivers respectively; and they unite after inclosing the island of Jimballa, 220 m. in length, and from 2 to 20 in. in breadth The river again bifurcates before arriving at Timbuktu, and after passing that town, the two branches, on one of which—the northern—Cabra, the port of Timbuktu is situated, again unite. In the district of union iu the s.w.. of Timbuktu, the country far and wide is intersected by numberless streams, forming a complicated net-work of water-courses. The river then flows e., sending off many creeks and branches to Barnba; its banks here are low and marshy, and during the rainy season are overflowed. In this region, rice, tobacco, wheat, and even barley are grown. The river then passes the town of Burrum, where it curves to the s.e., and from this point—called from the bend, the Knee of Burrum it bears the name of Kwara or Quorra until it reaches the delta. Immediately below Burr ma, the Niger does not present an imposing appearance. Its bed resembles a broad
marshy valley, inclosed by ridges of rock or high dunes, thickly overgrown with reeds and sedges, and cut up by numberless streams and creeks. At the ferry of Third (lat. 15' 55' u.), the breadth of the river is from 800 to 900 yards; and here the whole valley-, about 10 m. broad, is fruitful, carefully cultivated, and well peopled. Further s., the towns of Garu and Sandu are passed, and here the bed is rocky and the navigation dangerous. At the town of Say, the Niger, after reaching a breath of from 2,500 to 3,000 paces, is narrowed to a width of 1;000 paces, flows at the rate of three miles an hour, and is inclosed by rocky banks. From Say to Wara, the course of the Niger remains still unknown. From Wara it flows e.s.e. to Rabba; and from this town to its mouth, the course of the river is comparatively well known. In let. between 8° and 7' 30' n., it flows round the eastern shoulder of the Kong mountains (2,000 to 3,000 ft. high), and here the banks of the Niger are extraordinarily beautiful. In lat. 7° 40' n., it receives the Benne from the e. The delta consists of an immense mangrove forest, cut up into islands by the numerous branches (22 iu number) of the river. The principal mouths are the Bonny, Mad, and Nun.
The existence of the Niger seems to have been first made known in ancient times by travelers from the, s. shores of the Mediterranean, who, crossing the great desert, came upon the upper course of a great river flowing toward the rising sun. This river Herodotus supposed to be a branch of the Egyptian Nile. Pliny speaks of the Nigris of Ethiopia, but he also thought that it flowed into the Nile. No definite notion on the river had been formed until it was visited Mingo Park in July, 1796, when this traveler explored its banks for a distance of 160 m. See PARS, MuecGO. Cailli6 explored the river from the town of Jennee to Timbuktu; and tt.e English expedition of 18A, under Lander and Allen, proved that the Quorra. was navigable from Boussa to the sea; information, however, which was obtained at an immense cost of human life from the unhealthiness of the climate. Subsequent expeditins have ended with similar results. In 1864, Dr. Barth followed the course of the river from Timbuktu to Say, and much of what is now known about the Niger is due to his labors. The entire length of the river is estimated at upwards of 2,500 miles.—Barth's Travels in Central Africa.