AFRICAN ASSOCIATION.

The proceedings of the world's first geographical society provide an essential source for information concerning the Niger River - including the fact that it flowed from East to West, thus refuting the sixteenth century view of Leo Africanus - and Timbuktu, the legendary city of gold.

The work contains a remarkable amount of detail on the country previously marked on maps as Nigritia or Bilad as Sudan (both terms meaning 'Land of the Blacks'): It covers the season for Saharan travel, the measures to be taken when travelling by camel, the distances that could be covered in one day. The work also confirmed the existence of the great kingdoms of Katsina and Borno, and lists various hitherto unknown tribes. Of particular importance is the information concerning trade in gold, salt, cotton, ivory, etc.