XV. General Map of the Western Half of Northern Central Africa _to face_ 457 PLATES. 1. Ghágo _Frontispiece._ 2. Camp of the Sheikh El Bakáy _to face_ 84 3. Ammalélle „ 127 4. Bamba „ 162 5. Borno on the Niger „ 227 6. Ansóngho „ 249 7. The Niger at Tiboráwen „ 253 8. Rapids of the Niger at Ém-n-Íshib „ 258 9. Swollen torrent of Sókoto „ 335 10. Áshenúmma „ 432 WOODCUTS. Leather Bag 18 Two Leather Cushions 19 A “bét” or Énnefi, a small Leather Pouch, with three Pockets and Cover, for Tobacco and Tinder; a covering for gun 20 A Tawárek Camp in Motion 121 Ground-plan of Hut of Matting 164 Hamlet of Kánembú Cattle-breeders 411 [Illustration: DR. BARTH’S TRAVELS IN NORTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA Sheet No. 14. MAP OF PART OF AFRICA (WESTERN SHEET) showing DR. BARTH’S ROUTES, 1850-1855 between and native itineraries collected by him. Constructed and drawn by A. Petermann. Engraved by E. Weller, _Duke Strt. Bloomsbury._ _London, Longman & Co._] TRAVELS AND DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA. * * * * * CHAPTER LXX. BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR. — ANOMALOUS RISING OF THE NIGER. — COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF TIMBÚKTU. I had long cherished the hope that the beginning of 1854 would have found me far advanced on my homeward journey; but greatly disappointed in this expectation, I began the year with a fervent prayer for a safe return home in the course of it.