navigation is said to prevail;
the existence of which is further confirmed by the great importance
attached to Funda, and other cities situated at or near the junction.
It would have been deeply interesting, and have given a new importance
to the river communications of Africa, could we have believed, what
was positively asserted by very credible witnesses, that vessels
by its channel sailed to and from the lake Tchad, and thus held
intercourse with the kingdoms of Loggun and Bornou. It seems certain
that the names Tshadda, Shary, and Tchad, are one and the same. But
the identity of the two first as rivers is what we are precluded from
all possibility of believing, by the circumstance that the Shary of
Loggun and Bornou, which Major Denham saw and sailed upon, was found
by him falling _into_ lake Tchad, while the Tshadda of Lander fell
_into_ the Niger; consequently they are distinct streams, flowing in
opposite directions. It is very probable indeed that their fountains
may be in the same mountain chain, and at no great distance; and even
that some of their branches may approach very near, so that merchants
may, by an easy portage, convey commodities between them. Nay, it
is not quite impossible that they may be united by some connecting
channel, as the Amazons and the Oronooka are; but this seems scarcely
probable.

At no great distance above the Tshadda, enters the Coodonia, a smaller
river, but which Lander had seen flowing through a very fertile and
highly cultivated country. Considerably higher is the Cubbie, a large
stream from the country and city of that name; and higher still the
Quarrama, which has passed by Zirmie and Sackatoo. Between this point
and Timbuctoo, we have no means of knowing whether any or what rivers
fall into the Niger. The tributary which passes that city is of
no great importance; but at the eastern boundary of Bambarra, Park
describes the influx from the south of two great streams, the Maniana
and Nimma; and it seems very doubtful if Caillie was not mistaken
in supposing the latter to be a mere branch of the Niger. The higher
tributaries, descending from the mountains, swell the stream, without
themselves affording any important navigation.--_Edinburgh Review._

* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER.

* * * * *

LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES.

[Probably one of the most amusing articles in Mr. Macculloch's
bulky _Dictionary