Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/166

 the countries it traverses and the population residing on its banks. Below the hilly district where it has its source, it waters the little-known Bélé-Dugu territory, beyond which it trends westwards, here forming the border-line between the French possessions and Kaarta. In this section of its course it receives but few and slight contributions from the northern or Saharian slope; but from the south it is joined by some copious streams, such as the Bakhoy, which gives its name to the main stream below the junction, and which by its confluence with the Bafing forms the Senegal, properly so called. Bafulabé, or the "Two Rivers," is the local Malinké name of

this confluence of the Bakhoy, or "White," with the Bafing, or "Black" river; the designation Maio-Reio given to it by the Fulahs and Toucouleurs, has the same meaning.

The Bafing rises at an elevation of 2,500 feet in the southern part of the Futa-Jallon highlands, south of the sources of the Falémé, Gambia, and Rio-Grande. After flowing some distance southwards it describes a great curve to the east, north-east, and north, thus forming a semi-ellipse with the lower course of the Senegal. Having a very steep incline between its source and the Bakhoy confluence, and receiving no rainwater for nine months in the year, the Bafing would cease to