Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/355

 between Jallonké-dugu and Massina in another; but it occupies such an advantageous position for trade, that however wasted by_war and dethroned from its royal state, Segu must always recover from its political disasters, and continue to be a great centre of population and traffic. It lies on the right bank, scarcely 24 miles below the Bakhoy confluence, at the converging point of all the trade routes from the Upper Niger valleys, between Futa-Jallon and the Mahi uplands. The large market of Kayayé, about 120 miles to the south-east, is the chief station on the highway leading to the mysterious Mandingan city of Kong. The wars that for the last half century have wasted all the surrounding lands have fortunately

spared the Segu district, which according to Mage had a population of one hundred thousand in 1865, of which thirty-six thousand appeared to be centred in the city and its outskirts.

Segu really consists of several distinct towns, such as Segu Koro, or "Old Segu", opposite Faracco, Segu Bugu, facing Kalabugu, Segu Kura or "New Segu," and lastly Segu Sikoro, present residence of the prince and official capital of the state, the whole occupying a space of about 10 miles along the right bank of the river.

Lower down on the same side is the village of Somono fishers and boatmen, who, for services rendered to the Toucouleur conquerors, have obtained the monopoly of the riverain industries. But the Toucouleurs themselves are no longer masters of Segu. The foundation of the French military posts in Upper Senegal, the growth of the new Mandingan empire under Samory, and the revolts