or NIGRITIA, a country of Africa, lying next to Guinea towards the north, and extending from 18° of west to 150° of east longitude, and from 10° to 20° of north latitude. On the north it is bounded by Zaara or the Desart; on the east, by countries unknown; on the south, by Guinea; and on the west, by the Atlantic Ocean; and is watered by the great river Niger or Senegal, which runs through it from east to west. The Europeans have settlements on the coasts of this country, especially near the mouths of the Niger and Gambia, which last is supposed to be a branch of the former. A great many nations inhabit the banks of the rivers; some Pagans, some Mohammedans, of different languages, and independent of one another. The country is fruitful, especially along the rivers; abounding in rice, Guinea grain, and Indian corn, where it is cultivated; and with cocoa-nuts, plantains, pulse, palm-trees, and tropical fruits; nor is it destitute of cattle, and a variety of other animals, particularly such as abound in Guinea.

Negroland is fertilized by the overflowing of its rivers the Senegal and Gambia, as Egypt is by the Nile. It hath not yet been ascertained whether the Gambia is a branch of the Senegal or not. As far as the Europeans have penetrated up the country, they appear to be distant; and the Mundingo Negroes report that the Gambia has a different origin. The entrance into the Niger or Senegal river is narrow and somewhat difficult, by reason of its immoveable bar and sandy shoals, as well as the several islands at the mouth of it, and the several canals and marshes that clog it; but after sailing up eight or ten leagues, it is found broad and deep, and fit to carry large vessels; and, excepting about five or six leagues on each side above the mouth, which is sandy and barren ground, the banks are covered with stately trees and villages, and the country in general is fertile and well watered; for, like the Nile, this river overflows its banks for many leagues, and enriches the land to a great degree, though, for want of skill, the inhabitants do not reap the advantages which they might obtain from its fertility. The people on both sides of the river live as near to it as they can, and feed great herds of cattle, sowing large and small millet, the former of which is called by us Turkey wheat, in great quantities, and with great increase. If the river fails of overflowing at its usual season, a great scarcity, if not a downright famine, never fails to ensue in the adjacent country; and, even when it overflows regularly, it breeds such vast flights of grasshoppers and insects, as quite darken the air, and frequently eat up all the produce of the earth: in which case the only remedy the people have is to kill those insects and eat them; which they do either by pounding in leathern bags, and then boiling them in milk, or, which is reckoned the more delicious method, by frying or broiling them over a light blaze, in a frying-pan full of holes. Thus the legs and wings of the insects are burnt off, and the rest of the body is sufficiently roasted to be eaten as a dainty, which they look upon to be very wholesome and nourishing.

To the east, north-east, and south-east of the island of Senegal, the country, as far as it is known, is over-run with woods and marshes; the Senegal, Gambia, and Sherbro, which are looked upon by some as branches of one immense river, passing through it in their way to the Atlantic Ocean. During the rainy months, which begin in July, and continue to October, they lay the whole country under water; and indeed the sudden rise of these rivers is incredible to such as are not acquainted with the violent rains that fall between the tropics. At Galam, 900 miles from the mouth of the Senegal, the waters rise 150 feet perpendicular from the bed of the river. At the island of Senegal, the river rises gradually, during the rainy season, above 20 feet perpendicular over part of that flat coast; which of itself refreshes the water, that ships lying at anchor, at the distance of three leagues from its mouth, generally make use of it, and fill their water there for their voyage home. When the rains are at an end, which usually happens in October, the intense heat of the sun soon dries up those stagnating waters which lie on the higher parts, and the remainder from lakes and marshes, in which are found all sorts of dead animals. At last, those too are quite dried up; and then the effluvia that arise are almost quite insupportable. At this season the winds blow so hot from the land, that they may be compared to the heat proceeding from the mouth of an oven, and they bring with them an intolerable smell. The wolves, tigers, lions, and other wild beasts, then resort to the river, keeping their body under water, and only their snout above it for the sake of breathing. The birds soar to an immense height in the air, and fly a vast way over the sea, where they continue till the wind changes, and comes from the west. See SENEGAL, GUINEA, GOLD-COAST, and SLAVE-COAST.