Bambouk

Bambouk, a country of Senegambia, Western Africa, lying in the angle formed by the Senegal and Faleme rivers. The climate is unhealthy, especially during the rainy season; but the valleys are remarkable for their fertility. Trees common to Western Africa here attain enormous proportions. Vast herds of wild oxen roam the hills, and most of the wild animals of Africa abound. Bambouk has rich iron ore and deposits of gold in its rivers, especially the Faleme. Faranaba and Mandinka are the chief towns. The inhabitants, the Mandingoes, are professedly Mohammedans, but they cling to many pagan superstitions, and are very ferocious.