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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2006 : 16:12:23
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Greetings all, and help:
Is Battimaussa, Basse? Extract from what I am reading:
The following year,1456 Ca’da Mosto returned, and on that occasion sailed up the Gambia sixty miles, his intention being to reach the land of the Songhai. He did reach a town ruled by one of the vassals of that empire, a certain Battimaussa, where the river was still a mile in breadth.
Also the trading town of Cantor on the Gambia, that is
frequently mentioned, where is it?
“There were the mountains at Bure, on the headwaters of the Niger, which produced gold." The metal could be obtained at the market town of Cantor.....because at the market town of Cantor, 200 miles inland, Mandingo merchants would exchange gold found further inland still, at Bambuk. After 1586 no Portuguese ship seems to have sailed up to Cantor, the sale of gold being thereafter in the hands of Berber middlemen.
Freedom & peace……
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2006 : 23:54:20
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| My guess is Cantor may mean Kantora. 200 miles is equal to 320km which places you around bansang. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 16:11:57
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I found a site on the net saying
"... which discusses the Kingdom of Gambia, otherwise called the
Kingdom of Cantor, which is the Kingdom of the Mandingas..."
It also says that Cantor is the same as Kuntaur.
By coincidence, I have just started to read General History of Africa, volume V
"Senegambia from the sixteenth to the eighteent century; evolution of the Wolof, Sereer and Tukuloor" and "The states and cultures of the Upper Guinea Cost".
Kantor (Same as Cantor, I guess) is mentioned twice: "Lying between the middle Gambia, the Rio Grande and Futa Jallon, the Malian province of Kaabu controlled the trade of Kantor." and "The Gambia and Casamance, having become western provinces of Mali,
exchanged their agricultural produce and craft products for iron and other metals from interior. The trading towns of Kantor ran this trade which used waterways, particularly the Gambia and Casamance rivers."
What do you think?
Has any of you studied GENERAL HISTORY OF AFRICA? It consist of 8 volumes and is published by UNESCO. Most of the authors are African scientists. The Senegambian chapter mentioned above is written by Babucar Barry, doctor in history and teacher at the university of Dakar, the Guinea Cost chapter is by C Wondji from Ivory Coast.
Do you think this work is relaible?
The books should be available on libraries.
(Gambia is rarely mentioned in the book, but when one read about Senegal, Senegambia and Mali, it includes Gambia, I suppose.)
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 16:49:13
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Greetings, much appreciated, for what maybe the answer. The book (The Trade Slave) – History of the Atlantic Slave Trade 1440 –1870 states ‘ The whole of the region roughly known as Senegambia, which includes the modern Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, as well as The Gambia and Senegal.
This History Forum is valuable, as each time I return to The Gambia I can print it off, bind it, and a large number of other Gambians who do not have access to PC will be able to share your knowledge!
Freedom & peace….
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 18:39:31
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Well Kuntaur is a placed between the river Gambia and swampy field which has led to its slow expansion an Wassu having to take over to accomodate the populaton. I read some articles on Cator at the National Archives but that ws som 15 years ago and cannot put it into perspective.
Kuntaur has always been a trading post where some big companies were based like Maurel and Prom, and some french owned ones which are now in ruins. When business dropped especially on the river gambia, Kuntaur ceased to be a power house in trade.
I have never heard of the Kingdom of kuntaur (Cantor)because kuntaur is within the kingdom of Niani and is infact the commercial capital. However, it is important to note that niani Kingdom also existed in Ivory Coast.
People have been known to name their new settlements after their places of origin and hence the repetition of towns all over the Gambia. Karantaba is certainly one othe most popular which is found in Niamina, Sami ( atleast 5), Jarra, etc. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 19:31:12
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quote:
Originally posted by sab
He did reach a town ruled by one of the vassals of that empire, a certain Battimaussa, where the river was still a mile in breadth.
Also the trading town of Cantor on the Gambia, that is
frequently mentioned, where is it?
Hi Sab, my guess is that "Battimaussa" is "Batimansa" and Cantor is Kantora.
Kondorong, Niani was the native city of Sundiata Keita and the capital of old Mali Empire. This is not the Niani of The Gambia. I would recommend you read "Sundiata and epic of old Mali" by D. T. Niane, ISBN 0-582-64259-0. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 19:39:12
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| Thanks for the reference. have you heard of Kingdom of Niani in present day Ivory coast? |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2006 : 19:50:53
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Thanks for the reference. have you heard of Kingdom of Niani in present day Ivory coast?
Yes I read it from one of the links you provided. Thanks! |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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