Sah (or Sa) is a village and seat of the
commune of N'Dodjiga in the
Cercle of Youwarou in the
Mopti Region of southern-central
Mali. The village lies on the east (right) bank of the Bara-Issa, the smaller of the two branches of the
Niger River that flow north out of
Lake Débo
Lake Débo is a lake in the central part of Mali, formed by the seasonal flooding of the Niger River basin. It is in the Inner Niger Delta of the Niger River. During high water stages of the river, the delta formed by lakes, creeks, and backwaters ...
.
The French explorer,
René Caillié stopped at Sah in April 1828 on his journey by boat from
Djenné
Djenné ( Bambara: ߘߖߋߣߣߋ tr. Djenne; also known as Djénné, Jenné and Jenne) is a Songhai people town and an urban commune in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. The town is the administrative centre of the Djenné Cercle, on ...
to
Timbuktu. He was surprised at the extent of the commercial activity at what was then an important port:
There were in the port of Sa from four to five hundred persons seamen and inhabitants who gazed at the flotilla. The port was covered with bales of merchandise, ready to be shipped on board the canoes. The commercial activity appeared astonishing. There was something in the appearance of the flotilla far more interesting than I could have expected to find in the interior of Africa. The bustle on every side almost made me fancy myself in a trading port of Europe. The largest vessels belong to Moors, who carry on the principal trade of the country: they form themselves into companies and employ their canoes in conveying merchandise to Timbuctoo, where they are paid their freight in salt or cowries.
Nowadays, boats use the larger branch of the Niger River, the Issa-Ber, and the port of Sah sees very little activity.
[.]
References
{{Communes of the Mopti Region
Populated places in Mopti Region