Note 110 — Chapter I · (continued 2)

When properly written, I do not think that this word contains a ي ye. We may be satisfied, however, with the orthography تمبكتُ Temboctou, and the word is perhaps composed of the Berber particle te or ta, as Tamaroc, Takant, Tarekne, T-rarzas, T-razah, etc., and of m-boctou, formed like M-dayara. I know that Ben Batouta writes Tenboctou, تنبكتوا The only doubt remaining is relative to the use of the m or n. See The Travels of Ibn Batouta, English translation by Mr. Lee, London 1829, p. 237.