for sailing, became afraid lest he should be carried off, and, hastening into the canoe, made with full speed for the shore.

Considerable danger was encountered at the bar of the river, which is imperfectly known, and passable only by a narrow channel, generally concealed by the foam of breakers. On the 1st December, they reached the lofty and beautiful island of Fernando Po. Lake, during this passage, continued to annoy them in various ways. Notwithstanding that the assistance of Lander's men had contributed materially in enabling him to get his vessel out of the river, he used to amuse himself by causing his crew to throw buckets of sea-water upon them as they lay asleep. Indeed, he and some of his brother-navigators on this coast appear to be the greatest monsters in existence. Another captain, while his men were in a sickly state, thought it a delightful frolic to whitewash them all, though one of them thereby lost the sight of an eye. Lake again touched at Fernando Po towards the middle of January, and manifested some solicitude to have the conveyance of the travellers to England, for which he now understood that payment would be received; but they declined having more to do with him. He was afterwards seen chased by a vessel, supposed to be a pirate; and as he has not since been heard of, there is reason to believe that he was made to "walk the plank." This is a form of murder practised by corsairs on those unhappy shores. A plank is laid across the deck, partly projecting beyond it over the water, on which the doomed individual is compelled to walk to the outer extremity, when it sinks beneath his weight, and he perishes. It may be proper to mention, that government have redeemed the British reputation on this coast, by sending orders to transmit to King Boy the stipulated ransom.

The travellers could not find an eligible opportunity, of leaving Fernando Po till the 20th January 1831, when they sailed on board the Caernarvon, Captain Garth, for Rio Janeiro. The crew suffered much hy sickness; but,

notwithstanding, on the 16th March they reached that port. Admiral Baker, who then commanded on the station, gave them a most hospitable reception, and afforded them a passage home in the William Harris transport, which sailed on the 20th; and on the 9th June they arrived at Portsmouth.

This journey by individuals who make no pretensions to science has not afforded materials for illustrating any of its branches; but, previous to the loss of their instruments, the range of the thermometer was regularly recorded. At Badagry, on the coast, where the heat was most oppressive, it was between 86° and 94°, oftener stationary near the latter than the former point. At Jenna it fell suddenly one day from 94° to 78°, and remained at the latter some hours. At Assinara, at noon, on the 23d April, it attained the height of 99°. Near Katunga it fell upon one occasion to 71° in the shade, the air being then cooler than they had felt it since landing. At Kiama the extremes were 75° and 94°, the mean 84°. At Youri the range was the same. On their voyage from Youri to Boussa, on the 2d August, it varied from 75° to 92°. At Boussa it varied from 76° to 93°, but most commonly between 80° and 90°. At Patashie generally between 74° and 89°, once 93°. Lever, 77° to 93°. Bajiebo, 70° to 95°. On the passage down the river below that place, on 5th October, 78° to 94°. Belee, 79° to 94°.

Such has been the issue of this important voyage, by which the grand problem that perplexed Europe for so many ages, and on which, during a period of nearly forty years, so many efforts and sacrifices had been expended in vain, was completely resolved. British enterprise completed, as it had begun, this great discovery. Park, in his first journey, reached the banks of the Niger, and saw it rolling its waters towards the interior of the continent. In the second, he embarked at Bammakoo, and by sailing downward to Boussa proved its continuous progress for upwards of 1000 miles. The present voyage has exhibited it following a farther course, which, with

its windings, must amount to about 800 miles, and finally emptying itself into the Atlantic. This celebrated stream is now divested of that mysterious character which surrounded it with a species of supernatural interest. Rising in a chain of high mountains, flowing through extensive plains, receiving large tributaries, and terminating in the ocean, it exhibits exactly the ordinary phenomena of a great river. But by this discovery we see opened to our view a train of most important consequences. The Niger affords a channel of communication with the most fertile, most industrious, and most improved regions of Interior Africa. Its navigation is every where easy and safe, unless at intervals between Boussa and Youri, and between Patashie and Lever; and even there it becomes practicable during the malca, or flood produced by the periodical rains. British vessels may therefore, by this stream and its tributaries, ascend to Rabba, Boussa, Youri, Sackatoo, Timbuctoo, Sego, and probably to other cities as great, but yet unknown. They may navigate the yet unexplored Tchadda, a river which, at its junction, is nearly as large as the Niger itself, and no doubt waters extensive and fertile regions. The decided superiority of the interior of Africa to the coast renders this event highly important. Steam, so peculiarly adapted to river-navigation, affords the means by which the various obstacles may be overcome, and vessels may be enabled to penetrate into the very heart of the African continent.

Laird and Oldfield—Allen-Davidson.

Plan of Mr Laird's Expedition-Voyage to the Niger—Ascent to Eboe-Dreadful Sickness and Mortality-Attempts to ascend the River-Mr Laird proceeds to Funda-Adventures there, and Departure-Description of that City--Mr Oldfield ascends the Tchadda-Visits Rabba-Its Description-Descends the River-Death of Lander-Return to EnglandMr Allen's Theory respecting the Yeou and Tchadda-Mr Davidson's Expedition-Residence at Morocco-Journey to Wadnoon-His Murder-Accounts respecting Timbuctoo.

THE information supplied by the Landers established the fact that the Niger is a stream of the first magnitude, opening from the ocean upwards a broad navigable channel into the interior of fertile and populous regions, and connected with tributaries almost as large as itself. Such tidings could not but excite the characteristic enterprise of British merchants. At Liverpool, accordingly, a body of gentlemen, at the head of whom was Mr Macgregor Laird, formed a company with the view of turning the recent discoveries to some practical advantage. They declared, we believe with truth, that commerce, though of course an essential, was by no means their only object. They hoped also to aid in suppressing the slave-trade, in introducing true religion, civilisation, and humanizing influences, among nations whose barbarism had hitherto been only heightened by European connexion.

Steam-navigation presented an obvious resource for overcoming the obstacles which occur in the rivers of Africa. Two iron steamers were therefore constructed,

the Quorra of forty and the Alburkah of sixteen horse power, with crews of twenty-six and fourteen men respectively: while the Columbine, a sailing vessel of 200 tons, carried out goods. Mr Lander readily accepted an invitation to join the party, and they were also accompanied by Lieutenant Allen of the navy, whom the admiralty appointed to survey the river; while Dr Briggs and Mr Oldfield went as medical attendants.

18031

The expedition sailed from Liverpool on the 19th July 1832, and proceeded direct for Port Praya in the Cape de Verd Islands, where they arrived on the 17th August. They then touched successively at Sierra Leone and the American settlement of Monrovia, engaging on this coast a number of Kroomen, a race remarkable for their activity and skill in the management of boats. They afterwards paid visits to the Dutch colony at Axim and to Cape Coast Castle, and on the 16th October anchored near the mouth of the river Nun. The effects of the climate were already painfully perceptible, so that in two or three days they lost Captain Harries and two seamen of the Columbine. Ten days were employed in preparations, during which they were attended by the Kings Boy and Forday, who showed a profusion ofcivilities.

On the 26th, having got under way, they began to explore a passage through the narrow channels. The country on both sides of the river appeared one extensive swamp, covered with mangrove, cabbage, and palm trees; whence the fen-damp rose in the morning, cold and clammy, like the smoke of a wet wood fire. The natives were very unhealthy, partly owing to their coarse diet and to an excessive indulgence in spirits; yet the only effect felt from the climate was a tendency to grow extremely fat, which operated even while consuming only half the usual quantity of victuals. On the 1st November, Lander, who had gone somewhat ahead, intimated the danger of an attack from an Eboe village; and Mr Laird soon after saw the whole right bank in a blaze of musketry. The Quorra was presently put in motion, and placed abreast of the town. The fire ceased during