from the undertaking. Captain Gray of the Royal African Corps, who had accompanied the expedition, the fate of which has just been narrated, undertook, in the year 1818, to perform a journey along the more frequented banks of the Gambia. He arrived without any obstacle at Boolibani, the capital of Bondou, where he remained from the 20th June 1818, to the 22d May 1819; but owing to the jealousy of the monarch he was permitted to proceed no farther. With some difficulty he reached Gallam, where he met Staff-surgeon Dockard, who had gone forward to Sego to ask permission to proceed through Bambarra,―a request which had also been evaded. The whole party then returned to Senegal.

In 1821, Major Laing was sent on a mission from Sierra Leone, through the Timannee, Kooranko, and Soolima countries, with the view of forming some commercial arrangements. On this journey he found reason to believe that the source of the Niger lay much farther to the south than Park had supposed. At Falaba he was assured that it might have been reached in three days, had not the Kissi nation, in whose territory it was situated, been at war with the Soolimanas, with whom the major then resided. He was inclined to fix the source of this great river a very little above the ninth degree of latitude.

The British government were, meantime, indefatigable in their endeavours to find out other channels for exploring the interior of Africa. The Bashaw of Tripoli, though he had usurped the throne by violent means, showed a disposition to improve his country by admitting the arts and learning of Europe; while the judicious conduct of Mr Warrington, our consul, inclined him to cultivate the friendship of Britain. As, through his tributary kingdom of Fezzan he held a constant communication with Bornou and the other principal states of Central Africa, he readily undertook to promote the views of any English expedition which might be sent in that direction. Such an opportunity was not to be lost. The usual means were supplied by the ministry, and the ordinary inducements held forth by the Association. Mr Ritchie, a young man of

scientific acquirements and zeal for discovery, undertook the direction of this adventure; and he was accompanied by Lieutenant Lyon, who, as a naval officer, was expected to be useful in navigating the Niger when the party should reach that river. These gentlemen were perfectly well received at Tripoli, and set out, on the 22d March 1819, for Fezzan with Mukni, the sultan, who gave them the most solemn assurances of protection. This chief, however, was a ruffian, who had made his way to power by the massacre of the late sovereign and his brother, and who supported his interest at Tripoli by annual slave-hunts, which he extended over the whole Desert to the frontier of Soudan. By such means he brought annually to that town 4000 or 5000 of those unhappy victims, a large proportion of whom were bestowed in presents to his liege lord. Under a guardianship so inauspicious the travellers could hardly expect that support of which they soon stood very much in need. Mourzouk was found extremely unhealthy, being intensely hot, and surrounded by pools of stagnant water, which rendered even the natives liable to fever and ague. The members of the expedition soon felt its effects, Lieutenant Lyon being seized with dysentery, and Mr Ritchie with bilious fever, under which they languished during the whole summer. The treacherous Mukni not only withheld all aid, but studiously prevented others from giving them assistance. At length the chief of the mission, overwhelmed by disease and anxiety, died on the 20th November 1819; after which Mr Lyon found himself without the means of penetrating farther than to the southern frontier of Fezzan. He obtained a good deal of information respecting the remoter countries, which, however, has been rendered less important by the fuller and more recent intelligence received through Denham and Clapperton. He passes a very unfavourable judgment upon the territory of Fezzan, which he considers nearly as barren as any part of the surrounding desert. The cultivation is confined to a few gardens, into which water is raised by immense labour from wells of considerable depth.

CHAPTER XII.

Denham and Clapperton.

Arrangements with the Court of Tripoli-The Travellers arrive there-Journey to Mourzouk-Difficulties-Agreement with Boo Khalloom-Departure-The Desert-Tibboos and Tuaricks-Arrival at the Lake Tchad-The Yeou-Kouka -Visit to the Sheik-The Sultan-Description of BornouDenham's Excursion to Mandara-Great Range of Mountains-Disastrous Expedition-War against the Mungas— Excursion to Loggun-Expedition against the La SalasBiddoomahs-Clapperton's Journey into Houssa-Appearance of that Country-Kano-Sackatoo-Sultan BelloReturn of the Travellers.

NOTHING could shake the determination of the British government to obtain, by some means or other, a competent degree of information respecting the unknown countries of Africa. The great favour enjoyed at the court of Tripoli was still regarded as an advantageous circumstance; and it was chiefly due, as already observed, to the prudence and ability of Mr Warrington, without whose advice scarcely any thing of importance was transacted. The bashaw was therefore disposed to renew his protection to whatsoever mission Britain might send. Nor could the support of any sovereign have been more efficient; for the influence of this petty prince and the terror of his name are almost unbounded in the greatest kingdoms of Central Africa. One weapon, the gun, in the hands of his troops, gives him all this superiority; for the remoter nations, from the Nile to the Atlantic, scarcely know any other arms besides the spear, the bow,

and the javelin. A musket among those tribes is an object of almost supernatural dread; individuals have been seen kneeling down before it, speaking to it in whispers, and addressing to it earnest supplications. With troops thus armed, the ruler of Tripoli is esteemed along the northern border the most potent monarch on earth; and it is a matter of surprise among the natives that he has not ere now compelled all Europe to embrace the Mohammedan faith. He could therefore assure the English that, for any but physical obstacles, they might travel as safely from Tripoli to Bornou, as from Edinburgh to London.

Under the confidence inspired by these circumstances, government prepared another expedition, and without difficulty procured a fresh band of adventurers, who undertook to brave all its perils. Major Denham, Lieutenant Clapperton of the navy, and Dr Oudney, a surgeon in the same service, and possessing a considerable knowledge of natural history, were regularly appointed. Without delay they proceeded to Tripoli, where they arrived on the 18th November 1821. They were immediately introduced to the bashaw, whom they found sitting crosslegged on a carpet, attended by armed negroes. After treating them to sherbet and coffee, he invited them to a hawking-party, where he appeared mounted on a milkwhite Arabian steed superbly caparisoned, having a saddle of crimson-velvet richly studded with gold nails, and with embroidered trappings. He was preceded by six chaoushes, or officers, in white silk robes; while two favourite negro slaves, in glittering vest, light burnouse, and white turban, supported him on each side. The hunt began on the borders of the Desert, where parties of six or eight. Arabs dashed forward quick as lightning, fired suddenly, and rushed back with loud cries. The skill with which they manoeuvred their steeds, whirling the long musket over their heads as they rode at full gallop, appeared quite surprising.

Although the visiters were personally well treated at Tripoli, they could not shut their eyes to the barbarism

every where prevailing. The Sheik, Belgassum Khalifa, a fine old Arab, understood to be high in the favour of the bashaw, had been one evening at an elegant entertainment in the palace, when on reaching his own door a pistol-shot wounded him in the arm, and on his entering the passage, a second penetrated his body. He staggered into the house, denouncing his own nephew as the author of the assassination. The murderers rushing in, completed their crime by stabbing him seven times with their daggers, and his wife received two wounds while endeavouring to save him. The three actors in this tragedy instantly fled for security to the British consul; but Mr Warrington sent immediate notice to the bashaw, "that the murderers of Khalifa would find no protection under the flag of England." That potentate, however, either privy to the crime or disposed to wink at its commission, expressed his regret that the guilty persons had found shelter in the consulate; a sanctuary, he added, that he could not think of violating. Repeated assurance was given that he might employ any force, or use any means, to drag them from beneath a banner that never was disgraced by affording protection to assassins. The bashaw at length, ashamed of his apathy, sent sixteen stout fellows, by whom the ruffians were seized; and in less than an hour they were seen hanging from the castle-walls.

The mission, fortified with recommendations to the Sultan of Fezzan, now entered upon their long and dreary pilgrimage to Mourzouk, where they arrived on the 8th April 1822. This prince received them with affability, but gave himself very little trouble in making provision for the prosecution of their journey. He even intimated his intention of visiting Tripoli, and the necessity of their remaining till his return. This arrangement was most disheartening; nor did they know what reliance to place in the sincerity of Boo Khalloom, a great merchant, who invited them to accompany an expedition which he was preparing for Soudan. The sultan and he soon afterwards departed, each with large presents for the