- PAGE Pick up the Messengers-No Dr. Barth-Zúri troublesome-Recom- Mosquitoes-Erúko-Palm-nut Oil-Magnificent Palisade-Archi- tectural Remains-Huge Pipes-Alihéli's Friend-Púlbe Attack- Mr. May visits Ikéreku-A'batsho-Detection and Ransom of a Slave Boy-Amarán-Hear of our Canoe-Sun's Meridian Altitude -Yimahá-Call on the new King-Blacksmith's Forge-I'gbira Changes-Sickness in the Canoe-A'ma-A'boko rather cool-Explana- tions - Núpe - Kakánda - Bása-Bonú-Ishábe-Brisk Trade- Large Market-Zúri's felonious attempt-Grand "palaver" at the Palace-Anti-slavery Lecture-Mr. May's Ascent of Mount Páte- Huge yams-Agricultural implements-Gigantic Baobab-Arabic MSS. Stamboul - Symbolical letter-Departure - Pyrotechnic phenomenon-Beaufort Island-Ehimodína and Okéyin-More ivory-I'gbira-Shíma—Iddá—Threatened Tornado-Alihéli's story -Promised bullock-Wild festival-Iddá declining-Igára tradi- tions I'gbo cloth-Musical band - Adó river-A'da-mugú -- Inám-Nsúgbe-Prices of muskets-Asabá-Acoustic instruments- - wood Advise the King-Doctor's shop-Attack on Lander- Anchor off Baracoon Point-Prepare for sea-Mr. May's visit to the Brass river-Distressed British subjects-Nimbe-Kwóra hygiene- Palm Point-No breakers-Crossing the Bar-Three passages-Meet a schooner-First news-Round Cape Bullen-Fire a salute-Hear of the Battle of Alma-Krúboys' rejoicings-Leave the “Pleiad King Peppel-Bonny news-New Kalabár-Rio Formoso-Bini- Oedo-Agáto-Belzoni's papers-Sóbo-Tshékeri — Ijebús- Jó- Leave Clarence-Aground in the Cameroons-Duke Town-Mr. Anderson-E'fik-Kwá-Mbrúkim-Ordeal bean-Captain Lewis— Kantoro-Okúloma-King Dappa-Cannibalism-Trust system- Commercial association-Different modes of reckoning-Disturb- ances at Bonny-Mr. Crowther's return to Yoruba-Joined by the Bishop and Archdeacon-Abadayígi-Ashánti-Conversation with Bishop Vidal-Mítshi boy-Akrá-Cape Coast Castle-Governor Hill-Cape Palmas-Krú country-Monrovia-Illness and death of the Bishop-Sad Christmas-Water-spout-Sierra Leone-- Repairs-Interviews with natives-Coffee-Exports-Vexatious regulations-Bathurst official-Gorée-Snowclad Peak of Teneriffe APPENDIX A.-Description of the "Pleiad"-Admiralty Instructions -Mr. Laird's Instructions-Correspondence-Native African Treaty 399 NARRATIVE OF AN EXPLORING VOYAGE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY, FROM the days of Herodotus to very recent times the theories which have been brought forward regarding the course and distribution of the Kwóra, or Niger, have been alike numerous and varied. Geographers, both ancient and modern, have exerted their utmost ingenuity in endeavouring to solve the mystery; and, according as they believed in the westward or eastward course of the river, ranged themselves into two parties, the one pointing to the Senegal and the Gambia as the mouths of this mighty stream, while the other either conducted it through Lake Tsad to join the Nile, or else led it by a long and dreary route to be identified with the Congo. It certainly appears singular that, until a comparatively recent date, no one even hinted at its real termination. The numerous large bodies of B fresh water falling into the bights of Benin and Biafra have for long been familiarly known, yet their source was never enquired after; and although very slight consideration would have shown that, evidently closely connected as all these are, they must flow from some great river in the interior, it was not until 1808, that Reichard, judging from the vast amount of alluvial deposits, first suggested the Rio Formoso as the outlet of the Kwóra, an idea since proved to be partially true. Major Laing and Captain Clapperton also believed in the discharge of its waters into the Bight of Benin, the former selecting the Rio Volta for the purpose, while the latter hypothesised an opening to the eastward of Lagos. But by no one was the enquiry pursued more zealously or more shrewdly than by Mr. Macqueen, who, having collected a vast amount of evidence on the subject, recommended, in 1829, a careful examination of the rivers between the Rio Formoso and Old Kalabar. It must have been highly gratifying to this veteran geographer, whose knowledge of Central Africa is probably unsurpassed, to find only two years afterwards his supposition verified by the splendid exploit of the Landers, who, at the expense of so much risk and suffering, navigated the Kwóra from Yaúri to the sea, thereby proving the existence of an available water communication with the heart of the African continent. Their discovery was quickly seized on in England, and the enterprise of Liverpool merchants speedily fitted out a small |