for the vagueness of hearsay information, received through the medium of a foreign and barbarous language, and reported by those who had no notion of geographical accuracy, they are all reducible to the simple fact, that there exists a water communication between Soudan and Egypt. May not this still prove to be the truth?

Secondly. That the Shary which falls into Lake Tchad, is a continuation of the Quorra, agrees with all the information collected by Horneman, by Captain Lyon, by Major Laing, and by Major Denham. To this opinion, the Quarterly Reviewers at one time inclined, influenced by the high authority of the late Major Rennell, who had supposed the Niger to terminate in a lake Wangara. M. Reichard also believed it to flow to Wangara; but he supposed that it there assumed a south-west course, and terminated in the gulf of Guinea. Major Denham found a river Shary running into Lake Tchad; and Richard Lander was told, in his first expedition, that the Shary flowed out of Lake Tchad, and emptied itself into the Niger at Funda. Sultan Bello represented the Quorra as entering the sea at Funda; but, by the term interpreted sea, any great water might be intended. Upon these grounds, we were led to believe, that near Funda, the waters of Lake Tchad, and those of the Quorra, must have some more or less direct communication. And this would seem to be more than probable.

Thirdly. All accounts seemed to agree as to the existence of a great confluence of waters, or immense lake,-a Bahr Soudan, or Lake Nigrites, or Wangara, or 'Ba-Sea-Feena', which, if not Lake Tchad itself, must be supposed to occupy some part of the unknown region between the Quorra and Bornoo. And what is highly remarkable, Mr. Park was told, that the water of the Ba-Sea-Feena (as he writes it) sometimes flows one way, sometimes another; which must have been meant to describe, either the tide meeting the current of a river, or some phenomenon like that of the river Teesta in Bengal, which, during the dry season, discharges itself into the Ganges, by two distinct channels, whereas, during the inundation, the Ganges flows into the Teesta. supposed it to be possible that, in like manner, the Quorra might communicate with some branch that should at one season draw off a portion of its water, and at another, become its tributary. That the Shary itself becomes alternately the feeder and the emissary of Lake Tchad, is barely supposable; but much remains to be cleared up with regard to this most equivocal river.

Although it is anticipating the course of the narrative, we must here transcribe the account given by the Landers, of the actual junction of the Quorra and the Shary.

'Monday, Oct. 25th. At one A.M. the direction of the river changed (from south-east) to south-south-west, running between immensely

high hills. At five o'clock this morning, we found ourselves near a very considerable river, entering the Niger from the eastward. It appeared to be three or four miles wide at its mouth, and on the bank we saw a large town, one part of which faced the river, and the other the Quorra. We at first supposed it to be an arm of that river, and running from us; and therefore directed our course for it. We proceeded up it a short distance, but finding the current against us, and that it increased as we got within its entrance, and our people being tired, we were compelled to give up the attempt, and were easily swept back into the Niger. Consequently we passed on, but determined on making inquiries concerning it the first convenient opportunity. But we conclude this to be the Tshadda, and the large town we have alluded to, to be Cuttumcurrafee, the same that had been mentioned to us by the old Mallam. At all events, we had satisfied ourselves it was not a branch of the Niger. The banks on both sides, as far as we could see up it, were very high, and appeared verdant and fertile.' Vol. III. pp. 69, 70.

They afterwards learned from an old Funda mallam whom they fell in with, that this large river falling into the Niger from the eastward, is actually the celebrated Shar, Shary, or • Sharry of travellers, or, which is more proper than either, the Tshadda, as it is universally called through the country.' They had previously been informed at Kacunda, that they would pass the Tshadda river at the distance of a day's journey from that town; and they there learned that the city of Funda is not on the banks of the Quorra, but situated a distance of three days' 'journey up the Tshadda.' Canoes, it was added, frequently go up the Tshadda to Bornou, which was represented to be only fifteen days' journey from Kakunda; and the intermediate countries of Jacoba and Adamowa being then at peace with Bornou, the communication was open from both those places, by water and by land. Adamowa and Yacoba are countries to the south of Bornou, respecting which Captain Clapperton collected some vague information. Among other particulars, he was told, that the Yeou or Gambaroo river, which falls into the Tshad, rises in the hills between those two territories. Major Denham, on the other hand, was led to imagine, that a more southerly branch of the Shary than that which falls into Lake Tshad, runs through a mountainous country in an easterly direction; which stream he supposes would be found to extend to Adamowa, and thence to Lake Fittre. The true situation and extent of this last-mentioned lake, is the greatest desideratum in African geography. The southerly branch of the Shary referred to by Major Denham, may be actually that which falls into the Niger; but, if so, we may suppose that to the south of Bornou, there is some Wangara, some periodical Caspian, which discharges its waters in opposite directions.

The description which Lander gives of the confluence of the Shary and the Quorra, scarcely corresponds to the idea one would have formed of the junction of two such mighty streams meeting nearly at right angles; and although we can have no doubt that Lander is right, and that the Shary flows into the Quorra, (for he could scarcely have mistaken a mere eddy for the true current,) still, it is remarkable that he should have been led by appearances to suppose at first that it was running in an opposite direction. This would seem at least to indicate a very sluggish current. But waiving all further speculation upon points which we hope soon to have entirely cleared up, we shall merely remark, that, as the Shary (or Tshadda) is the high road to Funda, its channel affording a continuation of the line of navigation from Boussa, it would naturally be spoken of by the natives as a continuation of the Quorra, although its stream flowed in an opposite direction; for it seems that canoes frequently ascend it, in spite of the current, to Funda, and thence to Bornou. The course of trade appears to lie almost wholly in this direction, Funda being a central emporium, and the lower Niger, below this confluence, being wholly unknown to the inhabitants of Soudan. Well might the 'king of Yarriba hesitate', says Lander, on sending either 'Captain Clapperton or ourselves to the banks of the Niger, when he knew that he had neither a single town so far to the ' eastward, nor a single subject from Yaoorie to the sea. Above 'Egga, as far as Wowow, the western bank of the river, which he boasts as being in his dominions, is thickly inhabited solely by Noofanchie; and below that town, (where the Nouffie terri'tory terminates,) they are peopled by strange and distinct tribes, who have never heard his name, nor an echo of his glory and 'power.' Kacunda, the next town below Egga, is the capital of a petty independent state, which maintains little intercourse with Nouffie, or with any of the nations of Soudan; confining its trade almost exclusively to divers people inhabiting the banks of the 'Niger to the southward; and slaves purchased there, are said to 'find their way to the sea.' The Nouffie language is not even understood in Kacunda, although the Haussa, the more general medium of commerce, is fluently spoken by many of the inhabitants. Below this point, every town on the banks has its own chief, the dominion of the territorial sovereigns of the interior being respected no further. In short, there is no connexion of any kind, nor is there occasion for any, between the countries north and south of this confluence; since the commercial route leading from the interior to the maritime countries, crosses the Niger at the ferry of Comie, some fifty miles north of its great bend towards the east at Rabba, and then, leaving the river altogether, lies through Borgoo to Yarriba, Dagomba, and Ashantee.

These circumstances will fully account for the entire ignorance manifested by the people of Soudan respecting the real termination of the Quorra, and for their speaking of the Shary as the continuation of that stream. And in the same way, all the errors of ancient writers and Mohammedan travellers are satisfactorily explained. If the Shary issues from a lake, that lake would be considered as the termination of the navigation which, descending the Niger to the mouth of the Shary, passes up that river towards the cast; and in that sense the lake would be spoken of as the termination of the Quorra.

Interesting and important as is the discovery that has been effected, one of equal interest and value remains to be achieved— we hope by these enterprising and most deserving brothers,-by ascending the Shary, and ascertaining the possibility of opening a trade, by that channel, with Bornou, and possibly with Darfoor. Their instructions were, to proceed to Funda, and thence to follow the course of the Quorra to its mouth, whether it led them towards Bornou or to the sea. These instructions, it was found impracticable to fulfil to the letter. Funda, they could not reach without leaving the Quorra; and had they proceeded thither, they might possibly never have accomplished their return. They decided wisely, therefore, in following the stream to the gulf of Guinea. And now, should it be found dangerous to penetrate into the untravelled countries from which the Shary descends, future voyagers have a known way of retreat. But we anticipate neither peril nor difficulty, and indulge the confident hope, that a trade may be opened with the nations in the very heart of Africa, by this channel, that shall ultimately give its death-blow to the Moorish slave-trade, as well as to the Christian, put a stop to the ghrazzies or slaving wars carried on to supply the northern market, supersede, as a commercial route, the long and dreadful passage of the great desert, and displace the Koran by the Book of the Christians in all the tongues of the sable or copper-coloured nations of Nigritia.

At

It was on the 9th of January, 1830, that the Landers, having volunteered their services to our Government for this expedition, embarked at Portsmouth for Cape Coast Castle, where they arrived on the 22d of the following month. They remained at the fort till the 4th of March, and then proceeded to the Badagry river, a branch of the Lagos. Badagry is a province of Lagos, which is a little kingdom tributary to his Majesty of Benin. Badagry, our travellers were vexatiously detained, on various pretexts, till the 31st; during which time they had to sustain a climate where the thermometer ranged between 86° and 94° within their hut, and to submit to a thousand species of annoyances. At length, they obtained permission to start for the interior, and ascending the river for a distance of about thirty miles to Wow,

they commenced at that place their land journey. On the 3d of April, they fell in with Captain Clapperton's route at Bidjie, where Captain Pearce and Dr. Morrison both fell sick; and on the 6th, reached Jenna (Jannah), the first town in the territory of Katunga (or Yarriba), where Dr. Morrison found a grave. This part of the route was by no means deficient in interest to a lover of nature. The country is described as rich and varied, abounding with wood and water.

Sometimes', says the Narrator, the pathway wound through an open, level tract of fine grazing-land; and then again it diverged through forests so thick and deep that the light of the moon was unable to penetrate the gloom, and we were frequently left in midnight darkness. It would require greater powers than we are in possession of, to give an adequate description of the magnificence, solemnity, and desolate repose of the awful solitudes through which we passed. They were enlightened, however, at times by the appearance of glow-worms, which were so luminous that one could almost see to read by their golden splendour; and sometimes by the moonbeams which trembled upon the leaves and branches of the trees. A fragrance also was exhaled from the forest, more odoriferous than the perfume of primroses or violets; and one might almost fancy, when threading his way through scenery which cannot, perhaps, be surpassed for beauty in any part of the world, that he was approaching those eternal shades where, in ancient time, the souls of good men were supposed to wander. The woods rang with the song of insects and night-birds.' Vol. I. p. 73. butterflies were

In one place, near the banks of a rivulet,

more numerous than can be imagined: millions of them fluttered ' around us, and literally hid from our sight every thing but their own variegated and beautiful wings.' Further up the country, after passing Choochoo, the scenery is still more romantic; and the following description is too characteristic to be omitted.

• Sunday, April 25.-There are periods and seasons in our lifetime, in which we feel a happy complacency of temper and an inward satisfaction, cheerfulness, and joy, for which we cannot very well account, but which constrain us to be at peace with ourselves and our neighbours, and in love with all the works of God. In this truly enviable frame of mind I awoke this morning, to proceed onwards on horseback; it was a morning which was fairly entitled to the epithet of "incensebreathing"; for the variety of sweet-smelling perfumes which exhaled, after the rain, from forest flowers and flowering shrubs, was delicious and almost overpowering. The scenery of to-day has been more interesting and lovely than any we have heretofore beheld. The path circled round a magnificent cultivated valley, hemmed in almost on every side with mountains of granite of the most grotesque and irregular shapes, the summits of which are covered with stunted trees, and the hollows in their slopes occupied by clusters of huts, whose inmates have fled thither as a place of security against the ravages of the warmen that infest the plains. A number of strange birds resort to this