12 MEMOIR OF THE LIFE 
87° Fahr. There was enough to occupy me till tea in putting 
my cabin to rights. At six o’clock we have tea, without 
milk, and sea-biscuit. At half-past seven, evening prayers. 
The rain having somewhat abated, my companion and I 
sought for a tolerably dry place, where wrapped, in my 
cloak, I might smoke a cigar; and then I took a seat in 
the gun-room, where I am writing this letter. The violent 
rolling of the ship, however, still continues ; and its effect 
is evidenced in my more than ordinarily bad writing. 
* August 12.—We lie at anchor in the open sea, two or 
three miles off Cape Nun: a stately fleet, consisting of the 
three steamers, with a large transport and a small one, 
which will accompany us up the river. There is much to 
be done: the last stores are to be taken out of the transport, 
which leaves us here, and the ships supplied as much as 
possible with coal, that we may proceed up the Niger without 
delay, to its confluence with the Tschadda. 
Sunday, August 15, p.M.—At last we have run into the 
Nun, after having endured, while at anchor, the most frightful 
swell, and at the same time scarcity of water. The expedition, 
in fact, commences to-day ; after long delay, we are at length 
arrived at the place where our observations are to begin. The 
vegetation, when viewed from the ship, appears extremely 
luxuriant, and there is something like a forest. We shall - 
probably remain some days in this place. 1 only hope that - 
the rain will permit me to make good use of the time." 
At length, on the 11th of September, the expedition reached 
the confluence of the Niger and Tschadda, and on the 18th 
of September, Vogel thus writes : 
* We arrived a week since at this place, which I conceived 
I might consider as an occasional place of rest. We reck- 
oned on a six days' course hither, with no delay at the mouth 
of the Nun: instead of this, from our first arrival at the Nun 
(on the 10th of August), to our coming here, a month 
has elapsed. At Aboh and Iddáh some days were spent; till 
the desired contracts against the slave trade were concluded 
with the Kings. This stay was, however, little tomy purpose, 
