VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 71 
this date, referring mostly to personal affairs, despatches, 
provisions, and the like. 
It would appear that, towards the end of November, he 
felt strong enough to begin his botanical exeursions, 
and says: * The heat is too great to allow convalescents 
who are still very weak, to work much. Besides plants, I 
have now taken to collecting insects. Roscher has quite a 
mania for sporting ;"—and again :— 
December 2.— We had intended to proceed this week into 
the mountains, to the tent which had been erected for Cap- 
tain Trotter; but ever since Sunday, Roscher has been ill, 
probably in consequence of his sporting, often in the heat of 
the sun; and Thomson, who during the absence of the 
* Albert," remains here as doctor, attends him. There are 
several cases of fever: amongst them White, the store- 
keeper, and the doctor: all people who have been here for 
some time! The weather is certainly not genial to European 
constitutions. Mornings and evenings are dull and foggy; 
though not so thick but that one can see the country: noon and 
afternoon changeable, a few hot hours, with west and south 
wind. Because of Roscher's illness I must attend to our 
housekeeping, which comes rather awkward to me. In the 
meantime, I continue my previous way of living, i. e. I make 
excursions from three o'clock till dusk (6 o'clock), but am 
very anxious to get into the mountains. Yesterday I went 
towards the farm ; to seek for the Calamus which Roscher had 
seen, but could not find it.” 
With these words Dr. Vogel's private Journal ends ; and 
We may here introduce an extract from the Report of Captain 
Trotter, addressed to the Right Honourable Lord Stanley, 
Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated March 
15, 1843. i 
“ We found at Clarence Cove, Fernando Po, on our 
return in the Albert from the Niger, Dr. Vogel and Mr. 
Roscher. These indefatigable gentlemen, of whose zeal on 
