OF DR. J. R. T. VOGEL. 611 



as usual, coffee without milk. The atmosphere was so thick 

 that we could often not see half a mile, though when there 

 was for a moment a clear sky, we descried the mouth of a 

 river, which we took for the Nun, therefore we anchored 

 about six miles from the shore. The rain came down 

 in torrents, and the whole of the gun-room was flooded. 

 I betook myself to my cabin, from the window of which 

 I let down the shutter, to enable me to see ; but the 

 cabin and bedding were soon so soaked from the entrance 

 of the rain, that I was obliged to fly to the deck in my 

 mackintosh. The awning is not waterproof, and the water 

 stood in many places two inches deep ; nevertheless, I tried 

 to wile away the time there till dinner. This takes place 

 between two and three, and, thanks to preserved meats, yams, 

 pastry, &c, is very comfortable. Afterwards, the carpenter 

 was in requisition to make my cabin water-tight. The win- 

 dow-shutter was closed and the bed dried, as well as circum- 

 stances permitted. The stove was again placed in the gun- 

 room, so that we had the pleasant warmth of 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. 



" Aug. 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 con- 

 fluence with the Tschadda. 



" Sunday, Aug. 15, p.m. At last we have run into the 



y \ 2 



