NATURAL HISTORY. 
In order to investigate the truth 
of these accounts, and to explore 
the origin and course of the Niger, 
Major Houghton, who, in 1779, 
had acted under General Rook as 
Fort Major in the island of Goree, 
undertook to penetrate to that river 
by the way of the Gambia. He 
was instructed to ascertain the 
course, and if possible the rise and 
termination of the Niger, and to 
visit the cities of Tombuctoo and 
~ Houssa. 
The Major left England on the 
16th of October, 1790, arrived at 
the entrance of the Gambia on the 
10th of November, and was well 
received by the king of Barra, whom 
he had formerly visited. He pro- 
ceeded thence up the river to Jun- 
kiconda, where the English have a 
small factory. Here he purchased 
a horse and five asses, and prepared 
to pass with his merchandize to 
edina, the capital of the small 
kingdom of Woolli. From some 
words accidentally dropped by a 
negro-woman in the Mundingo 
language, he learnt that a conspi- 
racy had been formed against his 
life by some traders, who feared 
that his expedition portended the 
auin of their commerce ;: he there- 
fore swam with his horse and asses 
across the Gambia, and proceeded, 
though with much difficulty, on the 
side opposite to that which is usual- 
Jy the route, to the district of Can- 
tor, where he repassed the river, 
and was hospitably entertained by 
the king of Woolli, at his capital 
Medina. 
This town is situated about 900 
miles by water from the entrance 
of the Gambia. The country a- 
bounds with corn, cattle, and all 
things requisite for the support, or 
essential to the comforts, of life. 
~ Vor. XXXIV. 
AOI 
The people are distinguished, not 
divided, into two sects with regaré 
to religion, Mahommedans an& 
Deists. . The former are called 
Bushreens, and the latter, fronr 
their drinking with freedom wine 
and liquor, which Mobammed pro- 
hibited, are called Sonikees, or 
drinking men. 
The Major's dispatches to the 
Society from this place were lost 5 
but in a letter to his wife, whicha 
seaman preserved from the wreck 
of the vessel, he describes his situa— 
tion as extremely agreeable,—the 
country healthy, the people hos- 
pitable, game abundant; and he 
could make his excursions on horse= 
back in security. Above all, he 
indulges in the idea of the advan— 
tages that would attend the English 
by erecting a fort on the salubrious 
and beautiful hill of Fatetenda, 
where they once had a factory > 
and expresses a hope that his wife 
will hereafter accompany him to 2 
place in which an income of ter 
pounds a-year will support them im 
affluence; and where, from com= 
merce, he imagines vast wealth may 
be obtained. 
While he was here waiting for a 
native merchant, whose company 
he had engaged for the further 
prosecution of his journey, the 
greater part of Medina was destroy- 
ed by fire, and with it several ar- 
ticles of merchandize, to which he 
trusted for defraying his expences. 
At the same time his interpreter 
disappeared with his horse and three 
of his asses ; and to add to his mis- 
fortunes, a trade-gun, that he pur- 
chased on the river, burst and 
wounded him in the face and arm. 
The inhabitants of the neighbour- 
ing town of Barraconda on this 
occasion cheerfully opened their 
Cc houses 
