“NATURAL 
ment of travellers, they apply them 
to their fkin in every manner with 
impunity, and make a living by the 
practice. (See Account of the Ce- 
raftes of Linnzus, Edinburgh Ency- 
clopedia, the bite of which is at- 
tended with immediate putrefac- 
fion). The poifonous wind, called 
Samiel by Chardin, which is inftan- 
taneous death, immediately produces 
putrefaction in the animal; and 
much refembles fome fymptoms of 
the yellow fever, which evidently 
fhewed the effect of this fubftance 
when taken into the fyftem. 
From the expence, the tediouf- 
nefs, and difficulties arifing from 
the great nicety required in chemi- 
cal experiments, and from the pre- 
fent infancy of that fcience, this 
fubjeét would take much labour 
and patience fairly to inveftigate : 
from the collateral inferences, from 
the difficulties in working againft 
old and popular prejudices, few 
Eo would undertake fo great a 
abour: but it certainly would be a 
great ftep towards the claffing dif- 
eafes, and rendering the cure more 
fimple; for no fcience will ever 
make any great progrefs in the 
world, but in proportion as it is 
tendered lefs intricate. A few 
ears ago, chemiftry was fcarce 
ok but by the labour of the 
te ingenious French chemifts, in 
forming a bafis for the ftudy of that 
f{cience, it is now become ealy, fa- 
fhionable, and delightful. 
Proceedings of the African Affociation. 
The public will perufe with much 
fatisfaction the continuance of 
the proceedings of this refpect- 
able Affociation. We have been 
favoured by one of the fubferibers 
with the following interefting fub- 
2 
HISTORY. 399 
ftance of a quarto pamphlet, 
which has juft been printed, and 
privately circulated among the 
Members of the Affociation. 
HEN the laft memoir of the 
Proceedings of this Affoctation 
came from the prefs, the progrefs 
of Major Houghton was the fubje& 
of juft exultation.’ He had reached 
Ferbanne, on the river Falemé, in, 
the dominions of the King of Bam- 
bouk, and had been received with 
extraordinary kindnefs by the King 
of that country, who had furnifhed 
him with a guide to Tombuétoo, 
and money to defray the expences 
of his journey. 
In the Major’s letter to Dr. Laid- 
ley of the 6th of May, 1791, writ~ 
ten from Medina, he appears to, 
have entertained great confidence. 
of fuccefs. “Ihave received (he. 
obferves) the beft intelligence of the 
places I defign vifiting, from a fhe-~ 
reef here, who lives at Tombuétoo, 
and who luckily knew me when £ 
was Britifh conful to the Emperor 
of Morocco, in 1772. I find, that 
in the river: Iam going to explore, 
they have decked veffels with matts, 
with which they carry on trade from 
Tombuétoo, eaftward, to the centre 
of Africa. I mean to embark in 
one of them from Genné, in Bam- 
bara, to Tombuétoo.” 
Of the Major’s fubfequent pro-~ 
grefs there is no certain account. 
The lateft intelligence received, im- 
mediately from himfelf, was dated 
the 1ft of September, 1791, about 
fix ,weeks after the date of the laft 
letter from the King of Bambouk’s 
eapital. This advice came in the 
following very fhort note to Dr, 
Laidley, on the Gambia River :— 
** Major Houghton’s compliments 
to Dr, Laidley ; is in good health. 
On 
